Ukrainian soldiers join Bono and Sean Penn in powerful appearance at Cannes (video)
Ukrainian soldiers appeared at the Cannes Film Festival (photo: instagram.com/thekolya)
Frontman of U2, Bono, backing vocalist The Edge, and director Sean Penn appeared on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in the company of Ukrainian soldiers, RBC-Ukraine reports, referring to Mykola Serha's Instagram page.
At the Cannes Film Festival, which will run until May 24, Bono presented the biographical film "Bono: Stories of Surrender."
On the red carpet, he was joined by the co-founder of the Cultural Landing Force and serviceman Mykola Serha, Ukrainian soldiers, and veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
"Sean brought to us friends straight from the frontline in Ukraine. I want to thank you because you are preserving our freedom. Thank you. Glory to Ukraine," said Bono.
In his film, he shares significant moments of his development as a musician and a man. The film impressed the audience and received a seven-minute standing ovation in the theater.
Bono, Edge and Sean Penn, together with the Ukrainian military, entered the red carpet at the #CannesFilmFestival, where the @U2 frontman presented his documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender.
— UNITED24 (@U24_gov_ua) May 17, 2025
Bono thanked Ukraine’s defenders who were invited by Sean Penn#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/VoxrebUvL6
At the afterparty following the premiere, Bono and Penn, along with other guests, spoke with the Ukrainian defenders.
The soldiers stunned those present with a musical performance - Melody by Skoryk and Duma by Dremliuga were performed by bandura player Taras Stolyar, violinist Olha Rukavishnikova, and opera singers Yurii Ivaskevych and Sergiy Ivanchuk.
"And everyone is impressed. With each composition, Ukraine comes closer and closer to its hearts. On a level that's hard to reach, but where very special seeds take root. And so Ukrainian culture becomes an inseparable part of global culture. It's unknown how exactly this not-so-secret supper affected its participants. But it definitely had an effect. It's visible to the naked eye," commented Mykola Serha.
Also present in the hall were the French Minister of Culture, George Clooney's wife and mother-in-law, Luciano Pavarotti's widow and daughter, and many others.
Support of Bono and Sean Penn for Ukraine
Irish musician Bono has repeatedly supported Ukraine during the full-scale war. Bono wrote a poem about the Russian invasion, and in May 2022, personally visited Ukraine and performed in the Kyiv metro with the Ukrainian band Antytila.
Actor and director Sean Penn is also known for his strong support of Ukraine. He is filming documentaries about our struggle and visits the military. He even got a tattoo dedicated to our country - the Ukrainian trident engraved on his wrist.
During his latest visit, the celebrity made an emotional appeal to the soldiers.
Earlier, we wrote about Cannes 2025 and everything you need to know about the 78th film festival.
