Michael Douglas receives honorary Palme D'or Palme at Cannes Festival opening
17 May 2023 06:58pm
British actress Catherine Zeta-Jones (R) and her daughter Carys kiss US actor Michael Douglas on the cheek as they arrive for the opening ceremony and the screening of the film "Jeanne du Barry" during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 16, 2023. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)
"It means so much to me, because there are hundreds of festivals around the world, but there is only one Cannes," the 78-year-old actor said, describing it as an "incredible honour".
Noting that he is older than the festival, Douglas looked back on his career and on his associates in the industry.
Introducing Douglas, Uma Thurman described him as "unique - both as producer and as iconic film star".
Presenting the opening ceremony, Chiara Mastroianni said: "The point of this festival has been and remains the evocation of our freedom... to express the power and fragility of our existence."
She welcomed the jury, led by director Ruben Östlund, onto the stage.
‘Jeanne du Barry’, a film by French filmmaker Maïwenn Le Besco, known as Maïwenn, opened the festival. It relates the story of Marie-Jeanne Bécu (1743-1793), a mistress of Louis XV, with Johnny Depp playing the king and Maïwenn as Bécu. - Bernama-dpa
