Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, whose imprisonment in Russia for five years, following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, was deemed unlawful by Amnesty International, released a statement March 3 directed to the international film community which asks for support for a boycott of “Russian cinematography in all [its] dimensions… as requested by the Ukrainian Film Academy.”
Written from an undisclosed location, the statement follows on from Ukrainian producer Denis Ivanov’s demand for a Russian boycott, also issued March 3.
Sentsov’s statement reads in full:
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 [the] Putin regime and annexation of Crimea. Back then, the whole film industry stood up to support me. And I am immensely grateful for it. Now I’m asking you to support my country.
Exactly two weeks ago, my movie [Rhino], which I shot after I was out, was released in Ukraine. For a week now, I have been standing in the trenches as a participant of the territorial defence of Kyiv, which is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Life has changed in an instant with the fall of the first bomb on the territory of Ukraine. Everything we knew about Hitler’s invasion [in 1941] has now become real again.
My motherland is mercilessly shelled from the land, sea and air. Russian bombs are falling on Ukrainian children. Millions are sitting in bomb shelters. Millions are suffering from being cold and lacking food. My country is being ruined, but our spirit is strong. We are going to fight until our victory.
For this, we need your support. The support of intellectuals and artists who oppose Putin’s bloody regime. People who value human life more than anything. I request your support for the boycott of Russian cinematography in all dimensions, including film cooperation: co-production, distribution and festivals, as requested by the Ukrainian Film Academy. Please sign the petition!
Stand with Ukraine!
We will stop Putin together!
Thank you, Oleg Sentsov
