Skolimowski told the Polish Radio Information Agency that he is very honoured by the award and grateful to Festival Director Alberto Barbera for including him among such greats as Orson Welles. He also said that he will treat this award as encouragement for further work and as a token of appreciation for contemporary Polish cinema. “I will try not to let this success go to my head,” he added.

Skolimowski has several film awards under his belt, including the Special Jury Prize in Venice in 2010 for “Essential Killing”. He is not only a film director, but also a screenwriter and a playwright.

The Golden Lion for Career Achievement has been awarded at the Venice Film Festival since 1969. Winners include Andrzej Wajda and Martin Scorsese. This year, the award will also go to French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. This year’s Venice Festival will take place 31 August-10 September.