Clint Eastwood honoured with Palme d'Or

Actor and director Clint Eastwood has become only the second person to be honoured with the lifetime achievement Palme d'Or by the organisers of the Cannes Film Festival.

The 78-year-old started his career as the star of spaghetti westerns but in his later years he has directed a string of Academy Award-winning movies.

He was at the helm of Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima and most recently, Gran Tourino.

Gilles Jacob, Cannes president, commented: "It would be impossible to choose just one of your works for this supreme honour … It's the right time to give the Palme d'Or to Clint Eastwood."

The Hollywood legend said he was "very, very flattered" by the gong and noted that French cineastes had always been supportive of his ventures into the directing world.

He added that France is the first country to "approach and appreciate" cinema as a form of art.

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