At the 2025 Venice Film Festival, actor Kevin Spacey expressed his support for Ukrainians affected by the war and praised the charitable work of Ukrainian producer Elvira Gavrilova-Paterson. His speech was delivered at a ceremony held by the international organization Better World Fund, which traditionally honors figures in culture, the arts, and the humanitarian sphere.
“At this point in my life, the trust and opportunity I have been given mean a great deal to me. I am grateful to Elvira and the entire team. Her charitable foundation, which helps women and children affected by war, deserves respect and support,” Spacey said.
During the event, the famous actor presented the Better World Fund award to Elvira Gavrilova-Paterson, a Ukrainian producer, founder of Elledgy Media Group, and active philanthropist. Kevin Spacey himself presented her with the award.
“The film industry has always been about people. Without people, there are no stories, no emotions, and no opportunity to touch hearts. It is a great honor for me to work with Kevin Spacey,” said Gavrilova-Paterson as she accepted the award.
In fact, last year’s winner of this award was Kevin Costner, and this time it went to a Ukrainian and to Ukraine in general, highlighting the country’s contribution to global culture and the humanitarian sphere.
The charity event is not the only reason to mention Kevin Spacey: he attended the Venice Film Festival with the premiere of the trailer for the science fiction film Holiguards Saga — The Portal of Force, in which he played one of the leading roles. This film marked the actor’s spectacular return to the big screen after a long hiatus. The plot tells the story of the confrontation between two supernatural forces and a young woman who, upon learning that she is the daughter of their leaders, can end the long-standing conflict.
The film, with a budget of $10 million, was shot in Mexico between 2023 and 2024, with post-production handled by Elledgy Media Group, founded by Ukrainian businesswoman and media personality Elvira Gavrilova-Paterson. In addition to Spacey, the film stars Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, Brianna Hildebrand, and Eric Roberts. The producers are already working on financing the following two parts of the saga, which will be partially filmed in Portugal.