Cannes Awards John Travolta Honorary Palme d’Or Ahead of May 29 Apple TV+ Debut

6 articles · Updated · Variety · May 15

John Travolta received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes just before the premiere of his directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” and called the tribute “beyond the Oscar.”
The festival framed the award as a lifetime-achievement honor while spotlighting Travolta’s first film as director, an Apple-backed adaptation of his 1997 children’s book that he described as his most personal project.
“Propeller One-Way Night Coach” follows a young aviation enthusiast and his mother on a one-way trip to Hollywood; the cast includes Clark Shotwell, Kelly Eviston-Quinnett and Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu Travolta.
Cannes had already announced honorary Palmes for Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand, and the unannounced Travolta prize extends the festival’s recent practice of adding at least one surprise recipient each year.
Travolta’s Cannes history stretches back to “Pulp Fiction” in 1994, and his new film is set to begin streaming May 29 on Apple TV+.

After 'Pulp Fiction' resurrected his career at Cannes, does this award cement his legacy or just market his new film?

Beyond the tears, are Cannes' 'surprise' awards becoming a predictable PR move for the festival and its featured stars?