Venice is to honour one of Italy's most adventurous auteurs with a Golden Lion for his lifetime's work.

Olmi has had a long and successful relationship with Venice dating back to the 1950s. Hewon the Golden Lion in 1988 for The Legend Of The Holy Drinker.

His best-known film probably remains The Tree Of Wooden Clogs which won the Palme D'Or in 1979.

The award will be presented in a ceremony in the Palazzo del Cinema during the festival (August 27-September 6)