AFI honours 'The Godfather' and 'Apocalypse Now' director Francis Ford Coppola with Life Achievement Award

American cinema legend Francis Ford Coppola has been honoured with the Life Achievement Award by the American Film Institute, their highest accolade, presented by two of his most esteemed colleagues, friends and contemporaries, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

The event saw the presence of acting heavyweights Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, who got their major career breakthroughs through The Godfather and The Godfather - Part II, both by Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, the author of the classic book of the same name.

The actors expressed their gratitude for casting them in his films. It must be noted that Pacino was not the preferred choice of the producers of The Godfather when Coppola suggested his name. However, after multiple attempts at convincing them, Coppola eventually won — a decision that later proved advantageous for all parties. Pacino played the son of Marlon Brando's character, Vito Corleone, the mafia boss and patriarch of the Corleone family.

Pacino also starred in the third film, which was recently released in restored form with a new title, The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. All three films chronicled the rise and fall of the once-feared and respected crime family.

Speaking at the event, Pacino said: "You know, none of us got fired from The Godfather, but some of us were pretty close; I was the closest, yes. And Francis just fought for us all the time; he fought for his film and his vision, which he always does... It could have got him fired, it could have all of us fired, but it didn't happen. Now, years later, here we all are to celebrate. Thanks, Francis, for believing in me more than I believed in myself. I am eternally grateful and honoured to be a part of your 'Godfather' family."

De Niro, who was considered for the roles of Paulie Gatto and Sonny Corleone in the first film but got later cast in the sequel as the younger version of Vito Corleone, reminisced about not getting the part in the first film because things worked out in such a way that he ended up in Part-2. "It was the best job I did not get, hence, I was available for "The Godfather-Part 2'... Francis, you changed my career; you changed my life. We are here today because of you," said the 81-year-old.

Spielberg, while presenting the accolade, called Coppola a "warrior" who championed the causes of independent filmmakers but also was "fearless" in opening up to "new ideas, opinions and inspirations."

Lucas recalled that when he was 22, Coppola taught him to be fearless of heights. "And I've lived with that the rest of my life, although I don't go to the higher level he does."

In the past, eminent film personalities like Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, Gene Kelly, Sidney Poitier, Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington and, most recently, Nicole Kidman (in 2024) were recipients of the honour.

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