Barbra Streisand will not be able to attend the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival, where she will receive the honorary Palme d’Or, due to a knee injury.
“On the advice of my doctors, I will unfortunately not be able to attend this year’s Cannes Film Festival as I continue to recover from a knee injury,” Streisand said in a statement on Sunday. “However, we were extremely honored to win the prestigious Palme d’Or and were very much looking forward to celebrating the 79th edition of this great film.”
“I was also very much looking forward to spending time with my colleagues, whom I greatly respect, and, of course, returning to France, a place I have always loved. While I am disappointed that I will not be there in person, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the filmmakers from around the world whose extraordinary talent and creative vision will be celebrated this year. Thank you so much to the festival and to everyone who continues to support and champion the art of film.”
The festival plans to honor the singer, actor and filmmaker at its closing ceremony on May 23, but she will not be attending in person. “Iris Knobloch, Thierry Frémaux, and the entire Festival team wish Barbra Streisand a speedy recovery,” the festival said in a press release.
Streisand is the third recipient of this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or, along with Peter Jackson, director of “The Lord of the Rings,” and John Travolta, whose directorial debut “The Propeller Night Bus” premiered at the festival. Travolta was surprised to win the award before the screening, and the “Grease” and “Pulp Fiction” star had an emotional reaction.
“This is beyond the Oscars,” Travolta said through tears. “I can’t believe it. I didn’t expect anything like this.”
The Cannes Closing Ceremony, which will announce the winners of the prestigious Palme d’Or Best Picture award, will be held on May 23rd at 8:15 pm (CET).
