A documentary on Ukraine directed by Sean Penn will premiere at the Berlinale

Europe 1 with AFP 6:52 p.m., January 23, 2023

American actor and director Sean Penn will premiere a documentary about the Russian invasion of Ukraine starring President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Berlin film festival next month, organizers said on Monday.

The 73rd Berlinale, which will take place from February 16 to 26, will this time shine the spotlight on the war in Ukraine, whose invasion by Russia began on February 24, 2022.

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A proof of courage

'Superpower', billed as 'the chronicle of a project that reality has forced into something less controllable but more meaningful', will be the biggest of the Ukrainian films screened at the festival.

Sean Penn was in kyiv to make a documentary at the end of February 2022 when the Russian invasion started.

The actor who won two Oscars - for 'Harvey Milk' and 'Mystic River' - was photographed at a Ukrainian government press conference in kyiv.

We also saw him with Mr. Zelensky on a video posted on the Ukrainian president's Instagram account.

The services of Mr. Zelensky had affirmed that the American artist showed a courage "which is lacking in many others, particularly Western politicians".

Sean Penn shot the documentary for Vice Studios with American director Aaron Kaufman.

The 62-year-old has in the past caused controversy due to his involvement in politics or current affairs, including after his interview with Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman when he was on the run.

Steven Spielberg as guest of honor

The first major film event of the year in Europe, the Berlinale will highlight several documentaries and feature films by Ukrainian directors, as well as works by dissident Iranian filmmakers, as a sign of "solidarity", said Italian Carlo Chatrian, co - director of the festival.

It will also provide free exhibition space to representatives of the Ukrainian film industry during the festival's extensive European Film Market, and highlight co-production opportunities with struggling Ukrainian directors.

Opening the Festival, an American romantic comedy, "She Came to Me", carried by one of the main actors of "Games of Thrones", Peter Dinklage, the American Marisa Tomei, seen in particular in several films of the universe Marvel, as well as Frenchman Tahar Rahim and American Anne Hathaway.

It will be chaired by American actress, screenwriter and director Kristen Stewart, and should welcome Steven Spielberg as guest of honor.

Among the French films in competition are "Sur l'Adamant" by Nicolas Philibert, documentary filmmaker for "Being and Having", which this time plunges into the world of psychiatry, and "Le grand charriot" by Philippe Garrel.