Yinto yokuqala eyaziwa ngayo umcimbi okubaluleke kakhulu emhlabeni: Sean Penn uzoba ngumongameli wamajaji oshicilelweni lwango-2008 lwe I-Cannes Film Festival, uhlelo lwawo lwama-61 oluzoba phakathi kukaMeyi 14 no-25 walo nyaka.
Ujabule ngokuqokwa, umlingisi nomqondisi uthe: «Umkhosi weCannes ubulokhu uyingqophamlando yokutholwa kwamagagasi amasha esinema emhlabeni, futhi ngijabule kakhulu ukubamba iqhaza emkhosini walo nyaka njengomongameli wejaji.".
U-Penn uwine i-Oscar ye-"Mystical River" futhi okwamanje akasekho ekuqondiseni okuthi "Into the Wild." Ngo-1997 wawina indondo ye-Best Actor e-Cannes ngokudlala kwakhe efilimini ethi "She's So Lovely" ka-Nick Cassavetes.