11 April 2011

Bernardo Bertolucci to become only third director to receive honourary Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival


The Cannes Film Festival announced today that they will award director Bernardo Bertolucci with an honourary Palme d'Or at the opening ceremony of this year's festival, to take place on May 11.  The award is typically given each year to the director of the best film at the festival, but twice before has it been given as an honourary award; to Woody Allen in 2002, and to Clint Eastwood in 2009.  Festival coordinators have suggested that, starting with Bertolucci, they plan to award an honourary Palme d'Or each year.

Bertolucci has directed many impressive films, including Before the Revolution, The Conformist, Last Tango in Paris, and The Last Emperor (which took home nine Academy Awards, including a Best Director trophy for Bertolucci).  Festival President Gilles Jacob and Artistic Director Thierry Frémaux cited the quality of his unique work and the strength of his commitment to cinema as motivating factors in giving Bertolucci the award.


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