Producers Guild to honor Penn

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The Producers Guild of America says it plans to honor two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn at its upcoming awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

The star of "Milk," "Mystic River" and "Dead Man Walking" is to be presented with the 2011 Stanley Kramer Award Jan. 22 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the guild announced Thursday.

The Stanley Kramer Award was established in 2002 to honor a motion picture, producer or other individual, whose achievement or contribution illuminates provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating fashion, the guild explained on its Web site.

"We are proud to honor Sean Penn with this award as he truly exemplifies the Stanley Kramer legacy. Sean is a committed activist who has used his extraordinary talents and influence to shed light on powerful stories, causes and individuals -- through film, journalism and global humanitarian organizations," Paula Wagner, who chaired the 2011 Producers Guild Awards, said in a statement Thursday.