DIFF presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to Cinematic Legend Martin Sheen

Dubai, October 21, 2013: Multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Martin Sheen, one of America's most celebrated and greatest actors of his generation will receive a prestigious DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished service to the film industry during the opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the Festival which runs from 6th December – 14th this year.

Martin Sheen is arguably one of the accomplished actors working in Hollywood with a career that has seen him appear in more than 80 films including Francis Ford Coppola‘s acclaimed film Apocalypse Now which brought Sheen worldwide recognition.

Sheen's impressive body of work includes notable credits such as Badlands, Wall Street, Gandhi, Catch Me If You Can, The American President, The Departed and The Amazing Spider-Man. 

For television audiences, Sheen is best recognized for his six-time Emmy nominated performance as President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing. Sheen won six of his eight Golden Globe nominations and two individual SAG Awards; for the White House series.

DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: “Martin Sheen is a cinematic legend whose remarkable career has spanned five decades. In that time he has brought to life a huge variety of compelling, intelligent and wonderfully engaging characters on the big and small screen. We are honored to present Martin Sheen with a DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award and we look forward to welcoming him to Dubai.”

Martin Sheen commented: "I am truly honored to accept the Dubai International Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award and looking forward to celebrating the region's gifted cinematic storytellers."

DIFF Festival goers will be able to attend a public ‘In Conversation with Martin Sheen' Q&A event which will be held during the course of the Festival. 

Previous Lifetime Achievement honoree's at DIFF include Omar Sharif, Faten Hamamah, Adel Imam, Jameel Rateb, Sabah, Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Daoud Abdel Sayed, Youssef Chahine, Rachid Bouchareb, Souleymane Cisse, Nabil El-Maleh, Oliver Stone, Danny Glover, Terry Gilliam, Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Michael Apted and Mahmoud Abdel Aziz.