REUTERS

Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov illegally imprisoned in Russia obbviously could not attend the Odesa International Film Festival this year.

But at every film screening in Odesa, organizers reserved a spot for him. That empty seat became a symbol of Ukraine's support for Sentsov and hope for his release, as reported by Kyiv Post.

Both the Ukrainian and international film communities have joined together in support of Sentsov, and visitors to the Odesa film festival are no exception.

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Sentsov was previously a regular attendee and presented his films at the festival. Alik Shpilyuk, the program advisor of the festival, describes Sentsov as a friend of the event.