Outspoken actor and director Sean Penn called on people to abandon political correctness and embrace diversity in thought and action, as he received a career honor at the Marrakesh Film Festival on Saturday night.
Italian actor Valeria Golino, who has been close to Penn since his directorial debut in 1991 Indian hostilitypresented the award to the Oscar winner.
The ceremony was attended by a large group of film stars, including this year's festival jury president Luca Guadagnino, Alfonso Cuaron, Walter Salles, Monica Bellucci, Tim Burton, Justin Kurzel, Jeff Nichols, Cannes Film Festival president Iris Knobloch and others.
“For those who have any knowledge of me, and what my life has been like, you will know that I don't often waste the opportunity to express an opinion, and I have one tonight in celebration of this wonderful group of people who this festival brings us together,” said Ben.
The actor went on to reference the 2018 Monk Debate in Toronto in which British actor Stephen Fry argued against political correctness, saying it fueled a culture war and extremism of thought on all sides.
“I believe our mission is to harness, advocate for and embody our diversity in positive ways,” Ben said.
“While Stephen is a very progressive-minded person, what he criticized in liberals on the other side is that liberalism has become not just in the United States but around the world, this demand for diversity, but not diversity in behavior and not diversity.” Of opinion or language. “I would just encourage everyone to be as politically incorrect as their heart desires and engage in diversity and keep telling those stories,” he added.
As part of the tribute, the festival will screen a selection of Penn's films, beginning Saturday evening with Gus Van Sant's 2008 film. Milk About gay rights California gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
The ceremony also featured a tribute show celebrating the highlights of Ben's career which spanned 74 hours of acting such as Mystic River, I'm Sam, 21 grams, Dead man walking and 15 films, including his recent documentary set in Ukraine Great powerP and Science Day.
Golino gave a moving personal appreciation of Penn and his qualities as an actor, director and human being.
“Sean Penn is a man of extraordinary charisma, with a complete personality and a volcanic temperament. It was clear from his first films that Sean Penn was not just an actor. Far from the classic character with a pretty face, he deliberately chose roles with difficult political and social realities,” she said.
