Renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has been awarded the 50th American Film Institute (AFI) Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented during a grand ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where fellow legendary directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg handed over the honor to Coppola.

During the event, Spielberg praised Coppola’s creativity and influence, describing him as “brave” and “a warrior for independent filmmakers.” He remarked that Coppola is not only exceptional in his own work but also inspires others by promoting new ideas and philosophies.

Spielberg recalled watching the early five-hour cut of Coppola’s iconic film Apocalypse Now with fellow filmmakers. He shared how Coppola allowed them to view the unfinished version and openly asked for feedback, a gesture that left a lasting impression and revealed Coppola’s ‘superpower’ as a filmmaker.

Speaking about The Godfather, Spielberg said, “To me, The Godfather is the greatest American movie of all time. When we’re young, we want to make our parents proud, then our friends, and now our peers. But sir, you are beyond time—unparalleled. You’ve enriched American cinema and continue to do so. You’ve inspired generations of storytellers, and you’ve made us proud of our work as well.”

In his acceptance speech, Coppola fondly remembered family, friends, and colleagues, expressing deep gratitude to those who inspired him. He said, “It feels surreal. All those beautiful faces—friends, coworkers, mentors, playmates, family, neighbors—are welcoming me again. I’ve always been one of you.”

Many prominent stars paid tribute to Coppola during the evening, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman, Ron Howard, Spike Lee, and Adam Driver. Coppola was visibly emotional several times during the night. De Niro and Pacino, stars of The Godfather, took the stage to honor him. “You changed our lives,” said De Niro, while Pacino added that Coppola had more belief in him than he had in himself.

The night turned into a powerful celebration of Coppola’s enduring legacy and unmatched contribution to cinema.