Ukrainian Director Oleg Sentsov Speaks Out From Front Lines Of War: “Russian Bombs Are Falling On Children”
deadline.comOleg Sentsov, the Ukrainian filmmaker and activist whose latest feature was the 2021 Venice premiere Rhino, has released a full statement from the frontline of the war backing the boycott of Russian cinema.
Scroll down to read it.The director, who spent five years in a Russian jail on terror charges that Amnesty International described as fabricated, including time on hunger strike, is joining the call for a “boycott of Russian cinematography in all dimensions, including film cooperation: co-production, distribution and festivals”.As Deadline has previously reported, the idea of a boycott is splitting opinion in the international film community – some believe that as much pressure possible must be put on the Russian government from all corners, while others suggest the idea of punishing Russian filmmakers who have been critical of the Putin regime is unjust.Earlier today, producer Denis Ivanov, whose credits include Sentsov’s Rhino, was the latest figure to release an impassioned statement backing the boycott, which was first proposed by the Ukrainian Film Academy.As a reservist volunteer, Sentsov is now actively fighting the Russian invasion, as are many notable figures in the country.
On Monday, the director posted a video online detailing his efforts countering the invasion:Here’s Sentsov’s statement:My name is Oleg Sentsov.
I am a Ukrainian film director. In 2014, I was unlawfully imprisoned in Russia and sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for fighting against Putin regime and annexation of Crimea.
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