Hollywood legends gathered Saturday night to celebrate Francis Ford Coppola as he received the prestigious AFI Life Achievement Award. The 50th recipient of this honor, Spielberg and George Lucas presented Coppola with the award, calling him “fearless” for his unwavering support of independent artists.
Spielberg recalled working with Coppola on “Apocalypse Now,” which was initially five hours long. He praised Coppola’s openness to new ideas, saying it was a “superpower.” The director is also widely regarded as one of the greatest American filmmakers, with classics like “The Godfather” cementing his legacy.
Lucas shared his own bond with Coppola, calling him his hero and praising his ability to push filmmakers to take risks. Coppola’s speech reflected on memories with friends and family, highlighting the importance of forgiveness and self-awareness.
Other tributes included from notable actors such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, and Dustin Hoffman. The event marked a milestone in Coppola’s career and honored his contributions to American cinema.
Francis Ford Coppola is now among the esteemed group of AFI Life Achievement Award recipients, joining legends like Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, and Steven Spielberg.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/francis-ford-coppola-afi-life-achievement-award-george-lucas-1236377439