Francis Ford Coppola Honored with 50th AFI Life Achievement Award

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola received the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award at a ceremony on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, bringing together an array of Hollywood legends.

During the event, Steven Spielberg called “The Godfather” the “greatest American film ever made,” while Robert De Niro humorously lamented his casting in the sequel rather than the original. Harrison Ford expressed emotional reflections about his role in Coppola’s 1974 film, “The Conversation.”

The evening was a personal recognition of Coppola’s contributions to cinema, marking a full-circle moment for the 86-year-old director who is also a founding trustee of AFI. On the red carpet, Coppola shared his thoughts, saying, “This is a little different because it’s a personal recognition from people that you’ve known all your life, so it’s like a homecoming.”

While sitting between Spielberg and George Lucas, Coppola received accolades from other stars present, including Spike Lee and Morgan Freeman. Freeman humorously remarked about the financial struggles of filmmaking, welcoming laughter from the audience.

George Lucas, his longtime friend and collaborator, presented the award, recalling their early days when they founded their production company, American Zoetrope, in 1969. He praised Coppola for guiding young filmmakers and redefining American film.

As the night proceeded, Coppola accepted his award with heartfelt gratitude. He expressed his sentiment to the audience filled with friends and family, stating, “Now I understand here, this place that created me, my home, isn’t really a place at all, but all the beautiful faces welcoming me back.”

This marks the 50th recipient of the award, which was first presented to John Ford in 1973. Guests at the event enjoyed wine from Coppola’s vineyard and a trio of cannolis. Actors who collaborated with Coppola emphasized his educative approach, describing his mentorship style.

Despite his recent film “Megalopolis” receiving mixed reviews and failing at the box office, Coppola remained steadfast in his commitment to filmmaking as an art form rather than a business venture. “For a year in our culture when the importance of the arts is minimized… I hang on to individuals like Francis for inspiration,” said Adam Driver, who starred in the film.

Previous AFI awardees include Nicole Kidman and industry giants like John Williams and Denzel Washington. The event also paid tribute to David Lynch, who passed away earlier this year.