Award-winning singer-songwriter, actress and director Barbra Streisand has been named the next recipient of the Honorary Palme d'Or award at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival.
“It is with a sense of pride and deep humility, that I’m honored to join the company of past Honorary Palme d’Or recipients whose work has long inspired me,” Streisand said in a statement.
“In these challenging times, movies have the ability to open our hearts and minds to stories that reflect our shared humanity, and to perspectives that remind us of both our fragility and our resilience.”
“Cinema transcends borders and politics, and affirms the power of imagination to shape a more compassionate world,” she concluded.
Streisand is being recognized for her more than six-decade-long career across cinema, music, and theater, along with her activism and philanthropic work supporting numerous causes, from women’s health to art education.
“This year, we were keen to pay tribute to an artist who made her mark through the power of her art and her uncompromising pursuit of freedom,” said Iris Knobloch, president of the Festival de Cannes.
“As a woman, I am delighted to be able to express our admiration for this consummate creator and courageous citizen, whose example stands the test of time and continues to inspire.”
The Honorary Palme d'Or is the festival’s most prestigious lifetime achievement award, presented to filmmakers, actors, and artists who have had a profound influence on global cinema.
“A global star, Barbra Streisand is above all an artist, initiating projects that reflect who she is, that are her own, and that she shares with the whole world,” said Cannes Festival Director Thierry Frémaux.
“She is the legendary synthesis between Broadway and Hollywood, between the music hall stage and the big screen. Hearing her sing and seeing her perform are part of our best years.”
Releasing 37 studio albums and 13 soundtracks throughout her career, Streisand earned 10 Grammy Awards and was the only female artist with the most number one albums of all time until 2023.
