At a Cannes press conference for his new film "Highest 2 Lowest" on Tuesday, Spike Lee reflected on his five collaborations with Denzel Washington - and said he should have won the best actor Oscar in 1993 over Al Pacino.

Highest 2 Lowest was shot across New York with elaborate action scenes in the Bronx, set against the backdrop of Yankee Stadium. During the presser, Lee was asked about shooting in New York and how he thinks the recent drop in production in the city could be resolved.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have walked a long road together. The director and actor’s collaboration has run for 35 years, starting with “Mo’Better Blues” and including the seminal “Malcolm X.” But one thing they’ve never done is ascend the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival as comrades in arms.