Cannes Film Festival 2025: A five-star red carpet for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest

The American director returns to Cannes with a brand-new film, Highest 2 Lowest, starring the legendary Denzel Washington and hit rapper A$AP Rocky. While it’s not among the works in competition during the Cannes Film Festival, it welcomes a star-studded audience this Monday evening for its out-of-competition screening.

It’s been 19 years since iconic director Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington last worked together.

And, more importantly, it’s been 30 years since the legendary Denzel Washington last set foot in Cannes. For his grand return to Cannes after 30 years without walking its legendary red carpet, Denzel Washington broke protocol with a pair of white sneakers. But when your name is Denzel, anything goes.

No surprises regarding A$AP Rocky, who once again made a very successful appearance in a black Saint Laurent suit and tie.
The male trio was surrounded by the rest of the film’s cast. The filmmaker wore an orange and blue striped suit, a nod to the colors of the New York Knicks, Lee’s favorite basketball team, which recently earned a spot in the NBA Finals.

The red carpet brought together a host of celebrities, from soccer player Paul Pogba (and his partner), praised for his refined style, to Jason Momoa, Dakota Fanning, and numerous guests who came to celebrate the return of the duo Lee and Washington.
Paul Watson was also present on the red carpet of Spike Lee’s film. Carla Bruni enjoyed a prolonged walkabout, complete with selfies. Isabelle Huppert was also there, as were Jules Koundé, Dakota Johnson, and others.

Highest 2 Lowest tells the story of the kidnapping of the son of a major New York music producer, played by Denzel Washington. At least, that was the kidnappers’ plan, as they actually captured his best friend, the son of his father’s old buddy and chauffeur (Jeffrey Wright). Too bad, the ransom remains the same: 17.5 million Swiss francs in 1000 bills.

Cannes Film Festival Honors Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington, after 30 years, didn’t make the trip to Cannes for nothing. After the film’s screening, Festival Director Thierry Frémaux and Festival President Iris Knobloch took the opportunity to present him with a surprise Honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of his unique contribution to the history of cinema.

It had been a well-kept secret: just before the out-of-competition screening of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, actor Denzel Washington was presented with an Honorary Palme d’Or for his lifetime achievement by the American director and Festival directors Iris Knobloch and Thierry Frémaux.

While Festival photocalls typically take place the day after a film’s premiere, Cannes organized one for Highest 2 Lowest earlier Monday so that Denzel Washington could attend. The actor, who posed with Spike Lee and his partner A$AP Rocky, appeared unaffected by jet lag and was expected to return to New York immediately after the screening.

Highest 2 Lowest, a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, will be released theatrically by A24 on August 22nd in the United States, before being streamed on Apple TV+ starting September 5th.

The Festival typically awards one or two Honorary Palmes at each edition. This year, on the Festival’s opening night, Robert De Niro received an Honorary Palme d’Or, and tonight, actor Denzel Washington received an Honorary Palme d’Or for Lifetime Achievement.

©2025 – IMPACT EUROPEAN

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Gabriel MIHAI

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