Stallone To Be Honoured At Venice Film Festival

The Rocky star's career as an actor and director will be one of the highlights of the Italian event as his peers celebrate his lengthy career in the movie industry.

Organisers have hailed Stallone as a "very original filmmaker" whose projects are "capable of tenderness even when dripping with blood".

They add in a statement, "(Stallone's work) has explored the brightest and darkest areas of the American dream."

And Stallone is delighted with the career recognition, because it fulfils one of his lifetime goals.

He says, "Being honoured at the Venice Film Festival is something I have always hoped would become a reality and now that it's actually happened, it's been well worth the wait."

The accolade is typically bestowed upon "a person who has left a mark on contemporary cinema" and previous honorees include France's Agnes Varda and Japan's Takeshi Kitano.

The 66th Venice Film Festival kicks off on 2 September and runs until 12 September (09).