The Venice Film Festival will award the Golden Lion for career achievement to French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier. Venice festival director Alberto Barbera, announcing the decision Tuesday, described Tavernier as an "instinctively non-conformist, staunchly eclectic auteur" who has been a central figure of French filmmaking. Tavernier, 73, is also a film critic who, according to Barbera, is dedicated to "discovering and re-assessing unknown artists." Fittingly, Tavernier will serve as guest director of the Venice Classics section featuring forgotten or underestimated films at the 72nd Venice Film Festival, from Sept. 2-12. Tavernier has won four of France's Cesar awards, best director at Cannes in 1984 for "A Sunday in the Country" and a Golden Bear in Berlin for "Fresh Bait" in 1995. He competed twice for top honors in Venice. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/124959.aspx