The Dubai International Film Festival named American film icon and international social and political activist Sean Penn as its Western honoree for 2010. Penn, whose career spans nearly three decades, more than 45 films and notable successes as producer, director, actor and screenwriter, will accept the DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award at the Festival’s opening ceremony on December 12, 2010.

“Sean Penn is without a doubt one of the finest talents of our generation, an outstanding and versatile actor, gifted director and accomplished producer, and it is our privilege to add the DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award to his extensive list of accolades,” DIFF 2010, Festival Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said. “His tireless work on behalf of the people of the world from Haiti to the United States to Iraq and Iran, and his use of the celebrity spotlight to assist humanity, is an example to us all. We look forward to welcoming this culture-bridging icon to Dubai.”

During his visit to the seventh Dubai International Film Festival, Penn will also participate in a public ‘In Conversation With Sean Penn’ question-and-answer session at the Madinat Jumeirah, Juma added. Into the Wild and Sweet and Lowdown will screen at DIFF as part of the tribute to Penn.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19.