Robert De Niro is set to receive one of cinema’s highest honors — the honorary Palme d’Or — at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The tribute will take place during the festival’s opening night ceremony on May 13, 2025, as officially confirmed by Cannes organizers.
The celebration doesn’t end there. On May 14, the Oscar-winning actor will also take part in a special masterclass held on the stage of the Debussy Theater, offering insight into his legendary career and craft.
"I have such close feelings for Festival de Cannes," De Niro shared in a heartfelt statement. "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 tribute may come with a full-circle cinematic moment. Rumors are circulating that the festival will open with Vie Privée, directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and starring Jodie Foster. The possibility of Foster — De Niro’s co-star in Taxi Driver — presenting the Palme d’Or to him onstage would be a poignant reunion nearly 50 years after their iconic film shook the world.
Robert De Niro’s impact on global cinema is indisputable. With a body of work that spans generations and genres, he is considered one of the greatest actors in film history. His filmography includes classics such as Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Once Upon a Time in America, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, Analyze This, and Meet the Parents, among many others.
While his later career has included more mainstream and comedic roles — including the Fockers trilogy — many fans and critics continue to revere the towering legacy he built in the 1970s through the 1990s. That said, even his more commercial work reflects the enduring presence of a performer whose gravitas can elevate nearly any film.
By awarding the honorary Palme d’Or, Cannes acknowledges not only De Niro’s past contributions but his lasting influence on the art of acting itself. This year’s tribute is a reminder of just how deeply intertwined De Niro is with the history of modern cinema — and with the Cannes Festival itself.
