Cannes 2023: Michael Douglas to receive honorary Palme d’Or

The Festival de Cannes has awarded it to Forest Whitaker, Agnès Varda, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Jodie Foster and Manoel de Oliveira. Now, Michael Douglas will receive the Palme d’or d’honneur at the 76th Festival de Cannes, in recognition of his brilliant career as well as his engagement for cinema. The Festival de Cannes will pay tribute to him during the Opening Ceremony broadcasted live on France 2 and internationally on Brut. Tuesday 16 May.

“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,” said Douglas. “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 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 honour to return to the Croisette to open the Festival and embrace our shared global language of film.”

To complete the tribute to Michael Douglas, a previously unreleased documentary by Amine Mesta, produced by Folamour and soon to be broadcast on Arte, will be shown on the Festival site for two days, from Sunday 14 May at 6pm to Tuesday 16 May at 6pm. The synopsis reads: ‘This special documentary shows us how Michael, an actor and producer like his father Kirk, had to embrace their resemblance throughout his remarkable career in order to assert his difference. The time to learn how to become Michael when your name is Douglas.‘