John Travolta was taken by surprise when he received an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of his directorial debut on Friday. The festival's artistic director, Thierry Frémaux, presented the award to Travolta just before the screening of "Propeller One-Way Night Coach." A visibly emotional Travolta clutched his chest as Frémaux handed over the trophy.
Red Carpet Appearance
Wearing a white beret, Travolta walked the Cannes red carpet alongside his 26-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta. The actor wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, which is based on his own 1997 children's novel.
Tradition of Surprise Awards
Cannes has a history of surprising guests with honorary Palme d'Or awards. In 2022, Tom Cruise was unexpectedly honored in a similar fashion. At this year's festival, "Lord of the Rings" filmmaker Peter Jackson received the award during the opening ceremony. Additionally, Barbra Streisand is scheduled to receive one later in the festival.
