NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� will receive the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, the American Film Institute announced Tuesday.
Coppola, who recently released his will be presented with the award in a gala tribute at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre on April 26. The 85-year-old filmmaker will be the 50th recipient of the award first handed out to John Ford in 1973.
鈥淔rancis Ford Coppola is a peerless artist 鈥� one who has created seminal works in the canon of American film, and has also inspired generations of filmmakers who now embody his artistry and his independent spirit,鈥� said the producer Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI board of trustees.
Coppola released 鈥淢egalopolis," a Roman epic set in modern-day New York, in September. The film, which first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, drew and . Coppola, though, has maintained he was compelled to make 鈥淢egalopolis鈥� as an artist, not as a businessman. He self-financed the film.
鈥淓veryone鈥檚 so worried about money. I say: Give me less money and give me more friends,鈥� Coppola told The Associated Press . 鈥淔riends are valuable. Money is very fragile. You could have a million marks in Germany at the end of World War II and you wouldn鈥檛 be able to buy a loaf of bread.鈥�
Last year's AFI honoree . Other recent recipients include John Williams, Mel Brooks, Denzel Washington and Julie Andrews.
The Associated Press
