Paris - American actor/director Sean Penn has been named to head the jury of the 2008 Cannes International Film Festival, organizers of the event announced on Thursday. In accepting the invitation, the 47-year-old Penn said, "the Cannes Film Festival has long been the epicentre in the discovery of ... 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."
Festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux told France Info radio he considered Penn a "particular and unique American voice."
Penn's latest directorial project is the film Into the Wild, which is based on Jon Krakauer's best-selling non-fiction book and is considered a strong candidate for an Oscar for Best Film of 2007.
His first film as director, The Indian Runner, which he also wrote and produced, was presented at Cannes in 1991. His third movie, The Pledge, starring Jack Nicholson, was screened there 10 years later.
Considered one of the best American actors of his generation, Penn won the Oscar for Best Actor of 2003 for his performance in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River.
Penn is also known for his strong political commitment to left-wing political issues, such as his opposition to the war in Iraq and his antipathy to the administration of US President George W Bush.
In October 2002, he paid 56,000 dollars (currently about 38,000 euros) to publish an open letter in the Washington Post addressed to Bush and asking him to slow down the march to war with Iraq.
His early career was marred by a series of violent acts, earning him a reputation as a troublemaker and several run-ins with the law.
Late in his first marriage, to pop star Madonna, Penn was charged with felony domestic assault, to which he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. He also spent 32 days in jail in 1987 after he struck a film extra.
The 61st Cannes Film Festival runs from May 14 to 25.
