The Venice Film Festival awarded veteran Chinese director John Woo with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement honor on Friday night’s awarding ceremonies.

Woo received the award from Hong Kong director Tsui Hark and American director Quentin Tarantino, who served as the jury president for 2010’s festival main competition.

Woo’s early films were made in Hong Kong and included the 1980s action flicks “The Killer,” “Hard-Boiled” and “A Better Tomorrow.” He tried his luck in Hollywood in the 1990s, directing big box office hits like “Mission: Impossible II” (starring Tom Cruise) and “Face/Off” (starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta).

Woo, who was described by the festival as “an innovator of the contemporary language of cinema,” dedicated the much-coveted award to his family, mother and wife.

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