Sean Penn to screen a documentary he shot in Ukraine

Berlin: US actor and filmmaker Sean Penn will screen a documentary about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he shot in Kyiv at the festival next month according to festival organisers.

The war will be the focus of the 73rd Berlinale, which takes place from February 16–26 and commemorates the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The most well-known Ukrainian entry at the festival will be Penn’s “Superpower,” which is described as “the record of a cinematic project that reality compelled to transform into something less controllable but more important.”

Reporters were told by festival co-director Carlo Chatrian that the movie was made in “extremely challenging circumstances.”

When the Russian invasion started in late February 2022, Penn was in Kiev filming a documentary.

In a video that Zelensky posted to his Instagram account, the two-time Oscar winner was seen meeting with him while in Kyiv for a government press conference.

The 62-year-old actor and his directing partner Aaron Kaufman filmed the documentary for Vice Studios.

In the past, Penn’s incursions into current affairs have drawn criticism, particularly after he and Mexican-American actress Kate del Castillo spoke with Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman while the latter was on the run.

The romantic comedy “She Came to Me,” starring “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage and Oscar winners Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway, will kick off the 11-day festival.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg is scheduled to receive an Honorary Golden Bear award for lifetime achievement, while American actor Kristen Stewart will chair the festival jury. (AFP)

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