The 73rd Berlin Film Festival held in person after the 2-year pandemic break was one of the most politically fueled events of recent memory. Matt Damon spoke at the press conference for Kiss the Future, a documentary directed by Nenad Cicin Sain, which chronicles the daily life of Sarajevo citizens during the brutal Bosnian war and the events leading up to the 1997 concert of the music band U2.
As the documentary producer, Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon answered questions at the conference. On a question about Sean Penn's Ukrainian documentary Superpower, Damon announced that he is developing a project about the Ukrainian war and appointed someone to research it. However, he did not give much detail on the project. Variety reported.
''I watched as everyone has with horror that unfolded there in the last year. We don’t have anything on it right now, there isn’t any doubt that we’ll be doing. I actually do have somebody over there researching one, but it’s in its early stages.''
The politically charged documentary Kiss the Future is based on aid worker Bill Carter's memoir Fools Rush In: A True Story of Love, War, and Redemption. The documentary tells the story of Carter's determination resulted in the enlistment of U2 to help shine a light when the world wasn't paying attention.
Matt Damon Says He Hasn't Met Volodymyr Zelensky
As seen in the documentary, Sean Penn went to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, for his controversial documentary, and met with the President of Ukraine and featured him in the documentary. But although Damon did not get the chance to meet the Ukrainian leader, he met the country's first lady Olena Zelenska. ''I got a chance to meet his wife (Olena Zelenska) in New York during the UN General Assembly.'' Damon said.
Damon said that he thinks that many films will be made in the future dedicated to Ukraine, but that political documentaries are not part of a strategy, and he only dedicates his time and energy to what he believes in.
''I think a lot of wonderful films are being made about it now. I’m sure there will be a many, many more made going forward. But there is not an overarching strategy. I can only try to lend my abilities and energy to the things that I believe in. This one just kind of came to me and it was a real blessing.''
Along with Damon, the director of the documentary Cicin-Sain and Bosnian journalist Vesna Andree Zaimovi attended the press conference. In addition to Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sarah Anthony and Ned O'Hanlon are among the producers of the documentary.