Peter Jackson receives the honorary Golden Palm in Cannes from the hands of Elijah Wood, unleashing the nostalgia of 'The Lord of the Rings'

The Cannes Film Festival 2026 experienced one of its most emotional moments with the presentation of the honorary Palme d'Or to Peter Jackson, in a ceremony marked by nostalgia and the historical weight of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The person in charge of presenting the award was Elijah Wood, the unforgettable Frodo of the trilogy, in a reunion on stage that provoked a long ovation from the audience. The image of both together rekindled the memory of a saga that transformed fantasy cinema worldwide.

The moment was charged with symbolism more than two decades after the premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, when Jackson and Wood began a collaboration that would mark the history of modern cinema. The public reacted with emotion to a meeting that functioned as a direct tribute to an entire generation of viewers.

During the event, Wood recalled his arrival to the role of Frodo at 18 years old, after sending a homemade VHS tape that ended up reaching the director's hands. Jackson, for his part, responded with humor and emotion, recalling the beginnings of a project that at the time was seen as an enormous risk by the industry.

The filmmaker also recalled the initial doubts about shooting the trilogy simultaneously and the decisive role of Bob Shaye, founder of New Line Cinema, whose gamble allowed a production to go ahead that would end up becoming a global cultural phenomenon.

The tribute closed with a prolonged applause in the room, consolidating the feeling that the reunion between Jackson and Wood not only celebrated a an award, but also the feeling of the indelible mark of one of the most influential sagas in the history of cinema.