Leonardo DiCaprio, who has starred in numerous Scorsese films, was on hand to present to award to the Oscar-winning director, who went on to accept it with a speech that was a textbook example of the passion he brings to his filmmaking (watch a clip of it below). When he came onstage to a rip-roaring standing ovation, he turned to DiCaprio and asked if the actor remembered the last time they were both at the Chinese together — a question that seemed to baffle Leo. Scorsese pointed out that this was the location for the Hell’s Angels premiere in their film The Aviator, in which DiCaprio played Howard Hughes and Gwen Stefani played Jean Harlow. “We shot it right there,” the filmmaker said, pointing to the front rows. “It is probably the only film of mine they can actually show on TCM,” he laughed before heartily endorsing Osborne and TCM by saying he will not stay in a hotel that doesn’t have the classic film channel in its rooms.

In introducing him, DiCaprio pointed to Scorsese’s Film Foundation, which has educated audiences around the world on the importance of preserving film, and FF has been crucial to some 800 films so far that have received its attention. “The impact of Marty’s passion and his dedication to cinema is absolutely immeasurable,” DiCaprio said in bringing Scorsese out. “I have witnessed it myself. As the history of cinema unfolds, the name Martin Scorsese — to me, and to all of us — be synonymous with filmmaking.”

Source: Deadline