LA: Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola was honored with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award on Saturday, April 26, 2025, during a grand ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Hollywood legends including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, and Robert De Niro gathered to celebrate Coppola’s remarkable contributions to cinema.
Spielberg declared The Godfather the "greatest American film ever made," while De Niro humorously lamented not being cast in the original movie. Harrison Ford became emotional recalling his role in Coppola’s 1974 film The Conversation. Throughout the evening, actors and directors like Spike Lee, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, and Morgan Freeman praised Coppola’s influence on generations of filmmakers.
George Lucas, Coppola’s longtime friend and collaborator, presented the award, recounting their early days building American Zoetrope together. "You rounded up a bunch of young film students... we had no rules. We wrote them, and you were holding the pen," Lucas said, celebrating Coppola’s fearless spirit.
Accepting the award, Coppola expressed heartfelt gratitude to his family, colleagues, and friends. "Now I understand my home isn’t really a place at all, but you — the beautiful faces welcoming me back," he said warmly. Guests toasted the night with wine from Coppola’s own winery, followed by a fitting Italian dessert: cannolis.
Despite his latest film Megalopolis receiving mixed reviews, Coppola’s artistic conviction continues to inspire. As actor Adam Driver put it, Coppola reminds the world that true filmmaking is about passion, not profit. Previous AFI honorees include legends like John Williams, Mel Brooks, Denzel Washington, and Julie Andrews.
