Sean Penn, 62, joins his pretty co-star Raquel Nave, 36, at the Cannes premiere of Black Flies

Two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn joined his pretty co-star Raquel Nave at the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival where their film Black Flies was premiering in competition for the highest honor, the Palme d’Or, in the South of France on Thursday.

The 36-year-old San Francisco model is clearly comfortable with the 62-year-old LA acting veteran as she always seemed to wind end up posing right beside him on the red carpet outside the Palais des Festivals.

Sean seemed to take Raquel under his wing considering she’s a relative newcomer to the industry, with her biggest prior acting credits in Abel Ferrara’s 2014 film Welcome to New York and one episode of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU in 2019.

Nave delicately placed her hand on Penn’s shoulder as they posed for the hundreds of photographers gathered at the French fest – which enlisted American stars like Brie Larson, Paul Dano, John C. Reilly, and John Cameron Mitchell to serve on juries.

The acting duo’s Training Day-style EMT drama thriller – based on Shannon Burke’s 2008 novel – scored a distribution deal on Tuesday with FilmNation’s Signature Entertainment for cinematic releases in the UK and Ireland – according to THR.

Raquel – who’s mother to 12-year-old daughter Eagle – left little to the imagination in an ultra-sheer black strapless Saint Laurent dress with fur-topped opera gloves and a matching clutch.

Hairstylist Liz Taw coiffed Nave’s raven bob for the film festivities, and make-up artist Charlotte Prevel brought out he busy brows and applied her bright red pout.

The brunette beauty portrayed the single mom love interest to newly-hired FDNY paramedic Ollie Cross, played by Independent Spirit Award nominee Tye Sheridan, in Black Flies.

Meanwhile, the Superpower director wore a Tarantino-style black suit with a white button-up, black necktie, and patent leather dress shoes.

Sean was in great spirits, even cracking a rare smile, as he enjoyed the fanfare while promoting his first acting role in a movie since Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 dramedy Licorice Pizza.

Penn replaced Mel Gibson in the role of grizzled veteran FDNY paramedic Gene Rutkovsky, who shows Ollie (Tye Sheridan) the ropes on the mean streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn.

‘[Sean and I] both got very into being medics,’ the 26-year-old tuxedo-clad Texan – who also produced the movie – told Variety Thursday of their two months of ride-alongs with first responders.

‘By the time we started shooting, we had a shorthand with each other. It was always fun and collaborative.’

Proximity: The 36-year-old San Francisco model is clearly comfortable with the 62-year-old LA acting veteran as she always seemed to wind end up posing right beside him on the red carpet outside the Palais des Festivals

Advice? Sean seemed to take Raquel under his wing considering she’s a relative newcomer to the industry, with her biggest prior acting credits in Abel Ferrara’s 2014 film Welcome to New York and one episode of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU in 2019

Bonjour! Nave delicately placed her hand on Penn’s shoulder as they posed for the hundreds of photographers gathered at the French fest 

Based on Shannon Burke’s 2008 novel: The acting duo’s Training Day-style EMT drama thriller scored a distribution deal on Tuesday with FilmNation’s Signature Entertainment for cinematic releases in the UK and Ireland

Flashbulbs gonna flash! Raquel – who’s mother to 12-year-old daughter Eagle – left little to the imagination in an ultra-sheer black strapless Saint Laurent dress with fur-topped opera gloves and a matching clutch

Ready for her close-up! Hairstylist Liz Taw coiffed Nave’s raven bob for the film festivities, and make-up artist Charlotte Prevel brought out he busy brows and applied her bright red pout

What does she play? The brunette beauty portrayed the single mom love interest to newly-hired FDNY paramedic Ollie Cross, played by Independent Spirit Award nominee Tye Sheridan (L), in Black Flies

Suited and booted! Meanwhile, the Superpower director wore a Tarantino-style black suit with a white button-up, black necktie, and patent leather dress shoes

Cracked a rare smile! Sean was in great spirits as he enjoyed the fanfare while promoting his first acting role in a movie since Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 dramedy Licorice Pizza

‘They almost never make it’: Penn replaced Mel Gibson in the role of grizzled veteran FDNY paramedic Gene Rutkovsky, who shows Ollie (Tye Sheridan) the ropes on the mean streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn

The 26-year-old tuxedo-clad Texan (L) – who also produced the movie – told Variety on Thursday: ‘[Sean and I] both got very into being medics. By the time we started shooting, we had a shorthand with each other. It was always fun and collaborative’ 

Ooh la la! The talented trio were joined at Cannes by (from L-R) their co-star Michael Pitt, producer Warren Goz, director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, and producer John Wildermuth

MIA: The brain-splattered brutal film also features Katherine Waterston, the late Gbenga Akinnagbe, and a cameo from Mike Tyson as an exasperated fire chief 

The talented trio were joined at Cannes by their co-star Michael Pitt, producer Warren Goz, director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, and producer John Wildermuth.

The brain-splattered brutal film also features Katherine Waterston, the late Gbenga Akinnagbe, and a cameo from Mike Tyson as an exasperated fire chief.

However, Black Flies’ subject matter has been already well treaded by Oscar winner Martin Scorsese in his 1999 flick Bringing Out the Dead starring Nicolas Cage.

On the personal front, Sean has been single since ending his third marriage in April 2022, this time, to his Flag Day actress Leila George.

Penn has two children – daughter Dylan, 32; and son Hopper, 29 – from his on/off 13-year marriage to his Crossing Guard actress Robin Wright, which ended in 2010.