Overview

• Herzog was honored with the festival’s lifetime achievement Golden Lion during the Venice opening ceremony on Wednesday.
• Francis Ford Coppola presented the award, praising Herzog as an “unlimited phenomenon” and vowing to “eat my hat” if anyone surpasses him.
• Herzog’s new documentary Ghost Elephants premiered out of competition, exploring the search for a mysterious herd in Angola’s highlands.
• The filmmaker is set to deliver a masterclass at the festival on Thursday as part of his Venice engagements.
• In his acceptance, Herzog recalled Coppola’s early support and their near-collaboration on a film about the conquest of Mexico, reflecting a friendship spanning half a century.