Sean Penn to head Cannes film fest

Organizers of the Cannes Film Festival have named actor and director Sean Penn as head of the awards jury this year. The festival's 61st edition is scheduled for May 14-25. He directed "Into The Wild," considered a front-runner for major awards this year, about a young idealist whose journey to Alaska ends in tragedy. "In the last few years, it seems there has been a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide; increasingly thoughtful, provocative, moving, and imaginative films by talented filmmakers: that a new generation of filmmaking may have begun," Penn said in a statement. "The Cannes Film Festival has long been the epicenter in the discovery of those new waves of filmmakers from all over the world. I very much look forward to participating in this year's festival as president of the jury."

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