SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AFP) - Veteran US Oscar-winner Robert Duvall refused to become enmeshed in political debate on picking up a Donosti prize at the 51st San Sebastian International Film Festival for his contribution to the industry.
The 72-year-old Duvall ducked questions on politics, refusing to enter a debate over fellow US actor and Donosti winner Sean Penn's criticism of US policy over Iraq earlier in the week and preferring to profess his love of Argentina.
"I did not come here for political debate, I came here for a film. I share none of Sean Penn's views. He is a pretty good actor," said Duval, who first hit the screen in the 1962 hit "To Kill A Mocking Bird," starring Gregory Peck.
"Actors are not politicians. We do not have all the information about what goes on in the world.
"Very often actors in Hollywood make profound and prophetic statements about world affairs and I get very embarrassed."
While preferring to keep his political views to himself Duvall did not, however, hesitate to critisise modern day Hollywood, which he alleged was too focused on potential money-spinning pictures rather than seek out small budget quality.
"It is a very capitalistic society. They think in terms of big money rather than small independent films ... the smaller films are relegated to the second position".
On Argentina, Duvall told reporters: "Argentina, the music, the tango -- I love it!
"Buenos Aires is my favourite city in the world, more than New York or any place. I enjoyed going there, it was a great experience."
He added he had particularly enjoyed collaborating with Argentine directors Juan Jose Campanella, director of "Hijo de la Novia" (Son of the Bride), and Luis Puenzo, who directed "La Peste" (The Plague) based on the Albert Camus novel.
Born in San Diego, California, Duvall saw military service in Korea before starting in the theatre and in 1983 he won an Oscar for best actor in Tender Mercies.
Duvall also won Academy Awards nominations for 1979's "Apocalypse Now," "The Godfather" and for "The Great Santini" (1979) and earlier this month was awarded a new honour -- his own star in Hollywood's prestigious Walk of Fame on Los Angeles' star-studded Hollywood Boulevard.
But on Friday he sidestepped all attempts to talks about the US-led military intervention in Iraq.
"I am not into politics and will never be, I have my own personal view of things, I am not going to change the world."
By 1983 the man who describes his acting as "versatile" was trying his hand with success at directing, bringing out 1983 picture Angelo My Love, The Apostle in 1997 and then Assassination Tango in the past year.
Here, he will be seen in Kevin Costner's western epic Open Range when that film brings the curtain down Saturday on the festival in this Basque coastal town.
Duvall said he had taken on that role with great eagerness, explaining he considered the western the US film genre par excellence and that "if I'd not been an actor I'd be a farmer."