George Lucas to get Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival

The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will see Star Wars and Indiana Jones creator George Lucas being conferred with the Honorary Palme d’Or. The recognition will be given to the filmmaker on May 25, the last day of the festival. Past recipients of the recognition include Jodie Foster, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Clint Eastwood.

“The Festival de Cannes is delighted to pay tribute to one of the greatest figures of contemporary cinema, a man with an extraordinary career, who brings together great entertainment and innovation, mythology and modernity and cinephilia and technology,” read a statement on behalf of the event.

Responding to the news, Lucas stated that he holds the Cannes Film Festival close to him for providing him with one of the first career breaks through such an event.

“The Festival de Cannes has always held a special place in my heart. I was surprised and elated when my first film, THX-1138, was selected to be shown in a new program for first time directors called the Directors’ Fortnight. Since then, I have returned to the festival on many occasions in a variety of capacities as a writer, director and producer. I am truly honored by this special recognition which means a great deal to me,” Lucas said.

The 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is set to take place from May 14 to 25 this year.