Overview

• Robert De Niro received the Honorary Palme at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for his lifetime achievements in cinema.
• In his acceptance speech, De Niro criticized President Trump's proposed 100% tariffs on foreign films and reductions in arts funding, calling them threats to creativity and democracy.
• He described art as a unifying and democratic force, framing it as a challenge to authoritarianism and urging global civic engagement in response.
• Leonardo DiCaprio introduced De Niro as a role model and praised his commitment to democracy and the arts during the ceremony.
• The speech has sparked ongoing discussions at Cannes about the intersection of politics and artistic freedom as the festival continues.