The 78th version of the French movie competition kicked off with a starry ceremony on Tuesday night that was attended by Hollywood stars, jury members, French dignitaries, and auteurs.
Robert De Niro, in Cannes to obtain an honorary Palme d’Or throughout Tuesday night time’s glitzy opening ceremony, used his time in the highlight to defend democracy and take purpose at America’s commander in chief.
“In my nation, we’re preventing like hell for the democracy we as soon as took with no consideration. That impacts all of us right here, as a result of artwork is the crucible that brings folks collectively, like tonight. Artwork appears for fact. Artwork embraces variety. That’s why artwork is a risk. That’s why we’re a risk to autocrats and fascists,” he stated to applause contained in the Grand Lumiére theater, with Leonardo DiCaprio standing over his shoulder after an affecting tribute to De Niro, his frequent collaborator.
De Niro didn’t maintain again as he known as out Trump’s current insurance policies:
“America’s Philistine president has had himself appointed head of one in all our premier cultural establishments [the Kennedy Center]. He has reduce funding and assist to the humanities, humanities, and schooling. And now he has introduced a one hundred pc tariff on movies produced outdoors the U.S. Let that sink in,”
Robert De Niro accepts the honorary Palme d’Or from Leonardo DiCaprio throughout the opening ceremony on the 78th Cannes Movie Competition on the Palais de Competition on Might 13, 2025. (Picture by Andreas Rentz/Getty Photos)
De Niro continued, “You may’t put a value on creativity, however apparently you’ll be able to put a tariff on it. After all, that is unacceptable. All of those assaults are unacceptable. And this isn’t simply an American downside, it’s a world one. Like a movie, we will’t simply all sit again and watch. We’ve got to behave, and we now have to behave now.”
He emphasised the necessity for nonviolent resistance:
“It’s time for everybody who cares about liberty to arrange, to protest, and when there are elections, vote. Vote. Tonight, and for the subsequent 11 days, we present our energy and dedication by celebrating artwork in this wonderful competition. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.”
De Niro acquired a prolonged standing ovation, and Leonardo DiCaprio—who credit De Niro for launching his performing profession—delivered an emotional tribute earlier than presenting the honorary Palme.
“Rising up in Los Angeles, each younger actor I knew watched De Niro’s work. We studied him, attempting to grasp how he immersed himself so fully in his characters. He created the blueprint. He wasn’t simply one other nice actor, he was the actor,” DiCaprio stated.
De Niro accepts the honorary Palme d’Or from DiCaprio. (Picture by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Photos)
He recalled their first encounter throughout auditions for This Boy’s Life:
“The audition course of was a tricky one. Plenty of competitors. None of us knew who would get the half. I did the one factor I might consider…I screamed at him on the high of my lungs,” DiCaprio stated, noting that the room burst into laughter. Later that day, because the story goes, De Niro instructed a producer, “Second child from the final”—and that child was DiCaprio.
“If you understand Bob, and I believe a lot of you in this room do, you understand he’s not somebody who significantly enjoys being in the highlight off digicam,” DiCaprio added. “However each as soon as in some time, even probably the most non-public of giants deserves their second.”
After handing over the Palme d’Or, DiCaprio bought greater than a nod—De Niro gave him a hug.
