Robert De Niro to Receive Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Robert De Niro will receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, honoring his five-decade history with the prestigious event. From “Taxi Driver” to “Killers of the Flower Moon,” De Niro has been a Cannes staple. The award will be presented at the festival’s opening ceremony on May 13.
Robert De Niro’s Cannes Legacy Quick Looks
- Robert De Niro will receive an honorary Palme d’Or on May 13.
- De Niro’s Cannes journey began in 1976 with “Taxi Driver.”
- “Taxi Driver” won the Palme d’Or that year.
- He returned with hits like “The King of Comedy” and “The Mission.”
- De Niro starred in two Palme-winning films: “Taxi Driver” and “The Mission.”
- He presided over the Cannes jury in 2011.
- De Niro co-founded the Tribeca Festival but remains loyal to Cannes.
- He and Scorsese premiered “Killers of the Flower Moon” at Cannes 2023.
- De Niro called Cannes “like coming home.”
- The award highlights De Niro’s global cinematic influence.
Robert De Niro to Receive Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes
Deep Look
Robert De Niro to Receive Honorary Palme d’Or at 2025 Cannes Film Festival
CANNES, France — Legendary actor Robert De Niro will be honored with an honorary Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, celebrating a remarkable career and deep relationship with the French Riviera’s most prestigious cinematic event.
The 81-year-old icon will receive the honor during the festival’s opening ceremony on May 13, capping a five-decade connection to Cannes that began in 1976.
De Niro’s First Cannes Triumph: “Taxi Driver”
De Niro’s history with Cannes began with a bang. In 1976, he starred in not one but two films in the main competition: Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900. Taxi Driver, now considered a cinematic masterpiece, captured the Palme d’Or, launching both Scorsese and De Niro into global superstardom.
Cannes Mainstay Through the Decades
Following that career-defining win, De Niro became a regular presence on the Croisette. He returned with Scorsese’s The King of Comedy in 1983, Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America in 1984, and Roland Joffé’s The Mission in 1986 — another film that won the Palme d’Or. That makes De Niro one of the few actors to star in two Palme-winning films.
2011 Jury President and Cannes Supporter
While De Niro has built a legacy of his own in the U.S. as co-founder of the Tribeca Festival, he has remained deeply tied to Cannes. In 2011, he served as president of the Cannes jury, awarding Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life the top prize.
His last Cannes appearance was in 2023, when he and longtime collaborator Martin Scorsese debuted Killers of the Flower Moon, which received widespread acclaim and a nine-minute standing ovation.
An Award for a Lifetime of Cinematic Contribution
De Niro expressed his gratitude and affection for Cannes when the award was announced last month.
“I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes,” he said. “Especially now when there’s so much in the world pulling us apart, Cannes brings us together — storytellers, filmmakers, fans, and friends. It’s like coming home.”
The honorary Palme d’Or is a rare recognition given to those whose careers have significantly shaped the world of cinema. Past recipients include industry icons like Agnès Varda, Clint Eastwood, and Jane Fonda. For De Niro, whose filmography spans decades and genres, the accolade is a fitting tribute.
Looking Ahead to Cannes 2025
The 2025 edition of the Cannes Film Festival is already shaping up to be a star-studded affair, and De Niro’s honorary award will be one of its signature moments. As the festival celebrates its 77th year, honoring an artist with such a long-standing and meaningful connection to the event adds a historic layer to the celebration.
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