Denzel Washington Receives Surprise Honorary Palme D’Or Award at Cannes

Actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. Valery Hache/Pool via Reuters

CANNES, France—Actor Denzel Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday evening in recognition of his outstanding career, according to organizers.

Washington, 70, was in southern France for the premiere of director Spike Lee’s latest film “Highest 2 Lowest,” an adaptation of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” which also celebrated its premiere on Monday.