Clint Eastwood will be awarded a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at this year's Venice Film Festival (Aug 30-Sept 9).

The award, to be presented on the festival's opening night, will be followed by the European premiere of Space Cowboys, Eastwood's latest directorial effort.

Venice president Paolo Baretta and festival director Alberto Barbera said: "Clint Eastwood is one of the few remaining legends still active in the industry. In a career spanning 45 years, Eastwood has managed to walk a fine line between personal filmmaking and worldwide box-office appeal."