Zelensky Urges Support For Ukraine At Berlin Film Festival—Here Are His Other Surprise Appearances At Big-Name Cultural Events

Topline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opened the Berlin International Film Festival Thursday night with a call for artists to take a stand against Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, complementing other visits by Zelensky—a former actor and comedian—at award shows and other cultural events in the last year while calling for additional support for his country.

Timeline

February 16, 2023Zelensky opened the Berlin-based festival via video and called for all actors and artists to “take a stand” in the war in Ukraine, noting culture “takes a side when it remains silent and, in fact, helps the evil,” in a speech delivered to an audience that included Kristen Stewart, Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Peter Dinklage and a group of German politicians, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

January 11, 2023Zelensky told an audience at the Golden Globes that “there will be no third world war” before adding “Ukraine will stop the Russian aggression in our land,” in a prerecorded video message, according to the New York Times.

August 31, 2022Zelensky pleaded for the global film community’s support in a recorded speech at the Venice Film Festival, suggesting the opinion of those who create films “is important and your voice counts,” according to Variety.

May 18, 2022Zelensky emphasized the influence film holds during wartime in a video appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, calling for filmmakers to “not be silent” while suggesting “we need cinema to ensure that this end is always on the side of freedom,” according to CNN.

April 3, 2022During a surprise video appearance at the Grammy Awards, Zelensky urged viewers to “support us in any way you can” before introducing John Legend, who dedicated a subsequent performance to Ukraine.

Crucial Quote

Zelensky said cinema “cannot change the world” Thursday, but suggested it does have the ability to “inspire people who can change the world.”

Surprising Fact

Zelensky’s aides unsuccessfully lobbied the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to appear at the Oscars last March, according to the New York Times, while another effort to appear via video prior to the World Cup final last December was rejected by FIFA. Before an appearance at the Oscars was called off, Sean Penn—who is co-directing the film Superpowers, which profiles Zelensky—called for a boycott of the event if Zelensky was not allowed to appear by video. In November 2022, Penn loaned one of his Oscars to Zelensky during a subsequent visit to Kyiv, according to Reuters, adding “when you win, bring it back to Malibu.”

Key Background

Zelensky has made several surprise visits and speeches to call for additional Western aid to Ukraine in the last year. Recently, the Ukrainian president visited British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London before an audience with King Charles III. The next day, Zelensky appeared at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, while calling for more fighter jets and Ukraine’s membership into the European Union. In December 2022, Zelensky appeared before Congress while appealing for additional military support from the U.S., and he addressed the United Nations in September.

Further Reading

Ukrainian President Zelensky Calls For Support And Peace At Grammy Awards (Forbes)