This year’s Odesa International Film Festival includes more than 100 films, including one from Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov. He is imprisoned in Russia on what appear to be trumped-up terrorism charges over his opposition to the Kremlin annexation of Crimea. Any money raised from ticket sales will go to Sentsov’s family to cover legal expenses, organizers say.
This year’s Odesa International Film Festival includes more than 100 films, including one from Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov. He is imprisoned in Russia on what appear to be trumped-up terrorism charges over his opposition to the Kremlin annexation of Crimea. Any money raised from ticket sales will go to Sentsov’s family to cover legal expenses, organizers say.
The movie, Gamer, is about youngster Kross, who quit school to become a professional computer gamer.
The movie’s main character lives in a small town and has conflicts with his parents over his obsession with computer games. Kross trains day and night, dreaming to be the best in Internet gaming. The plot involves the challenges of provincial life, including the drama of being an outcast.
This film has premiered internationally at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and has won some prizes. Despite a budget of $20,000, the film is a success, Sentsov said.
He knew his subject. The director said he has been obsessed with computer games for eight years.
The real-life drama of Sentsov, an activist in the EuroMaidan Revolution that some believe triggered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, shows no sign of ending.
Sentsov was arrested in Crimea on May 10 by Russian’s Federal Security Service and is believed to be held in solitary confinement in Moscow. According to the FSB, various explosives, weapons, gas masks and helmets were found in his apartment. Now Sentsov is accused of terrorism and may be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
But artists internationally are coming to Sentsov’s support.
Mike Downey, a British film producer, gathered signatures for petition demanding Sentsov’s release. The petition was sent to Putin.
Russian film critic Olexandr Gusev says Sentsov is a remarkable director and a decent person. “It is obvious, that he could not be involved in terrorism of any kind. He was arrested only because of his dissent,” Gusev said.
After Russian’s annexation of Crimea, Sentsov was granted Russian citizenship automatically, although he never requested it.
“I want to protest against the deprivation of my Ukrainian citizenship. I was Ukrainian and I still am,” Sentsov said. Nonetheless, he will be tried under Russian law.
Kyiv Post staff writer Denys Krasnikov can be reached at [email protected]
