Barbra Streisand’s Absence from Cannes Film Festival Due to Knee Injury
Barbra Streisand, the legendary entertainer and EGOT winner, has been unable to attend this year’s Cannes Film Festival due to an ongoing knee injury. The 84-year-old artist will be receiving an honorary Palme d’Or award, but she will not be present in person for the ceremony.
Streisand shared a statement through the festival on Sunday, explaining her absence. “On the advice of my doctors, as I continue recovering from a knee injury, I am sadly unable to attend the Festival de Cannes this year,” she said. Despite this setback, she expressed deep gratitude for the honor. “I am deeply honored to receive the honorary Palme d’Or and had so been looking forward to celebrating the remarkable films of the 79th edition.”
The actress-singer also mentioned that she regrets not being able to meet with her colleagues at the event. “I was also very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues whom I so admire – and, of course, returning to France, a place I have always loved,” she added.
While she cannot be there in person, Streisand extended her warmest congratulations to all the filmmakers whose work is being celebrated. “My heartfelt thanks to the Festival, and to everyone who continues to support and champion the art of cinema,” she said.
The festival will still celebrate Streisand’s decades-long contributions during its closing ceremony. A statement from the festival read: “Iris Knobloch, Thierry Frémaux and the entire festival team send Barbra Streisand their warmest wishes for a prompt recovery.”
Streisand has been hailed by the festival as “a dazzling actress, an unparalleled singer, a force of nature, humor, and sensuality” in announcing her for the honors. She joins other notable names such as Peter Jackson and John Travolta, who are also being presented with honorary Palme d’Or awards this year.
Travolta, speaking at a festival screening of his new movie Propeller One-Way Night Coach, called the honors “beyond the Oscar” and “the last thing I expected.” The two-time Academy Award nominee said he was caught off-guard when his film was accepted for the festival.
“When I met with you in November, I had no expectation that my film would be accepted,” Travolta said. “When Thierry said it was not only accepted but it was making history because it would be the first film ever accepted that early, I cried like a baby because I just couldn’t believe it.”
He continued, “Because in my opinion, you are the most discerning person in the movie industry. I was just happy to be here. I never expected this.”
Other notable names who have received honorary Palme d’Or awards include Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Agnès Varda, and Marco Bellocchio.
