Francis Ford Coppola celebrated at 50th AFI Life Achievement Gala with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Hollywood’s biggest stars

Francis Ford Coppola, one of cinema’s most influential auteurs, was honored with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award on Saturday at a star-studded gala at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Seated alongside Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, his filmmaker son Roman Coppola, and granddaughter Gia Coppola, the visionary behind The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation was celebrated in a way only he could inspire: with reverence, love, and a whole lot of family.

The night was a retrospective of the Academy Award-winning director, writer, and producer's career, highlighting friendships with Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, Dustin Hoffman, and C. Thomas Howell, among others.

Speaking to Gold Derby on the red carpet before the gala, Coppola reflected on a constant in his creative process: connecting with actors before cameras roll.

"I always ask for a couple of weeks [to get time with the actors before a project starts],” he said. “If I'm lucky, you get two days, but I like to play together and do improvisations and not be concerned with the script, or even be concerned whether it's going well or bad, just be free to do theater games improvisations, many possible things that might help exercise them and get them comfortable in the characters that they're going to play."

Asked what he considers his most enduring contribution to the arts, Coppola replied simply, “My children.”

Inside the gala, familiar faces reunited while new memories were made. Jack Black and Spike Lee hugged, while Ford and Adam Driver reconnected over their roles as father (Han Solo) and son (Kylo Ren) in the Star Wars franchise.

The tribute began with a standing ovation for Coppola, introduced by Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO, who set the tone for an evening that felt less like a ceremony and more like a warm family gathering.

Morgan Freeman opened the event with a humorous confession: “I have never been in a movie written, directed, or produced by Francis Ford Coppola.” But he made clear why he was there: “I have been profoundly moved by his films as you have. I am here tonight as an ambassador on your behalf and on behalf of the millions of movie lovers across generations who, like me, are transfixed and transformed by the celluloid dreams of Francis Ford Coppola.”

Freeman also referenced a 1967 photo of AFI founders Gregory Peck and Sidney Poitier alongside a young Coppola. When asked why he was seated at that legendary table, Coppola replied: “I was the independent filmmaker.” A title he still proudly wears today.

The evening continued with a heartfelt video montage, including an interview conducted by his daughter, Sofia Coppola, set to a nostalgic score that included a nod to Peggy Sue Got Married. The segment featured insights from Coppola’s closest collaborators and reflections on his family-first filmmaking approach.

Ron Howard then took the stage to share how Coppola helped launch American Graffiti, crediting him for nurturing a generation of dreamers. “He’s inspired generations in his wake,” Howard told Gold Derby. “Artistically, he’s such a huge risk taker.”

The emotional core of the evening came from Pacino and De Niro, who shared stories of working on The Godfather films. “None of us were fired from The Godfather, but some of us got pretty close,” Pacino joked, crediting Coppola’s tenacity: “He fought for his film and his vision, which he always does.” De Niro added, “You changed my career. You changed my life. We’re all here tonight because of you. We love you.”

Ford, who got his break in American Graffiti and later appeared in Apocalypse Now, shared a personal story about Coppola discovering him while he worked as a carpenter. “Then I got lucky and I landed a role. ... I didn’t know it then, but I know it now. That’s when I got ‘made.’ I became a part of the family.”

Joe Mantegna recalled Coppola’s openness to improvisation on the set of The Godfather Part III, while Andy Garcia praised Apocalypse Now as a cornerstone of cinematic innovation. Lee honored Coppola for his early encouragement, calling him “Father Cinema” and recalling the warmth of the Coppola household. “I hope you feel the love the people have for you here,” Lee said.

The stage was also shared by Macchio and Howell, who fondly remembered working on The Outsiders. Macchio reflected on Coppola’s gift for stripping away performance to uncover authenticity. “It’s probably the most earnest, truthful, genuine piece of film acting I’ve ever done,” he tells Gold Derby.

Lane, who starred in three Coppola-directed films, recalled the family-style feel of his sets: “It was a family, and he was our Papa Francis.” She described his silver Airstream, where he’d monitor scenes while cooking pasta — effectively inventing the concept of today’s “video village.”

For Coppola, filmmaking has always been a family tradition. Son Roman and granddaughter Gia spoke about growing up in his creative orbit. Gia called him “a wild genius … and the OG influencer,” while Roman paid tribute to his father’s legacy: “I’m proud to be here as part of this family… and to honor his stature as one of cinema’s greatest students.”

Hoffman, who appears in Coppola’s Megalopolis, although he was offered the role of Michael Corleone, hadn’t worked with Coppola — until now. “Unfortunately, you waited until I was 86 to cast me … it was well worth the wait.”

Driver, also in Megalopolis, praised Coppola’s vision and bravery. “You more than deserve this moment,” he said. “Congratulations on all you’ve achieved. I’m honored to celebrate your generosity and your bravery.”

In one of the evening’s most stirring moments, Josh Groban, backed by a full orchestra, performed “Brucia La Terra” from The Godfather Part III, setting the stage for the night’s grand finale.

Spielberg and Lucas took the stage to present him the award.

“You have taken what came before and redefined the canon of American film,” Spielberg said. Lucas added, “We hoped to beat the system, and we did. We had no rules. We wrote the rules with you holding the pen. Thank you for creating an era of filmmakers that loved the movies.”

Coppola accepted the honor to a roaring standing ovation, summing up the night with grace and humility: “All the beautiful faces are welcoming me back because I am and will always be nothing more than one of you.”

The evening also paid tribute to the late David Lynch, a 1970 AFI alum and the first recipient of the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. Lynch, who died in January, was remembered for his unwavering dedication to cinematic quality and originality.

Guests received a commemorative AFI tribute book chronicling Coppola’s storied career and were introduced to an online tribute site. The gala raised more than $2.5 million to support AFI’s educational programs.

The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola will premiere on TNT on June 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with an encore airing on TCM on July 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

— Reporting by Sari Cohen