In addition to the one awarded to George Lucas, a second honorary Palme d'Or will be awarded during the Cannes 2024 Festival. And for the first time in the festival's history, it will be awarded collectively to Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation studio led by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata .
"For the first time in its history, we're celebrating not a person, but an institution. Like all cinema icons, these characters populate our imaginations with rich, colorful worlds and sensitive, committed stories. With Ghibli, Japanese animation is seen as one of the great adventures of cinephilia, between tradition and modernity," explained Cannes Festival President Iris Knobloch and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux.
In its forty years of existence and more than twenty feature-length films, Studio Ghibli has amazed many, young and old alike.
"I'm truly honored and delighted that the studio has been awarded the Palme d'or d'honneur. I thank the Cannes Festival from the bottom of my heart. Forty years ago, Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and I created Studio Ghibli with the desire to offer high-quality animated films to children and adults of all ages. Today, audiences the world over can see our films, and many visitors come to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka and Parc Ghibli to discover the world of our films for themselves. We've come a long way to make Studio Ghibli this big. Although Miyazaki and I are getting on in years, I'm certain that Studio Ghibli will continue to take on new challenges, led by teams who will perpetuate the spirit of the company. I would be delighted if you would continue to take an interest in our achievements," said Toshio Suzuki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, on the announcement of this honorary Palme d'Or.
