Sean Penn Criticizes Oscars at Marrakech Festival

At the Marrakech Film Festival, Sean Penn criticized the Oscars for their 'extraordinary cowardice' in recognizing diverse cultural expressions and limiting creative imagination in film selections. He expressed his discontent with the Academy's lack of support for unconventional films, mentioning that he only feels excited about the awards when films like 'The Florida Project' are involved. Penn praised Ali Abbasi's controversial film 'The Apprentice,' which he believes deserves celebration despite its struggles for distribution in the U.S. He highlighted a broader issue of the film industry being afraid of innovative storytelling, likening their fears to those of 'a piddly little Republican congressman.' His remarks reflect ongoing frustrations with the Academy's historical approach to diversity and representation. The Academy has yet to respond to his critiques.