Morgan Freeman will receive a Career Achievement Award for Acting Jan. 5 at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Black Tie Awards Gala, it was announced today.

Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastwood’s upcoming film, “Invictus,” co-starring Matt Damon as the captain of a South Africa rugby team that Mandela hopes will unite black and white South African rugby fans.

Freeman won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby.” He won three other Oscar nominations for the 1987 drama “Street Smart,” the 1989 adaptation of “Driving Miss Daisy,” and the 1994 drama, “The Shawshank Redemption.”

Festival Chairman Harold Matzner said Freeman is being recognized for “his many memorable performances throughout the years."

“He has an enormous body of work and he’s been an outstanding performer for a lifetime,” said Matzner. “This role as Nelson Mandela may be his crowning achievement.”

The awards gala, to be hosted by “Entertainment Tonight’s” Mary Hart, will launch the 21st annual festival running through Jan. 18.

It was previously announced that Anna Kendrick will receive the Rising Star Award at the festival gala.

Festival information: (760) 322-2930, (800) 898-7256 or www.psfilmfest.org.