By Canadian Press

Denzel Washington receives surprise honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes premiere for ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

May 19, 2025 | 11:41 AM

CANNES, France (AP) — Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux surprised Denzel Washington with an honorary Palme d’Or before the premiere of “Highest 2 Lowest” on Monday night.

“This is my brother, right here,” said the film’s director Spike Lee, who passed the award to Washington.

“This is a total surprise for me,” said Washington.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

CANNES, France (AP) — Denzel Washington sandwiched a whirlwind trip to the Cannes Film Festival, in between Broadway performances, for the premiere of Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” on Monday.

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Cannes flipped around some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington’s speedy France trip, which came on his lone off-day while performing “Othello” in New York. “Highest 2 Lowest” premiered Monday night in Cannes. And while the festival’s photo calls usually happen the following day, Cannes hosted one for “Highest 2 Lowest” earlier Monday.

Washington, playfully posing with Lee and co-star A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet leg after arriving on Monday. Washington is expected to fly back to New York immediately after the screening.

Lee also came to Cannes with obligations back in New York on his mind. He arrived at the film’s premiere decked out in Knicks colors and wearing a blue and orange striped suit.

That Washington would be able to make the trip had been a sticking point for Cannes. When the festival first announced its lineup last month, “Highest 2 Lowest” wasn’t announced. Within hours, however, Lee, himself, announced the film was heading to Cannes. Representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Washington would attend to walk the red carpet.

“Highest 2 Lowest,” a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low,” will be released in theaters by A24 on Aug. 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press