Solidarity Instead of Flowers: European Film Academy Turns 30
As part of the section Berlinale Special, the Berlinale and the European Film Academy present THE TRIAL: THE STATE OF RUSSIA VS OLEG SENTSOV
Premiere at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in the presence of Imprisoned Director’s Cousin, Lawyer, Producers and Friends

In May 2014, the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who was involved in supporting the Euro Maidan protests in Kiev and who has opposed the annexation of Crimea by Russia, was arrested by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) in his house in Simferopol (Crimea). More than one year later, and at the end of what Amnesty International described as “an unfair trial in a military court” Oleg Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in jail for having committed “crimes of a terrorist nature”.

In his documentary Askold Kurov investigates the truth behind this political show trial. Were the witnesses for the prosecution placed under duress? What effect did detention and the trial itself have on the accused and his family? The film also documents the solidarity shown to Sentsov by filmmaking colleagues such as Agnieszka Holland, Ken Loach and Pedro Almodóvar, and by the European Film Academy, which is beginning its 30th anniversary year with this screening in order to campaign once more for Oleg Sentsov’s release.

The screening will be followed by a short conversation including EFA Chairwoman Agnieszka Holland, Oleg Sentsov’s cousin Natalya Kaplan, his lawyer Dmitrii Dinze, the film’s director Askold Kurov and producers Max Tuula, Maria Gavrilova and Dariusz Jabłoński. Moderation: Mike Downey, Deputy Chairman of the EFA Board.

Berlinale Special
THE TRIAL: THE STATE OF RUSSIA VS. OLEG SENTSOV
Premiere: SAT 11 FEB 15.00 Haus der Berliner Festspiele
Tickets to buy will be available three days in advance.
Further details and ticket information
#ReleaseOlegSentsov

Berlin, 7 February 2017