Francis Ford Coppola to receive AFI Life Achievement Award

Francis Ford Coppola will person nan 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, nan American Film Institute announced Tuesday

NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — Francis Ford Coppola will person nan 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, nan American Film Institute announced Tuesday.

Coppola, who precocious released his long-in-development epic “Megalopolis,” will beryllium presented pinch nan grant successful a gala tribute astatine Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre connected April 26. The 85-year-old filmmaker will beryllium nan 50th recipient of nan grant first handed retired to John Ford successful 1973.

“Francis Ford Coppola is simply a peerless creator — 1 who has created seminal useful successful nan canon of American film, and has besides inspired generations of filmmakers who now embody his artistry and his independent spirit,” said nan shaper Kathleen Kennedy, chair of nan AFI committee of trustees.

Coppola released “Megalopolis," a Roman epic group successful modern-day New York, successful September. The film, which first premiered astatine nan Cannes Film Festival, drew mixed reviews from critics and flopped pinch audiences. Coppola, though, has maintained he was compelled to make “Megalopolis” arsenic an artist, not arsenic a businessman. He self-financed nan film.

“Everyone’s truthful worried astir money. I say: Give maine little money and springiness maine much friends,” Coppola told The Associated Press in an earlier interview. “Friends are valuable. Money is very fragile. You could person a cardinal marks successful Germany astatine nan extremity of World War II and you wouldn’t beryllium capable to bargain a loaf of bread.”

Last year's AFI honoree was Nicole Kidman. Other caller recipients see John Williams, Mel Brooks, Denzel Washington and Julie Andrews.