George Lucas, the legendary filmmaker known for creating iconic franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, is set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the upcoming 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The prestigious honour will be presented to Lucas at the festival’s closing ceremony on May 25th.
In a statement acknowledging the recognition, the 79-year-old director expressed his gratitude for the special place that the Festival de Cannes holds in his heart. Lucas reminisced about his first film, “THX-1138,” being selected for a special program for first-time directors at the festival and reflected on his numerous visits to Cannes in different capacities over the years.
Notable past recipients of the honorary Palme d’Or include Hollywood stars like Michael Douglas, Tom Cruise, Forest Whitaker, Jodie Foster, and Lucas’s frequent collaborator Harrison Ford, who was honoured at the festival last year. The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 14 to 25, with French actress Camille Cottin hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and filmmaker Greta Gerwig serving as the jury president for the main competition.
This recognition of George Lucas’s illustrious career and his contributions to the world of cinema adds yet another highlight to the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, celebrating the enduring impact of his groundbreaking work in the film industry.
