Robert Redford received the Legion d'Honneur, one of France's highest recognitions, Thursday in Paris, Sundance Channel said.

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The distinction was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

The Hollywood actor and filmmaker was acknowledged for his work as actor, director and environmental activist, as well as for his decades-long involvement in nurturing independent voices in film and the arts through the Sundance Institute, Sundance Film Festival and his overall advocacy on behalf of artists.

Redford received the award from French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Palais de l'Elysees.

"Cinema, both fiction and non-fiction, has shown over and over that as human beings, we share values beyond any border, real or imagined," Redford said.

He had been in Cannes last week in association with Sundance Channel, which he founded in 1996 and which became available in France in September 2009.