Barbra Streisand to Miss Cannes Closing Ceremony Due to Knee Injury

Barbra Streisand will not attend the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival this Saturday to accept an honorary Palme d’Or, citing a knee injury that requires continued recovery. The legendary singer, actress, and director was scheduled to receive the lifetime achievement award at the 79th edition of the festival.

In a statement released Sunday, Streisand said she was following her doctors’ advice and was “sadly unable to attend” the event on the French Riviera. She expressed deep honor at receiving the award and said she had looked forward to celebrating the festival’s films, spending time with colleagues, and returning to France. She extended congratulations to the filmmakers being celebrated this year and thanked the festival for its support of cinema.

Festival organizers confirmed that despite Streisand’s absence, the planned tribute to her career will proceed as scheduled during the May 23 closing ceremony at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Festival president Iris Knobloch and director Thierry Frémaux, along with the entire festival team, sent Streisand their warmest wishes for a prompt recovery.

Streisand was announced as an honorary Palme d’Or recipient in March. At the...