At the 50th AFI Life Achievement Awards ceremony on Saturday, Hollywood icons Steven Spielberg and George Lucas united to honor Francis Ford Coppola, presenting him with the accolade. Spielberg and Coppola met in 1967, and in 1971 Coppola screened Spielberg's Duel at his home. Lucas was present, and that marked the beginning of Spielberg's relationships with both filmmakers. That same year, Coppola produced Lucas' first directorial project, Thx 1138. Spielberg lauded Coppola as "a warrior for independent artists" and someone "fearless in how open you are to ideas, opinions and inspiration."

Reflecting on Coppola's impressive filmography, Spielberg fondly recalled watching an early cut of Apocalypse Now, along with other filmmakers (via Variety):

"When the film ended, you asked us to tell you what we saw, how we felt. You invited all of us in, so one by one, we told you where we were lost and where we were found, and I sat there in awe,...