Catherine Deneuve: She receives award for her life’s work

Catherine Deneuve (81) is awarded this year’s Taormina Film Festival for her life’s work. The French film icon is scheduled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on June 13th in Teatro Antico on Sicily – a suitable framework for a career that has shaped the European cinema for decades.

As part of the gala, Deneuve also presents her latest work “Spirit World”, staged by the Singaporian director Erik Khoo. The film started in France in February 2025 and is now also coming to the Italian cinemas on June 26.

Catherine Deneuve started her career as an actress in the late 1950s and wrote with classics such as “The umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964), “Belle de Jour” (1967), “Indochine” (1992) or “8 women” (2002) Film history. Soon she will also be seen in the new film by Oscar Prize winner Asghar Farhadi, “Parallel Tales”.

The Taormina Film Festival, which takes place in the Sicilian coastal city from June 10th to 14th, is waiting for other top -class guests this year. In addition to Deneuve, Martin Scorsese and Michael Douglas are honored. Oscar winner Da’vine Joy Randolph takes over the chair of the international jury. At her side: actor Rupert Everett and the triple-winning costume designer Sandy Powell.

The festival is opened with the “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina”, presented by director Len Wiseman and leading actor Norman Reedus. Alex Garland’s new action film “Warfare” also goes into the race for the main prize.