Denzel Washington Gets Surprise Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes During Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Premiere

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At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Denzel Washington had an unexpected and momentous career milestone when he received an honorary Palme d’Or at the debut of Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” his latest movie. This two-time Academy Award winner was already making history by attending Cannes for the first time in his half-century acting career.

Prior to the premiere of Lee’s newest film, Thierry Fremaux, the director of Cannes festival, showcased a compilation of Washington’s films – such as “Malcolm X” and “Mo Better Blues,” both helmed by Lee – along with his Academy Award-winning roles in “Glory” and “Training Day.” Later on, Lee bestowed upon Washington the prestigious Palme d’Or honor.

(In this version, I have tried to make the text more conversational and easy to understand while still maintaining its original meaning.)

Standing there, center stage for a moment I’d cherish forever, I presented the prestigious Palme d’Or award to my on-screen brother, Denzel. With heartfelt warmth, I referred to him as “my other mother’s son.” Taken aback by the sudden honor, Denzel gratefully admitted it had taken him off guard.

Under the direction of Lee, “Highest 2 Lowest” is a contemporary English-language adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low,” titled “High and Low.” In this fresh take, set in present-day New York, Washington portrays a music mogul ensnared in a high-stakes ransom predicament. The role of Yung Felon, an ambitious rapper determined to succeed at any cost, is played by A$AP Rocky. Additionally, the film stars Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (making her screen debut), Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, LaChanze, Aubrey Joseph, Michael Potts and Wendell Pierce.

The movie represents the fifth time that Lee and Washington have worked together on a project. At the Red Sea Film Festival earlier this year, Lee expressed his satisfaction about their collaboration, saying, “I’m just happy we managed five of them.

The movie titled ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ is set to hit theaters on August 22, and it will become available for streaming on Apple TV+ from September 5.

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2025-05-19 20:46