Hollywood legend Denzel Washington received a surprise Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, marking a career milestone in front of a stunned audience. The star-studded evening also saw bold cinematic returns, politically charged screenings, and fresh contenders vying for the top prize.
A hard-hitting Egyptian political thriller shook up the Cannes Film Festival on Monday, just before a surprise Honorary Palme d’Or was awarded to Hollywood icon Denzel Washington. The evening also marked the return of French director Julia Ducournau, four years after her explosive win with Titane.
The event had been kept tightly under wraps: just ahead of the out-of-competition screening of Highest 2 Lowest by Spike Lee, Washington—his longtime collaborator—received the career-spanning distinction. The award was presented by Lee himself, alongside festival heads Iris Knobloch and Thierry Frémaux.
On the red carpet, the film’s crew made a splash, with Spike Lee in a striped suit, round glasses, and an orange-and-blue hat, joined by rapper A$AP Rocky—aka Mr. Rihanna—wearing gold grillz.
Later that evening, American stars were followed on the red carpet by actress Golshifteh Farahani, of French-Iranian descent, and French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim. They headline Alpha, Julia Ducournau’s latest cinematic wild card. Ducournau first wowed Cannes in 2021, and her new film has already sparked intense buzz.
Titane had previously earned her the Palme d’Or, making her the second woman in history to win the prestigious award, following Jane Campion—and preceding Justine Triet’s 2023 win for Anatomy of a Fall.
"No Other Choice"
Earlier in the day, a new major contender emerged in the official competition. Tarik Saleh, who previously won Cannes’ Best Screenplay award in 2022 for Cairo Conspiracy, unveiled a bold new film: The Eagles of the Republic.
The film launches another powerful critique of Egyptian President al-Sissi. “It’s not that I’m obsessed with him and want to include him in every movie, but I have no choice—he’s a constant,” Saleh told AFP. “He’ll stay in power until he dies.”
This fiery, darkly humorous film marks the conclusion of the 53-year-old director’s political-religious trilogy, which began in 2017 with The Nile Hilton Incident. According to the industry magazine Deadline, The Eagles of the Republic may be his strongest yet, thanks to its rich real-world material.
Too Early to Call the Race
With the festival halfway through and several heavyweight films still to premiere, this year’s competition remains wide open. It has already showcased many promising newcomers and rising auteurs.
Actress-turned-director Hafsia Herzi, 38, impressed with La Petite Dernière, a tightly crafted lesbian romance and a pointed response to Blue is the Warmest Color, directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, who originally discovered her in The Secret of the Grain.
Franco-Spanish filmmaker Oliver Laxe, 43, stunned audiences with Sirât, set in Morocco’s underground desert rave scene and starring Sergi López. Meanwhile, German director Mascha Schilinski, 41, captivated with Sound of Falling, a poetic exploration of intergenerational trauma among women.
Other standout entries include Two Prosecutors, a sharp reflection on Stalinist purges by Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa, 60, and The Secret Agent by Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, 56—the only South American film in the main competition.
Still, Cannes General Delegate Thierry Frémaux cautioned against early predictions. “Let’s not forget that La Dolce Vita was booed before winning the Palme d’Or in 1960,” he said during a press event unveiling Cannes’ future film museum. “That’s why we always say: be careful—think and write with caution.”
The race for the Palme d’Or wraps up on Saturday. Still to come are films from Iranian directors Jafar Panahi and Saeed Roustaee, and Young Mothers by Belgian filmmaking duo Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, already two-time Palme winners.
By Jérémy TORDJMAN avec Juliette RABAT / AFP
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