Kevin Spacey to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Cannes
Kevin Spacey is set to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award at next week’s Cannes Festival, marking a significant moment in the context of the #MeToo movement.
On Tuesday, the Oscar-winning actor will be honored for his contributions to film and television at the Better World Fund’s 10th anniversary gala dinner, hosted at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.
According to a statement from the fund, he is recognized not only for “decades of artistic brilliance” but also for assisting in connecting buyers to the largest film festival for his new project, *The Awakening*. This film will be showcased at the Marché du Film, an industry market located beneath the Palais des Festivals.
While the gala isn’t an official part of the Cannes Film Festival, the Carlton is a notable venue for festival events. The Guardian reached out to the festival’s press office to inquire if Spacey would have the opportunity to walk the red carpet.
In July 2023, Spacey was found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men during one of the UK’s high-profile #MeToo trials after a four-week hearing at Southwark Crown Court. Previously, he had avoided sexual assault charges in a 2022 civil case in New York.
Since 2017, over 30 men have accused Spacey of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior, leading Netflix to cancel the *Goa Vidal* biopic and remove him from the final season of *House of Cards*.
Earlier this year, Spacey’s response to actor Guy Pearce’s claims of inappropriate behavior on the set of the 1997 film *L.A. Confidential* sparked headlines. Pearce stated that there was no doubt Spacey “targeted” him, expressing fear of Spacey’s aggressive nature and recalling how he cried upon hearing about other accusations against the actor in 2017.
Spacey replied in a video, saying, “We worked together a long time ago. If I upset you, you could have reached out to me so we could discuss it, but instead, you chose to speak to the press.”
Last week, Cannes officials decided to bar Spacey from the red carpet amid ongoing allegations against him. Meanwhile, the festival’s opening day was overshadowed by the conviction of actor Gérard Depardieu on sexual assault charges, further complicating discussions around the event.
