The American star received a standing ovation before receiving the Palme d'Or d'honneur. He also praised the Cannes Film Festival and the love of cinema in France.
"It means a lot to me because there are hundreds of film festivals around the world but there is only one Cannes," he said. Uma Thurman presented him with the prize, calling him an "iconic movie star" and a luminous artist. The 78-year-old American actor joked: "I'm getting a little older"