[Photo&] 'The Lord of the Rings' Legend Peter Jackson Receives Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes

The master director 'Peter Jackson', who opened the horizons of fantasy cinema, stands at the pinnacle of the global film industry. The 79th 'Cannes Film Festival' has officially announced that it will award him the 'Honorary Palme d'Or'. This is a remarkable achievement following legendary figures such as Agnès Varda and Robert De Niro, and it is a tribute to his bold vision that combines Hollywood blockbusters with auteur artistry.

Director Jackson has a special connection to Cannes. He recalled, "I first came to Cannes in 1988 with 'Meet the Feebles', and my life changed completely with the screening of 'The Lord of the Rings' footage in 2001." Iris Knobloch, president of the Cannes Film Festival, praised him as "a person who permanently changed the concept of Hollywood spectacle," commending his qualities as a great storyteller beyond just a technician. The award ceremony will take place at the opening ceremony on May 12, 2026.

'Peter Jackson' is known as an innovator who changed the landscape of the film industry. His representative work, the 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, was an unprecedented project that involved filming on location in New Zealand with over 20,000 extras. He masterfully blended the cutting-edge technology of 'Weta FX' with analog sensibilities, earning 17 Oscar trophies and creating a box office phenomenon of $3 billion.

Recently, his endeavors have expanded beyond feature films into the realm of documentary restoration. 'They Shall Not Grow Old', which vividly resurrected World War I, and the monumental musical record 'The Beatles: Get Back' demonstrate his relentless craftsmanship in breathing life into old films. Notably, the narrative of Jackson, a fan who realized the dream of adapting 'The Lord of the Rings' after it was rejected by the original author Tolkien, and later restoring their musical history, is recounted as a story more dramatic than film itself.