TORONTO 鈥� The global launch of a new non-profit group against authoritarianism will include an invitation-only Toronto screening of Sean Penn鈥檚 documentary about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week.
鈥淪uperpower,鈥� co-directed by Penn and Aaron Kaufman, focuses on Zelenskyy鈥檚 leadership amid Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine and his country鈥檚 battle for survival.
Organizers say the June 6 screening in Toronto will be the first of several around the world as part of the launch of U.S.-based Humanity for Freedom, which is led by Kaufman and Dane Waters, an American political strategist and writer.
Organizers say the Toronto portion of the 鈥�72 Hours for Freedom鈥� event was planned in partnership with Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada Yuliya Kovaliv and Canadian entrepreneur Jay Rosenzweig, who is also executive producer of 鈥淪uperpower" and the board chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
Penn previously told The Associated Press that he had his first on-camera meeting with Zelenskyy for the documentary just before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The original intent of 鈥淪uperpower鈥� was to focus on Zelenskyy鈥檚 turn from comedic actor to president, but the war in Ukraine changed everything and Penn ended up making multiple trips to the country to interview Zelenskyy and others.
In a news release about the Toronto screening, Penn and Kaufmann said they鈥檙e proud to use the documentary as a tool to raise awareness of Ukraine鈥檚 鈥渦rgent fight for freedom and justice.鈥�
鈥淪uperpower鈥� had its world premiere at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.
--With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2023.
The Canadian Press
