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Denzel Washington Receives Surprise Palme d’Or Honor at Cannes for Career-Long Excellence [VIDEO]

The Cannes Film Festival just gave Denzel Washington his flowers—big time.

Right before the world premiere of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, Denzel was surprised with an honorary Palme d’Or—a rare lifetime achievement honor that’s only been handed out 22 times in the festival’s history.

Quick explainer: The Palme d’Or (French for “Golden Palm”) is the highest prize awarded at Cannes. It usually goes to the best film in competition—but every now and then, the festival gives out an honorary version to living legends whose contributions to cinema speak for themselves.

And Denzel? Absolutely qualifies.

Before the screening, Cannes festival director Thierry Frémaux walked on stage, played a reel of Denzel’s iconic career, and shocked the crowd with the announcement. He even admitted the whole thing was kept under wraps—with only Spike Lee in on the surprise.

Spike, who directed Highest 2 Lowest and has collaborated with Denzel since Mo’ Better Blues, was the one to officially present him with the award. The crowd gave Denzel a lengthy standing ovation.

“This is a total surprise for me, so I’m emotional,” Denzel said during his heartfelt speech. “To be here again in Cannes, collaborating once again with my brother from another mother… We are so blessed. We get to make movies, wear tuxedos, dress up, and get paid for it. I’m just grateful beyond words.”

Denzel’s stop in Cannes was quick—he’s currently performing in Othello on Broadway opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and like most Broadway shows, he had Monday night off.

The moment also marked a full-circle reunion for Denzel and Spike, whose fifth feature-length collaboration Highest 2 Lowest is screening Out of Competition. The film is a contemporary retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, and follows music mogul David King (played by Washington) who faces a terrifying situation when his son and godson are mistaken for each other in a botched kidnapping.

The film also stars Jeffrey Wright, Elijah Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky, and comes from Apple Studios and A24. It received a six-minute ovation following its premiere.

Denzel’s long list of accolades includes two Oscars (Training Day, Glory) and 10 Academy Award nominations in total—including nods for Malcolm X, Fences, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. He also picked up a Best Picture nomination as a producer for Fences.

His surprise Palme honor now joins an elite list of recipients: Meryl Streep, George Lucas, Michael Douglas, Agnès Varda, Clint Eastwood, Catherine Deneuve, and last year’s unexpected honoree, Tom Cruise.

This moment also arrives 36 years to the day after Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing premiered at Cannes in 1989. Talk about timing.

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