Chain-smoker, recent divorcee and actor-turned-director Sean Penn will be getting an eyes-worth of quality films at the upcoming Cannes film festival as he has been named president of the Cannes film festival Jury. Besides taking in some sun, taking in a 2 or 3 films per day film viewing schedule and smoking freely on the Croisette, Penn will have the task of wearing potentially more than one hat. The jury made up of an international bunch of actors, directors and screenwriter celebs will argue or agree on their ballot choices and Penn could either be a simple opinion poll taker or, if there are indecisiveness, he could put his weight towards or shift the tide when selecting the prizing and the coveted Palme D'or winner. Ten bucks says that the winner will be a politically-orientated film.
Penn is quoted as saying upon accepting the invitation extended by Gilles Jacob and Thierry Frémaux – “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. 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.”
Here's a quick look at the past President of the Jury and Palme d'Or winner.
2007: Stephen FREARS – Winner: 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS
2006: WONG Kar Wai – Winner: THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY
2005: Emir KUSTURICA – Winner: L'ENFANT
2004: Quentin TARANTINO, – Winner: FAHRENHEIT 9/11
2003: Patrice CHEREAU, – Winner: ELEPHANT
2002: David LYNCH, – Winner: THE PIANIST
2001: Liv ULLMANN, – Winner: THE SON'S ROOM
2000: Luc BESSON, – Winner: DANCER IN THE DARK
1999: David CRONENBERG, – Winner: ROSETTA
