Meryl Streep received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival on July 16 as she was presented with an honorary Palme d'Or for her many cinematic achievements. French actress Juliette Binoche presented the award, praising Streep as being "a free electron, an atom that makes molecules with all the directors she has worked with." Streep took the opportunity to thank Cannes for welcoming her back after 35 years. She recalled her last appearance at the festival, where she thought her career was over. She then added that the only reason she was on stage at Cannes was because of the talented artists she has worked with over the years. This is the first time in history that the honorary award has been presented to a woman.