MOVIE NEWS – As Francis Ford Coppola received the American Film Institute’s prestigious 50th Life Achievement Award, Adam Driver honored the filmmaker’s fearless dedication to artistic integrity. At the gala event held Saturday evening at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Driver described Coppola as “one of my greatest cinematic inspirations,” emphasizing how Coppola funded last year’s ambitious Megalopolis entirely from his own resources—an idea the director first envisioned back in 1983.

“Here’s a theater director who brought his unique approach to filmmaking, completely reshaping how we perceive cinema and how we make films,” Driver explained. “His movies serve as benchmarks or at least exemplify what’s truly possible in cinema. Megalopolis, in my eyes, perfectly represents that vision.”

Driver recalled Coppola delivering what he described as “the single greatest piece of direction I ever received” during the first day of filming Megalopolis, when Coppola told the crew: “We’re not being brave enough.”

Putting Coppola’s advice into context, Driver praised him for investing “120 million dollars into a purely artistic vision without ever letting financial pressures determine the content. And believe me, I witnessed this firsthand. At no point did he talk about making it more commercial.”

“This is a life based on strong principles,” Driver continued. “At a time when the importance of art is diminished, and the industry judges success primarily through revenue, I look to individuals like Francis for inspiration. They live according to their convictions, take enormous risks, and push cinema forward.”

Driver emphasized: “Francis invested $120 million to create an uncompromising vision for cinema, and I find that incredibly inspiring. Such decisions resonate through his films, through generations, and undoubtedly throughout this room. I know honoring Francis comes with complex feelings, but echoing others here tonight, he truly deserves this award. Congratulations, Francis, on everything you’ve achieved—I’m deeply honored to celebrate your generosity and bravery.”

Despite Coppola’s enormous investment, Megalopolis faced harsh criticism, earning only $14.3 million globally.

The gala featured appearances by cinematic legends including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Spike Lee, and notable collaborators such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Elle Fanning, and Diane Lane.

The AFI Life Achievement Award is the institute’s most prestigious honor, previously given to Nicole Kidman, Julie Andrews, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Diane Keaton, and John Williams, among others.

Coppola’s acclaimed films, including The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now, feature prominently on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list. A six-time Academy Award winner, Coppola’s legendary filmography also includes Patton, American Graffiti, The Conversation, The Outsiders, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The event raised a record $2.5 million for AFI and will air on TNT on June 18, followed by a repeat broadcast on TCM July 31.

Source: Deadline