Sean Penn accuses Academy Awards of cowardice

Sean Penn received a career achievement award at the Marrakech Film Festival (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Sean Penn has accused the organisers of the Oscars of being cowards who, in effect, limit the kinds of films that can be funded and made.

The 64-year-old actor said at the Marrakech Film Festival that he gets excited about the Academy Awards only on the rare occasion that films he values are nominated.