Werner Herzog's Venice Triumph: Lifetime Honor, New Films, and an Instagram Debut

Werner Herzog BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Fresh off the global stage, Werner Herzog is the big headline of late August and early September in 2025, capturing the world’s gaze as the recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice International Film Festival. According to the official Venice Biennale announcement, Herzog accepted the honor during the festival’s grand opening, delivering what is now trending as a trademark bold declaration: he’s far from retirement. Instead, Herzog emphasized he’s as active as ever—he just completed the hotly anticipated documentary Ghost Elephants, filmed in the wilds of Africa, and is currently on set in Ireland directing Bucking Fastard, with the Mara sisters, Kate and Rooney, in leading roles. Herzog’s slate remains impressively varied, as he’s developing an animated film based on his recent novel, The Twilight World, and lending his iconic voice to a mysterious creature in Bong Joon Ho’s next animated feature, an international project already stirring up industry intrigue.

Francis Ford Coppola personally presented Herzog with the Golden Lion in a ceremony that made news beyond cinephile circles. Coppola praised Herzog as an unlimited phenomenon, calling him a living encyclopedia of cinema and hinting that if Herzog has limits, no one has found them yet. Headlines like Herzog Receives Lifetime Achievement Honor at Venice, Presented by Coppola have splashed across Variety and major film outlets.

The Venice Festival also premiered Ghost Elephants, with critics lauding its meditative style and ecological urgency, heightening rumors that it could spark a wave of conservation documentaries. Meanwhile, Herzog continues to dish out wry wisdom; Variety reports his latest advice to aspiring directors is typically Herzogian—be tenacious, be self-reliant, and don’t fret about unmade scripts, but also, don’t rob a bank, because they catch you.

Breaking social media news, Herzog upended expectations by launching an official Instagram account in late August, as reported by JoBlo and MovieWeb. In his first reel, the famously analog auteur explained he’s never used a cellphone but felt compelled to share his creative process, promising followers more philosophical musings and behind-the-scenes glimpses. The move has ignited a wave of fan engagement, with Herzog’s distinct voice now captivating a new digital audience.

There’s no credible evidence of controversy or scandal; Herzog’s news is pure creative ferment and international recognition. His public appearances and ongoing projects indicate that he’s not winding down but charging forward—Venice gold lion in hand, screenplay under arm, voice ready for a new role, and now, Instagram at his fingertips.

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta