AceShowbiz - John Travolta made a highly emotional appearance at the Cannes Film Festival as he premiered his directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, and was unexpectedly awarded an honorary Palme d’Or by festival head Thierry Frémaux.

The prestigious honor was presented to Travolta ahead of the film’s screening, marking a deeply humbling moment for the actor and filmmaker. “You said this would be a special night, but I didn’t think you meant this,” Travolta remarked, his voice filled with emotion. “This is beyond the Oscar.”

Propeller One-Way Night Coach is slated for release on Apple TV+ on May 29. The film adapts Travolta’s own book and tells the story of Jeff, a young aviation enthusiast, and his mother as they journey cross-country to Hollywood.

Thierry Frémaux shared insights into how Travolta’s film came to Cannes. “When John approached us in the fall, he was very humble and shy about showing the film as an official selection,” he said, emphasizing that Propeller was the first film chosen for the 79th edition of the festival. Frémaux also praised Travolta as “one of the greatest artists of the 20th and 21st century.”

“When you told me this would be the earliest film accepted, I cried,” Travolta admitted during the ceremony, while Frémaux joked about the competition from other festivals, quipping, “I was afraid Berlin could have stolen the film.”

Before the screening began, Travolta described the project as “the most personal thing I’ve ever done.” He also lightheartedly acknowledged the influence of previous Palme d’Or winners on his work. “My favorite movies in my life have always been the winners of the Palme d’Or ... and you’ll see them all demonstrated in this movie,” he said with a chuckle.

Travolta’s history with Cannes is notable. His starring role in Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino, premiered there and went on to win the Palme d’Or. Other films such as Grease and Saturday Night Fever were showcased in Cannes beach screenings, while Primary Colors (1998) played out of competition and She’s So Lovely (1997) was in competition.

At the premiere of Propeller One-Way Night Coach, Travolta was joined by his daughter Ella Bleu Travolta, who appears in the film as a flight attendant. Co-stars Clark Shotwell, Kelly Eviston-Quinnett, and Olga Hoffmann were also present. After the screening, Travolta expressed gratitude to Prince Albert II of Monaco for attending the event.

Discussing the film’s themes, Travolta reflected on an era “where architecture, aviation, automobiles, clothing, style had a lot of hope and adventure and you looked forward to what was next.” He added, “I think to some degree this is missing today, where young people miss this romance of having hope. Maybe it’s just a gentle reminder or could be.”

He emphasized that the film offers a “reminder of having hope” for younger generations, highlighting the nostalgic celebration of air travel’s beauty and the spirit of adventure it once inspired.

Travolta took on multiple roles in the production, including producing, financing, narrating, directing, and writing the film. “Other people wanted to produce it and direct it,” he revealed. “But it was so personal. I don’t know if they could capture it. I just wanted to, at the end of my chapters in my life, give a reflection of where it started for me.”

When asked about future directing plans, Travolta said, “For 55 years, I have watched people do it well. I have watched people do it not so well. I’ve watched mistakes, and I really believe that I can navigate around all of that, but I really feel I would have to have passion about the material.”

The Cannes audience warmly received Travolta, applauding frequently during the screening and giving him a standing ovation at the end. “What a night for me, thank you all for being here and for witnessing my directorial debut,” he said, visibly moved.

Before receiving the Palme d’Or, Travolta watched a clip reel celebrating his career, which he described as “very emotional.” He reflected, “You feel a mixture of things because every image has a memory. It’s wild but it’s my life. I’ve been doing film most of my life.”

The surprise presentation of the honorary Palme d’Or was met with a standing ovation and tears, marking a memorable milestone for Travolta at the festival. His heartfelt acceptance and the intimate nature of Propeller One-Way Night Coach underscored the significance of this moment in his career.

This article is based on reporting originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.