The 21st Annual Palm Springs Film Festival will honor actor Morgan Freeman with a career achievement award at the festival’s awards gala.

The Academy Award-winning actor will receive the recognition during the festival’s opening night, January 5th, 2010 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.  The festivities also officially kicks off movie awards season.

Freeman will be seen next starring as post-aparheid South African President Nelson Mandela in the Clint Eastwood directed biopic, Invictus, which is schedule for a December 11th release.

The Palm Springs Film Festival runs from January 5th through January 18th, 2010.