Sean Penn added: "In the last few years there has been a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide. The Cannes Film Festival has long been the epicentre in the discovery of new waves of film-makers."
This year marks the 61st time for the Cannes Film Festival and it starts on 14 May.
The jury are set to present the Palme d'Or prize for best film on 25 May.
The Cannes Film Festival's artistic director, Thierry Fremaux, told the press that Sean Penn "represents the independent American cinema as well as a vision of America which we like".
Sean Penn's latest work as a movie director, the drama Into The Wild, has been tipped among the nominations for this month's Screen Actors Guild Awards.
