George Lucas Receives Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes: 'I Don't Make the Kind of Movies That Win Awards'

George Lucas is receiving more and more recognition for his influential career.

Lucas, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, received an honorary Palme d’Or at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, May 25 — and it was presented to him by another legendary filmmaker, his lifelong friend Francis Ford Coppola.

Speaking to French journalist Didier Allouch about the award — the festival’s highest honor — the day before he accepted it, Lucas said it was “always nice to be recognized.”

“Obviously we have a lot of fans, but, in terms of Star Wars and so on, I don’t do award-winning films,” he added.

George Lucas (left) receives the Palme d’Or from his longtime friend Francis Ford Coppola.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Also during the May 24 panel, Lucas recalled the moment his path first crossed with Coppola’s while working as Godfather assistant director on the set in 1968 Finian’s rainbow.

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“I was just a student observer and I was bored to death,” he recalled. “I said, ‘I don’t want to make Hollywood movies. I know how to do it.’ ”

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“We were the only two people on the crew under 60,” he continued. “We both had beards. We both went to film schools. So we were a completely different group from the crew and everyone else. That was my moment.”

And, when asked if he – along with Coppola and famed director Paul Schrader – realized he was changing cinema by proving that independent films could make money, American graffiti the director said, “Well, to be very honest with you, we weren’t that interested in making money. We were interested in making movies.”

“That was a big difference,” he added, “because we all loved movies.”

Francis Ford Coppola (left) hands George Lucas the Palme d’Or.

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Lucas is best known as a creator Star Wars and Indiana Jones film franchise — he directed or produced each of the first six Star Wars films until he sold his company Lucasfilm and the rights to Star Wars in Disney 2012.

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Speaking about his extra special visit to Cannes this year on May 23, Lucas recalled previous trips to the festival for his beloved franchises.

“I am very happy to be here, although I also feel nostalgic, because I used to come to Cannes a lot, especially for Indiana Jones and Star Wars,” Lucas said during the interview. “Obviously I have a lot of fans, but I’ve never made award-winning movies. That’s why receiving this Palme d’Or is a great honor.”

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During the conversation on Friday, the film legend also spoke about the problems he faces with those who criticize him Star Wars films due to a perceived lack of diversity. “They would say, ‘It’s all white people.’ I would say, ‘Most people are aliens!’ ” He said.

George Lucas speaks at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2024.

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Reacting to the news that he would receive the honorary award – which Meryl Streep also received at the Cannes opening ceremony on May 14 – Lucas said last month: “The Festival de Cannes has always had a special place in my heart.”

“I was surprised and delighted when my first film, THX-1138, was selected to be shown on the Croisette in 1971,” he continued. “Since then I have returned to the Festival many times in various capacities as writer, director and producer. I am truly honored by this special recognition, which means a lot to me.”

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Source: HIS Education