Sean Penn talks about Haiti in advance of annual Cannes fundraiser

(18 May 2012) SEAN PENN GETS FEISTY AT CANNES Sean Penn tried to turn the conversation at the Cannes Film Festival to Haiti Friday (18 MAY 2012), hosting a fundraiser for the earthquake-ravaged and poverty-stricken country. It was the first time Cannes used its glitzy, global spotlight to attract attention for a cause not connected with a movie. Penn, director Paul Haggis and model Petra Nemcova brought their individual charities together for a black-tie gala to benefit their organizations and renew attention for the Caribbean country. Penn, a Cannes veteran of numerous films including last year's Palme d'Or winner, "The Tree of Life," posed for photographers ahead of a press conference, and appeared ill at ease with the celebrity-fawning that often comes along with Cannes. "I just would like to defend those who fall into the description of celebrity and say, it's not only celebrities that went for a day - it's the whole fucking world," he said. "It's the entire media. It's all of you. These things and the reason we get Haiti fatigue because they never commit in the first place. They don't understand that this is not about just diving in the water. You're gonna have to swim. He compared the importance of raising money for Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2010, to finding money for serious films. Penn also called on U.S. President Barack Obama to act with Haiti president Michel Martelly. Haggis, the director of the Oscar-winning "Crash," declined to talk politics, though, appealing instead to common humanity: "If you have given up hope, if you think there is no hope, you haven't been to Haiti. There is so much hope there. And you can't go to Haiti without that hope just infusing your body. That's why we all go back." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...