The Trial: The State of Russia vs. Oleg Sentsov

Synopsis

In August 2015, Ukrainian film director and Maidan activist Oleg Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Siberia for terrorism. He was charged with leading an anti-Russian terrorist movement and planning attacks on bridges, power lines and a monument of Lenin. Sentsov defends himself courageously and responds to the verdict with an emphatic denial of the crimes and instead accuses the accusers themselves.  In his documentary, Askold Kurov investigates the truth behind this political show-trial and documents the solidarity shown to Sentsov by filmmaking colleagues and the European Film Academy, which is beginning its 30th anniversary with this screening to campaign for Sentsov’s release.

Speaker introduction: Cinta Depondt (Program Leader Ukraine at PAX)

Speakers Q&A: Askold Kurov (filmmaker), Yulia Gorbunova (Russia Researcher at Human Rights Watch) and Jos Stelling (film director, screenwriter and producer)

Moderator: Andrée van Es (Chairwoman of the Dutch National UNESCO Committee)