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."