CANNES, France (AP) 鈥 Denzel Washington sandwiched a whirlwind trip to the Cannes Film Festival, in between Broadway performances, for the premiere of Spike Lee's 鈥淗ighest 2 Lowest鈥 on Monday 鈥 and was rewarded with a surprise: an honorary Palme d'Or.
Cannes had flipped around some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington's speedy France trip, which came on his lone off-day while performing 鈥淥thello鈥 in New York. Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Fr茅maux surprised Washington with the award before the Monday night premiere.
鈥淭his is my brother, right here,鈥 said the film鈥檚 director, Spike Lee, who passed the award to Washington.
鈥淭his is a total surprise for me,鈥 said Washington.
The festival usually gives out one or two honorary Palmes each edition 鈥 last year, the awardees were and Last week, on the festival's opening night. De Niro's award was announced in advance, but surprise prizes aren't unheard of: In 2022, just before the screening of 鈥淭op Gun: Maverick.鈥
While the festival's photo calls usually happen the day after a film's premiere, Cannes hosted one for 鈥淗ighest 2 Lowest鈥 earlier Monday so Washington could attend. The actor, playfully posing with Lee and co-star , showed no signs of jet leg and was expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening.
Lee also came to Cannes with on his mind. He arrived at the film鈥檚 premiere decked out in Knicks colors and wearing a blue and orange striped suit.
That Washington would be able to make the trip had been a sticking point for Cannes. When the festival first , 鈥淗ighest 2 Lowest鈥 wasn't included. Within hours, however, Lee himself announced the film was heading to Cannes. Representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Washington would attend to walk the red carpet.
鈥淗ighest 2 Lowest,鈥 a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film 鈥淗igh and Low,鈥 will be released in theaters by A24 on Aug. 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.
