With two Oscar wins under her belt, Jodie Foster has been tapped to receive the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
The actress, producer and director will receive the honour at the opening ceremony of the festival on July 6, while serving as Special Guest on the day.
Foster will receive the honour thanks to her unique personality and a brilliant artistic journey, according to Cannes.
”Cannes is a festival to which I owe so much, it has completely changed my life,” Foster said in a statement. “Although I had already directed before, my first time on the Croisette was a defining moment for me. Showcasing one of my films here has always been a dream of mine. In fact, I have had several opportunities to fulfil my dream. …Cannes is a film festival by auteur-filmmakers who honour artists. And I greatly appreciate that.”
Throughout Foster’s decades-long career in Hollywood, seven of her films have screened at the festival including the 1976 Martin Scorsese film ‘Taxi Driver’, which she starred in at the age of 13 and her directorial piece, ‘The Beaver’ in 2011.
“Jodie Foster has provided us with an amazing gift by coming to celebrate the return of the festival on the Croisette. Her aura is unparalleled: she embodies modernity, the radiant intelligence of independence and the need for freedom,” said Cannes President Pierre Lescure.
Notable names such as Jane Fonda, Jeanne Moreau, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Manoel de Oliveira, Bernardo Bertolucci, Alain Delon and Agnes Varda have all received the honourary badge in past years.
Foster’s roster of film works include ‘The Mauritanian’, ‘Panic Room’, ‘Contact’, ‘Flightplan’ ‘The Accused’, ‘The Brave One’ among others. She recently won a Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a motion picture with ‘The Mauritanian’.
“Jodie never ceases to reinvent herself. She questions with her piercing gaze, learns from others, and is willing to step back from her beliefs in order to forge new morals — do what is fair. An idea that she strives to convey in the decisions she makes as an actress and director, and which makes her so precious during these confusing times. We will honour her with warmth and admiration,” noted Cannes chief Thierry Fremaux.
