Michael Douglas is to receive the Honorary Palme d’or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The festival will pay tribute to the actor and hand him the award during the Opening Ceremony on May 16.
“It is always a breath of fresh air to be at Cannes, which has long provided a wonderful platform for bold creators, artistic audacities, and excellence in storytelling,” Douglas said.
“From my first time here in 1979 for The China Syndrome to my most recent premiere for Behind the Candelabra in 2013, the Festival has always reminded me that the magic of cinema is not just in what we see onscreen but in its ability to impact people all around the world. After more than 50 years in the business, it’s an honor to return to the Croisette to open the Festival and embrace our shared global language of film.”
As part of the tribute, the festival will screen a previously unreleased documentary by Amine Mesta on Douglas titled Michael Douglas, The Prodigal Son on the festival site for two days, from May 14 at 6 pm to May 16 at 6 pm. The doc was produced by Folamour and will be broadcast on Arte.
Douglas has a long history with the festival, first hitting the Croisette for the festival’s 32nd edition for the premiere of The China Syndrome alongside director James Bridges and co-stars Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon. In 1992, thirteen years later, Douglas joined Sharon Stone and Dutch filmmaker on the Croisette to debut Basic Instinct, which screened in Competition.
More to follow.
