Mstyslav Chernov’s film ‘20 Days in Mariupol’ won best documentary at the Oscars. This is the first-ever Oscar won by a Ukrainian director
‘20 Days in Mariupol’ competed at the Oscars with Kaouther Ben Hania’s ‘Four Daughters’, Nisha Pahuja’s ‘To Kill A Tiger’, Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo’s ‘Bobi Wine: The People’s President’ and Maite Alberdi’s ‘The Eternal Memory’.
Congratulations to ’20 Days in Mariupol’ — this year’s Best Documentary Feature Film! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/y1Qsf7bTpm
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 11, 2024
Mstyslav Chernov’s Oscar speech
‘Thank you AP, Frontline, GBH. Evgeniy, Vasilisa, Michelle, Raney, Derl. Thank you for making this film with me. Thank you for helping me in this journey. This is the first Oscar in Ukrainian history.
I’m honored. But probably I’ll be the first director on this stage who will say I wish I would never make this film. I wish to be able to exchange this Oscar for russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities.
I wish to give all the recognition to russia not killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians. I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting the land, all the civilians who are now in their jails.
But I cannot change the history, I cannot change the past.
But we altogether: you. I’m calling on you, some of the most talented people in the world. We can make sure that the history record is set straight and that the truth will prevail. And that the people of Mariupol and those who have given their lives will never be forgotten. Because cinema forms memories, and memories form history.
So thank you all! Thank you Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!’
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About ‘20 Days in Mariupol’
‘20 Days in Mariupol’ tells about the russian attack on the city on February 24, 2022, the bombing of residential neighborhoods and maternity hospital, the people who lived and worked under the blockade of the city and how Chernov, along with colleagues — photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and journalist Vasilisa Stepanenko —managed to escape from the city surrounded by russian occupiers.
Mstyslav Chernov made all the footage during his 20-day stay in Mariupol.
Read our interview: ‘The director of ‘20 Days in Mariupol’: ‘We all accepted our deaths in a way’’
In February, ‘20 Days in Mariupol’ won the main British film award BAFTA in the Best Documentary category.
The Strategic Media Support Program project will implement the Lviv Media Forum with the financial support of People in Need (PIN) and Pioneer Foundation.
