Sean Penn shows Ukraine documentary at the Berlinale

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Oscar winner Sean Penn wanted to make a documentary about the former comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyj. Then Russia invaded Ukraine. “Superpower” will celebrate its world premiere at the Berlinale.

Filmmaker Sean Penn and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November 2022 in Kyiv

In November 2021, Sean Penn traveled to Ukraine for the film project, in the region around Donetsk in the east of the country he got an impression of the situation on the front line to the separatist areas. He later met President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, who has been in office since 2019. The US actor was also in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

From comedian to head of state in wartime

The film, which was originally supposed to deal with Selenskyj's career from actor and comedian to head of state, took a hardly foreseeable turn with the beginning of the war. The film “Superpower” will now celebrate its world premiere at the 73rd Berlinale, as the festival's artistic director Carlo Chatrian announced on Monday (January 23, 2023) in Berlin.

At a panel discussion in April last year, two-time Oscar winner Penn (“Milk” (2008), “Mystic River” (2003) said: “We met with Zelenskyj, a man in a suit, and the next morning the Russians marched in . The next time I saw him, he was wearing a camouflage suit and the world had changed.”

Sean Penn in November 2021 in the Donetsk region, which was already contested at the time

Russia had permanently refused Sean Penn entry because of his commitment to Ukraine last autumn. The actor also supports Ukrainian war refugees.In  ;November 2022 he presented Selenskyj with one of his Oscars, which he only wants to have back after Ukraine's victory.

The supporting program of the Berlinale 2023

The Berlinale Managing Director Mariëtte Rissenbeek announced , that for the supporting program of the film festival numerous solos Darity actions are planned for Ukraine and Iran. More information will be announced on February 7th, together with the dates for the Berlinale films.

The 73. Berlinale starts on February 16th and ends on 26th. February 2023.