Michael Moore cancels Berlinale trip due to ill health

Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has pulled out of his planned attendance of the Berlin Film Festival following a bout of illness.

A statement said: “It is with regret that Michael Moore has had to cancel his trip to the Berlin International Film Festival.

“Michael had been greatly looking forward to attending the Berlinale and presenting the European Premiere of Where To Invade Next, and would like to extend his continued thanks to his fans for their ongoing support of the project.”

The US director, known for Oscar-winning documentary Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, was severely ill with pneumonia earlier this month.

“Things didn’t look good,” he said on social media of the extent of his illness at the time. Last week, he posted on Facebook: “Trying to get back to just breathing is enough of a burden.”

Where To Invade Next is Moore’s first film in six years and see the doc-maker playfully “invade” other nations to see what the US can learn from them.

Screening as a Berlinale Special Gala, it will receive its European premiere at the festival tomorrow evening (Feb 17).

A further statement said: “It is with regret that Michael Moore has had to cancel his trip to the Berlin International Film Festival due to his recent hospitalization with pneumonia.

“Michael is now recovering and had been greatly looking forward to attending Berlinale and presenting the European Premiere of Where To Invade Next, and would like to extend his continued thanks to his fans for their ongoing support of the project.

“He especially grateful to the German people who figure so prominently in his movie. He is truly sad not to be able to be here and share this moment with them.