Hollywood star Sean Penn supported Ukrainian cinema and, at the same time, drew attention to the trials the Ukrainian people faced. The actor starred in the film “Animals in War” for just one dollar. This is exactly as much as the rules of the Screen Actors Guild of America allow, when the artist actually wants to work for free.
According to the film’s producer, Oleg Kokhan, Penn wanted to join the project from the very beginning, not for the money, but for the support.
The film almanac “Animals in War” tells the tragic yet touching stories of animals rescued during the war. The film consists of seven short stories created by different directors. Each is based on a story about how Ukrainians took out their pets and random animals that needed help under shelling. 65-year-old Penn played an American producer in the short story “The Eagle”.
The world premiere of the almanac took place in June 2025 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. In Ukraine, the film premiered on October 4 at the Odesa International Film Festival. It was released nationwide on November 6. Soon, “Animals in War” will also be available on streaming services.
