The Carnival in Cannes benefit event on May 18th was presented by Giorgio
Armani in support of Sean Penn's J/P HRO, Paul Haggis' Artists for Peace
and Justice and Petra Nemcova's Happy Heart's Fund for their united and
extraordinary work in Haiti.

"Carnival in Cannes" , a  concert of authentic RaRa and Racine music,
created with the RAM band, Haiti's leading Racine group, was
co-sponsored by Chopard. Sean Penn has a very close connection with the
Festival de Cannes, having presented films in Competition (including The
Pledge in 2001, which he directed) and in Un Certain Regard, and he
served as President of the Jury in 2008.

The Festival de Cannes is very proud to join ranks with Sean Penn, Paul
Haggis and Petra Nemcova in their fight to help Haiti and its
inhabitants.

Thierry Fremaux commented, "Sean Penn is a good friend of the Festival
de Cannes, he came in Competition as an actor and as a director, he was
President of the Jury. But it is not the only reason why we offered to
receive him. We are greatly fascinated by his permanent and long-lasting
commitment to Haiti's recovery. And we are very pleased to be a part of
this evening which intends to raise money and honor the Haitians
themselves."

Gilles Jacob commented, "People say that a great actor is by nature
egocentric, and that a great director is focussed on his art. Sean Penn
is both a great actor and director. What he does above and beyond that
for the people and the land of Haiti, giving freely of himself, his
abiding presence, his work - one could almost say the work of his own
hands - his whole discreet, human, moral and altruistic involvement as a
benefactor, commands our greatest respect."

Giorgio Armani added, "I am proud to stand alongside Sean Penn, a man
cut from a very rare cloth. He first captivated me as an astonishing
actor. Then as a respected director. Then as a loyal friend. And now, as
a life changer. It is an honor to be a part of Sean's remarkable life of
service by joining his humanitarian efforts for the people of Haiti. For
this to come to fruition at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival marks a
career milestone for me, and demonstrates what happens when you work
with Sean, a world-class force of nature."

The J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) was founded by Sean Penn.
It's goal is to help lift the nation of Haiti out of the rubble and give
the Haitian people a better future. J/P HRO has become a leader in Haiti
across multiple sectors working to improve living conditions in the
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and surrounding neighborhoods
by clearing rubble, and providing medical services, education and
enrichment programs, housing construction, and neighborhood
redevelopment. J/P HRO's main objective remains to help displaced people
get back to durable, safer, and permanent homes in revitalized
neighborhoods. J/P HRO employs 1,200 people, more than 97% of whom are
Haitians.

Moira Sullivan