Peter Jackson received an honorary Palme d’Or at the opening of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, in a ceremony marked by emotion, nostalgia and recognition of his career. The award was presented by Elijah Wood, the actor who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, turning the moment into a symbolic reunion connected to one of the most influential film franchises of the past decades.
Wood recalled his first meeting with Jackson, when he was 18 years old and had sent a video audition filmed with friends in Griffith Park. He said that the moment he found out he would play Frodo changed his life forever. Jackson accepted the award with humor and modesty, joking that Wood had grown “a little more beard” since their first meeting 27 years ago.
In his speech, Jackson said the Cannes Film Festival helped change the perception of “The Lord of the Rings” at a time when the project was seen as a huge risk. He recalled that all three films were shot over three years, while media reports questioned what would happen if the first film failed, given that the second and third had already been made. According to Jackson, New Line Cinema founder Bob Shaye decided to show 20 minutes of the first film at Cannes in 2001, a move that changed the narrative around the project and created anticipation before its release.
The festival opened as a 12-day programme of premieres that will conclude on May 23 with the awarding of the Palme d’Or. The first day was also marked by political messages that partly overshadowed the usual red-carpet glamour. Jane Fonda and Gong Li officially opened the festival, while Fonda said that film has always been an act of resistance. Jury president Park Chan-wook also stressed that film and politics cannot be separated, saying that art and politics are not opposing concepts.
This year’s Cannes edition is presented as a festival taking place in a world of instability and uncertainty. Its selection is described as less focused on spectacle and superficial glamour, and more connected to confrontation with reality. Alongside Jackson, Barbara Streisand is also listed among the icons of cinema set to receive an honorary Palme d’Or.
The opening also drew attention because of James Franco’s return to the festival scene. His appearance on the red carpet sparked reactions, as he had rarely attended major Hollywood events in recent years following accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct, which he denied. Court records cited in the reports state that he agreed to pay a 2.2 million dollar settlement.
With the honorary Palme d’Or, Jackson joins a list of previous recipients that includes Agnès Varda, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster and Tom Cruise. The recognition also comes as “The Lord of the Rings” remains active in popular culture, with Jackson linked as executive producer to the 2024 animated film “The War of the Rohirrim” and new franchise projects announced for the coming years.
