Sean Penn news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Sean Penn executive produced 'Black Sunflowers,' a Ukraine war documentary that premiered at Toronto on September 11, 2026.
The film follows young Ukrainians from rave floors to front lines.
Background
The documentary is directed by American filmmaker James Marcus Haney and executive produced by Sean Penn, set in Ukraine and following young people whose lives are tied together by the war and rave culture. It shows kids, some as young as 18, going into battle, dancing, talking politics with their grandparents, and watching Donald Trump's election and his meeting with Zelensky. The 95-minute film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Penn gave an interview the day after.
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026The Toronto Film Festival hosts the world premiere of 'Black Sunflowers' on Friday evening.
- Sep 11, 2026Sean Penn, Anna Diianchuk, Tetyana Dilanchuk, James Marcus Haney, Nikoletta Stoianova and Dianna Agron appear at the premiere.
- Sep 12, 2026Vanity Fair publishes an interview with Marcus Haney and Sean Penn conducted the day after the premiere.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Sean Penn called the film 'a call to human arms' and said he believes Donald Trump's position on the conflict is 'negligent homicide.'
- Caution
- Penn said he is 'not confident in the Democrats at large' to change things and that 'what military resolution will happen is not really something for anybody to comment on.'
- Expert
- Director Marcus Haney said 'I don't know the answer to that. I feel like I know less than I did when I was first going in' and that 'it's not going to stop until Putin stops it or is forcibly stopped.'
Still unverified
Marcus Haney said he does not know the answer to how he feels about the situation in Ukraine and for these kids after filming.