Overview

• Denzel Washington was awarded a surprise honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, celebrating his decades-long career in film.
• Spike Lee's 'Highest 2 Lowest,' a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller, premiered at Cannes with Washington in the lead role as a music mogul facing a moral dilemma.
• Washington made a brief appearance at Cannes, returning to New York shortly after to continue his role in a Broadway production of 'Othello.'
• During a press conference, Lee addressed political topics, including critiques of U.S. leadership and industry challenges, while also highlighting his artistic influences, such as Adriano Celentano’s music featured in the film.
• A red-carpet incident involving Washington and a photographer underscored ongoing tensions between celebrities and the press at the festival.