Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years by a Russian military court in 2015 for allegedly having terrorist plans. Amnesty International speaks of an "unfair trial". This case, about which here already reported, the subject of the documentary shown at the Berlinale is The Trial: The State of Russia vs Oleg Sentsov.
The European Film Academy is doing its best to keep the protest against Sentsov's conviction alive. As at the previous Berlinale, filmmakers including EFA president Agnieszka Holland and Volker Schlöndorff organised an action at the premiere of The Trial at the Berlinale. Filmmakers along with the 650-strong audience held up protest signs reading 'Free Oleg Sentsov'.
Solidarity
Speaking after the screening, director Askold Kurov stated, "Making this film is a story about solidarity." While the filmmaker's niece had little cause for optimism, his avocate Dimitri Dinze stressed the importance of sustaining the international protest.
Agnieszka Holland received applause for her conclusion: "Oleg needs us but we also need Oleg. His courage is of great significance in times like these, perhaps even more so than two years ago."
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