Spike Lee Celebrates at Cannes with Family and Friends
With his beloved New York Knicks leading their NBA playoffs matchup against the Boston Celtics after a stunning 119-81 victory this past weekend, filmmaker Spike Lee has more than enough reasons to celebrate. However, The Hollywood Reporter and Threads added another occasion for him to raise a glass by hosting an early evening celebration for his much-anticipated Cannes Film Festival selection Highest 2 Lowest at Hyde Beach by Campari on Sunday.
Spike Lee is set to make a triumphant return to the Palais for the world premiere of his Apple Original feature in collaboration with A24. Lee generated buzz early on, thanks to the exquisite cocktails by Campari, showing up at the beach-set celebration with his family, including wife Tonya Lewis Lee and their children Satchel and Jackson Lee.
(Photo by Victor Boyko/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
The Lees arrived just before 6 p.m., and many collaborators were already present, including the film’s screenwriter Alan Fox, producers Jason Michael Berman and Jordan Moldo, along with executives from Apple and A24. Even before Lee’s official arrival, his presence was evident through numerous copies of THR’s Cannes issue featuring Lee on the cover, strikingly clad in yellow and black spectacles. The venue was adorned in Campari’s characteristic vibrant red, and digital covers featuring Lee’s face heightened the anticipation of his arrival.
A Film Empowered by Legacy
Highest 2 Lowest serves as a “reinterpretation,” according to Lee, of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic 1963 police procedural High and Low. The film stars the talented Denzel Washington as a music mogul caught in a moral dilemma when a ransom demand shakes his world. The impressive cast includes Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Wendell Pierce, and Ilfenesh Hadera.
“I am thrilled to be at Cannes for the first time,” shared Pierce with THR in the luxurious Campari lounge. “I always said that I would come when I was part of a project that truly matters, and this film absolutely fits that bill.” Pierce highlighted his long-standing relationship with Lee, dating back to their collaboration on the 1996 film Get on the Bus.
Creativity and Legacy
Pierce continued, “Spike and I go way back to Brooklyn. I would see him regularly when I lived just a block away from his office in Fort Greene. I’m honored to be part of his journey because he embodies the spirit of the American aesthetic—freedom within form. He deeply honors technique while maximizing creativity and expressiveness.” The camaraderie shared among Spike, his cast, and attendees is something that pulses through the air at the event.
The significance of Spike Lee’s work was palpable during the celebration. “Being here for his film, against the striking backdrop of the French Riviera, subtly showcases that the more specific one gets in their art, the broader the appeal becomes,” Pierce asserted. He emphasized that audiences from all backgrounds can appreciate Lee’s unique storytelling style and the societal issues he highlights through his films, particularly at this prestigious festival.
(Photo by Victor Boyko/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
Overall, the gathering was an unforgettable blend of artistry, family, and camaraderie. Attendees not only celebrated the film’s debut but also publicly recognized the profound impact Spike Lee has had on cinema and culture. With a glass raised, the evening became an ode to creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling in today’s world.