Sean Penn Stars in Ukrainian War Film for Symbolic One-Dollar Fee
American actor and director Sean Penn starred in the Ukrainian film anthology “War Through the Eyes of Animals” for a symbolic fee of one dollar.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Dzerkalo Tyzhnia.
Renowned American actor and director Sean Penn joined the Ukrainian film anthology “War Through the Eyes of Animals,” playing the role of an American producer.
According to the film's producer, Oleg Kokhan, Penn insisted on a minimum fee of one dollar. This decision was made due to the rules of the Screen Actors Guild, which do not allow actors to work for free.
“For me, this decision confirmed that he is a very powerful ambassador and that our film and its theme resonate with international audiences,” Kohan said.
The film anthology consists of seven short stories from different directors and was nominated for the Kinokolo Award. All the stories are based on real-life animal rescues during the full-scale war in Ukraine. Sean Penn took part in a short story called “The Eagle.”
The project team emphasized that they did not use Penn's name for speculation. The main purpose of his involvement was to attract the attention of international audiences and platforms to the film amid growing fatigue with military themes. Producer Kochan noted that it has become difficult for broadcasters, distributors, and online platforms to motivate viewers to watch films about war, and the participation of such a star helps to break through this wall of indifference.
The film "War Through the Eyes of Animals" is a new Ukrainian cinema almanac released on November 6, 2025, comprising seven short stories directed by seven different filmmakers, all united by the theme of the Russian-Ukrainian war and focusing on the suffering of animals.
The project features over 70 actors and 77 animals, including a cow, an eagle, and a cat, sharing the dangers and hardships of the conflict alongside humans. Notably, the film's commitment to real-life stories is highlighted by the casting of Milka the cow, injured near Kyiv, who plays herself, and a 70-year-old blogger from Lviv, Olha Martynyshyn, who appears in the novel "Torpedo."
Sean Penn is not just a famous personality, but also an active humanitarian figure in Ukraine. He co-founded the CORE foundation, which provides humanitarian aid and support to internally displaced persons in Ukraine and refugees abroad. Penn has made several official visits to Kyiv, met with President Zelenskyy, gave him his "Oscar" as a symbol of belief in victory, and was awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit, Third Class.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on April 22, Sean Penn has made his fourth visit to the country since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. During his trip, he visited the 3rd Regiment of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, continuing his mission to show solidarity with Ukrainian defenders.