Francis Ford Coppola received an AFI Life Award this week presented to him by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Morgan Freeman began Coppola’s recognition by highlighting how Coppola notably prioritizes making art over making money. Later on during the ceremony at the Dolby theater, Al Pacino and Robert de Niro recalled on stage about the production behind The Godfather with Pacino saying,

“Francis just fought for us all the time. He fought for his film and his vision, which he always does.”

De Niro was quoted by saying,

“Francis, you’ve changed my career, you changed my life. We’re all here tonight because of you. We love you.”

Adam Driver who notably starred in Coppola’s recent venture, Megalopolis, explained how Coppola spent over $120 million of his own money on the project. Even though the film bombed at the box office during its September opening, Driver explained during a passionate speech at the ceremony how Coppola did not want finances to control the picture.

Steven Spielberg also notably described how he believes The Godfather is the greatest American film ever made and how he wants Coppola to be proud of his own work. During Coppola’s own acceptance speech, he said,

“I feel as if after many years I’ve returned to the old neighborhood where I grew up, and everything around me is so familiar and yet it’s all changed. Now I understand here, this place that created me, my home, isn’t really a place at all but you friends, colleagues, teachers, playmates, family, neighbors-all of the beautiful faces are welcoming me back because I am and will always be nothing more than one of you.”

The television special of the AFI awards from this year will premier on June 18, on TNT and on TCM on July 31st.