Peter Jackson, the visionary director behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, and numerous other cinematic landmarks, has been honored with a special award at the Cannes Film Festival. The accolade was presented to him by actor Elijah Wood.
“I never imagined I would receive a Palme d’Or, as I don’t typically make films intended for the Palme d’Or,”
the director quipped. Wood reflected on how meeting Jackson served as a defining moment in his life. The pair first connected during auditions for The Lord of the Rings when Wood was just 18 years old. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the trilogy’s opening chapter, The Fellowship of the Ring.
The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival runs through May 23.