Leonardo DiCaprio presented Robert De Niro with the honorary Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony. The emotional moment highlighted their decades-long friendship and De Niro’s legendary career. De Niro used his acceptance speech to criticize former U.S. President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on foreign films.
The ceremony took place on May 13, 2025, at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. DiCaprio praised De Niro as the “archetype” of acting, recalling how De Niro gave him his first major role in 1993’s This Boy’s Life. De Niro, visibly moved, hugged DiCaprio and thanked him before delivering a politically charged speech.
“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. That affects all of us here because the arts are democratic. Art is inclusive, it brings people together,” De Niro said. “America’s philistine president has announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S. You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it.”
De Niro’s speech resonated with the audience, which included Juliette Binoche, Halle Berry, and Jeremy Strong. The festival’s jury president, Binoche, also addressed global conflicts in her opening remarks. The ceremony set a politically charged tone for the 11-day event.
De Niro’s connection with Cannes spans nearly 50 years. He first attended in 1976 with Taxi Driver, which won the Palme d’Or. He returned with classics like Once Upon a Time in America and The Mission. In 2011, he served as Cannes jury president. His latest appearance was for Killers of the Flower Moon in 2023.
DiCaprio shared a heartfelt story about his audition for This Boy’s Life. *”As a 15 or 16-year-old, I did the only thing I could think of to stand out—I screamed at him at the top of my lungs. The room burst into laughter,”* he said. “Bob later told the producer, ‘Second kid from the last.’ Luckily, that was me. That moment changed my life forever.”
The two actors reunited in 2023 for Killers of the Flower Moon. DiCaprio credited De Niro for introducing him to Martin Scorsese, leading to iconic collaborations like The Departed and The Wolf of Wall Street.
De Niro’s masterclass at the Debussy Theatre on May 14 will delve into his 50-year career. The festival also paid tribute to late Belgian actress Émilie Dequenne, who passed away in March.
The opening night film, Leave One Day, received mixed reviews. However, the focus remained on De Niro’s honor and his bold political statements. Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign films have sparked backlash in Hollywood, with many fearing it could disrupt global film financing.
“This isn’t just an American problem, it’s a global one,” De Niro added. “We can’t just sit back and watch. We have to act now—with passion and determination. When there are elections, vote.”
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