Forest Whitaker to Receive Honorary Palme d’Or From Cannes
thewrap.comForest Whitaker is set to receive this year’s honorary Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes announced on Thursday.
Whitaker will be the honorary guest at the opening ceremony for the 75th Cannes, and a film he produced, “For the Sake of Peace,” will also get a special screening on Wednesday, May 18. “34 years ago, attending Cannes for the first time changed my life, and assured me that I’d made the right decision to devote myself to finding connectivity in humanity through film,” Whitaker said in a statement. “It’s always a privilege to return to this beautiful festival to both screen my own work, and to be inspired by many of the world’s greatest artists – and I feel incredibly honored to be celebrated as part of the Festival’s momentous 75th anniversary.”Last year’s honorary winner for the Palme d’Or was Jodie Foster.
Other past recipients have included Jeanne Moreau, Bernardo Bertolucci, Manoel de Oliveira, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Agnès Varda, and Alain Delon.
The aware is given to pay tribute to a sparkling artistic journey, a rare personality as well as a discreet but strong humanitarian commitment to key topical issues.The opening ceremony will air live on France Télévisions and Brut.Forest Whitaker first came to Cannes in 1988 and played jazz great Charlie Parker in “Bird,” though he had appeared in other Cannes films prior to then, and he won the Best Actor Prize for his “Bird” performance.
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