Paris, Jan 3 (DPA) 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, 47-year-old Penn said: 'The Cannes Film Festival has long been the epicentre 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.'

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, 'The Indian Runner', which he wrote and directed, 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'.

Festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux told France Info radio he considered Penn 'a particular and unique American voice'.

The Cannes film festival runs from May 14 to 25.