Hollywood star Denzel Washington had a tense conversation with a photographer before receiving a surprise honorary award at the Cannes Film Festival.

The 70-year-old Washington was at the festival for the first time for the premiere of his latest film with New York director Spike Lee, "Highest 2 Lowest."

The two-time Oscar winner received the honorary Palme d'Or before the screening, which was attended by VIP guests including his co-star A$AP Rocky and his partner Rihanna.

"This is a complete surprise. I'm very excited," Washington told AFP.

Earlier, the veteran actor appeared annoyed by a photographer on the red carpet.

The photographer appeared to grab the actor's arm while he was posing for cameras. Washington pushed him away, then pointed at him and appeared to say "Stop" several times, as seen in video footage.

But despite the awkward incident, Washington's mood was undoubtedly lifted by the rave reviews for him and Lee's film.

Loosely adapted from Japanese master Akira Kurosawa's 1963 classic "High and Low," the film is "witty, stylish and full of kinetic energy," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Guardian praised Washington's "magnificent form" in the film, saying he plays a music mogul with "smiling monarchical confidence."

A$AP Rocky stars alongside Washington in Highest 2 Lowest, continuing his acting career, which includes Mary Bronstein's If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, shown at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

Before presenting the award to Washington, festival director Thierry Frémaux presented a montage of memorable performances by Washington, including in "Malcolm X" and "Mo' Better Blues," both directed by Lee.

Clips were also shown from "Glory," which earned him an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1989, and "Training Day," for which he won the best actor award in 2002.

The cast of Highest 2 Lowest made an appearance on the red carpet in Cannes, with Spike Lee showing up in an orange suit with thin stripes, round glasses, and an orange and blue hat, and A$AP Rocky showing off a gold tooth.

Although Cannes usually presents honorary awards at special ceremonies, it is not unusual for actors to receive them unexpectedly – as happened with Harrison Ford at the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023. | BGNES