Sean Penn's directorial effort The Last Face is expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

The drama, set against the backdrop of war-torn Africa, stars Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem. Bill Pohlad's River Road Entertainment (12 Years a Slave) financed The Last Face.

From a script by Erin Dignam, the movie stars Theron as the director of an international aid organization working in Liberia who embarks on a love affair with a stubborn and impulsive relief-aid doctor, played by Bardem. However, their mutual passion for the value of life is matched by the intensity of their opposing opinions on how to best solve the conflict that surrounds them, creating a seemingly insurmountable rift.

Penn and Theron were romantically involved when he shot The Last Face in summer 2014 on location in Africa. And a year ago, the couple attended the Cannes Film Festival together to promote the premiere of Theron's Mad Max: Fury Road. They called off their engagement not long after, but reunited professionally later in the summer for reshoots.

Pohlad is producing The Last Face alongside Matt Palmieri (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Bill Gerber (Gran Torino). Palmieri developed and packaged the project, while CAA and WME are handling U.S. rights.

While the lineup for this year's Cannes has not yet been officially announced, Penn has a track record with the fest. The Indian Runner, Penn's first directorial outing, played at Cannes as part of the Directors Fortnight sidebar in 1991. And The Pledge, the third feature he directed, screened in competition at the 2001 edition of the festival.

The Cannes Film Festival runs May 11-22.