Barbra Streisand Misses Cannes Honorary Palme d'Or Ceremony
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Barbra Streisand will not attend the Cannes closing ceremony on May 23 to accept her honorary Palme d'Or, citing her doctors' advice to continue recovering from a knee injury, per her Sunday statement.
- Cannes will still pay tribute to Streisand during the closing ceremony, with festival president Iris Knobloch, artistic director Thierry Frémaux, and the full festival team sending their warmest wishes for a prompt recovery.
- Streisand is the third recipient of an honorary Palme d'Or at the 79th Cannes edition, joining "Lord of the Rings" filmmaker Peter Jackson and John Travolta.
- John Travolta was surprised with his honorary Palme d'Or before the screening of his directorial debut "Propeller One-Way Night Coach," leaving the "Grease" and "Pulp Fiction" star in tears as he said, "This is beyond the Oscar. I can't believe this. This is the last thing I expected."
- The Cannes closing ceremony, which awards the prestigious Palme d'Or for best film, is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. CET on May 23.
Why it matters: Streisand becomes only the third-ever recipient of an honorary Palme d'Or this year, a rare honor, but her physical absence means the festival's tribute plays out without its honoree on stage as the main Palme d'Or winner is also being crowned.
