Penn dismisses Eastwood Cannes bias

Sean Penn has called claims that he will favour Clint Eastwood's new film for the Cannes Palm d'Or "insulting".

Critics have suggested that, due to the pair's previous working relationship on the 2003 Oscar-winner Mystic River, judge Penn would vote for Eastwood's Changeling.

"It is an emotional impossibility for people on this jury to favour films by friends of ours," Penn said. "But we will not be biased against, either. If Clint Eastwood has done a film worth awarding, we're going to f**k-well award it. It is not going to serve anyone to be a friend, or not to be a friend, of any member of the jury."

Penn added that the jury would make a diplomatic decision: "This won't be a competition. Between us we will come to a consensus that some films that deserve it will get a leg-up and be shared with a wider audience."