Producer Jeffrey Katzenberg feted with honorary Palme d'Or

Former Walt Disney Studios chairman and film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg has received an honorary Palme d'Or at the 70th Cannes Film Festival.

Hollywood stars Will Smith and Uma Thurman turned out to celebrate the veteran producer's festival prize, which he received during a gala dinner at the Carlton hotel here, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Every single spring for almost 40 years, I couldn't wait to come back here. I think for anyone in the film industry coming here its similar to what it feels like for an athlete to go to the Olympics.

"It is incredible, it is the best. Wining is actually secondary, simply being able to participate is the greatest of honours," Katzenberg said.

Festival head Thierry Fremaux said that the 66-year-old veteran's submission of the "Shrek" in 2001 was a game-changer for the film carnival, adding that if the festival have not had the fantasy-comedy in competition that year, other animations, such as "Persepolis", may not have had a presence in later years.

Netflix head Ted Sarandos, Producer Brett Ratner, Paramount CEO Jim Gianopolous, Timbuktu producer Sylvie Pialat and directors Naomi Kawase, Costa-Gavras and Joachim Lafosse were also present at the gala dinner.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)