Robert De Niro to Receive Honorary Palme d’Or at the 78th Festival de Cannes

Legendary American actor, director, and producer Robert De Niro will be honored with the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 78th Festival de Cannes in recognition of his extraordinary lifetime contribution to cinema. The tribute will take place during the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, marking his return to the Croisette 14 years after presiding over the Cannes Jury in 2011.

“I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes,” said De Niro. “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.”

A Face That Shaped the History of Cinema

With a career spanning over five decades, Robert De Niro is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary cinema. His intense, deeply internalized acting style—often oscillating between disarming calm and sudden violence—has defined some of the most iconic characters on screen.

De Niro’s early work with Brian De Palma in films like Greetings and Hi, Mom! signaled the emergence of a new kind of anti-hero, drawing from his bohemian New York upbringing. However, his long-standing collaboration with Martin Scorsese, beginning with Mean Streets (1973), etched his name into film history. Together, they portrayed the raw edges of Italian-American identity and inner-city life, creating unforgettable characters across masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Irishman.

Robert De Niro‘s portrayal of young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974), which earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, remains one of the greatest performances in film history.

Cannes: A Festival of Milestones

Robert De Niro has a long and storied relationship with the Cannes Film Festival. In 1976, he starred in two Official Selection titles: Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900 and Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, which went on to win the Palme d’Or. In 1983, The King of Comedy opened the Festival, followed a year later by Once Upon a Time in America, and then The Mission in 1986. Few actors have returned to Cannes with such consistency and impact.

Evolution of a Legend

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Robert De Niro demonstrated versatility by stepping into comedic roles (Meet the Parents, Mafia Blues) and continuing his dramatic pursuits (Heat, Casino, Cape Fear). He also expanded into directing (A Bronx Tale, The Good Shepherd) and co-founded TriBeCa Productions and the TriBeCa Film Festival, bringing artistic life back to downtown Manhattan after 9/11.

In recent years, he has been in award-winning collaborations such as Silver Linings Playbook, Joker, and Killers of the Flower Moon, proving that his cultural and cinematic influence remains undiminished.

Special Masterclass at Cannes 2025

In addition to receiving the Honorary Palme d’Or, Robert De Niro will participate in a special Masterclass at the Debussy Theatre on Wednesday, May 14. Festival-goers and cinephiles will have the rare chance to hear firsthand insights from one of cinema’s most enigmatic performers.

Save the Dates:

• Opening Ceremony & Honorary Palme d’Or: Tuesday, May 13, 2025

• Masterclass with Robert De Niro: Wednesday, May 14, 2025

• 78th Festival de Cannes: May 13 – May 24, 2025

• Official Selection Announcement: Thursday, April 10, 2025