Overview

• Robert De Niro received the honorary Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, presented by Leonardo DiCaprio, in recognition of his contributions to cinema.
• In his acceptance speech, De Niro criticized President Trump as a 'philistine president' and condemned proposed 100% tariffs on foreign films and cuts to arts funding.
• De Niro emphasized the role of art as a unifying, truth-seeking force that challenges autocrats and fascists, receiving applause from the audience.
• He called on individuals globally to organize, protest peacefully, and vote to protect democracy and artistic freedom, concluding with France's national motto, 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.'
• Quentin Tarantino officially opened the festival with a dramatic mic drop, capping an evening that set a politically charged tone for the event.