The Ukrainian film "20 Days in Mariupol", directed by Mstislav Chernov, won the Oscar in the nomination "Best Documentary".
This is a historic victory for Ukraine, as it is the first time a Ukrainian film has won such a prestigious film award. The tape tells about the terrible events that happened in Mariupol, when the city came under fire from Russian troops.
The 96th Academy Award ceremony took place on the night of March 10-11 in Los Angeles.
During his speech on stage, Mstislav Chernov expressed his gratitude for the award, but he also shared his desire to exchange the Oscar for peace and security for Ukraine. He called for the support of his country and faithfully requested that Russia stop its aggression against Ukraine and release all Ukrainian hostages and soldiers defending their land.
"We cannot change history, we cannot influence the past, but together we, each of you and I, are now among the most talented people in the world. We can do everything we can to correct history, let the truth prevail and ensure that those who died in Mariupol and all those who sacrificed their lives are never forgotten. Cinema creates memories, and memories create history," Chernov said during a performance on stage in Los Angeles.
Photojournalist Yevhen Maloletka and film producer Vasylisa Stepanenko were also awarded an Oscar, together with the director they worked in Mariupol in 2022.
A few weeks ago, "20 days in Mariupol" won the prestigious British film award BAFTA.
Until 2024, Ukrainian films received Oscar nominations, but none of them ever won this prestigious award. For example, in 2023, a film about a children's shelter in Donbas "House of Sticks" was nominated, and in 2016 - a film about Euromaidan "Winter on fire: Ukraine's struggle for freedom". However, these films were co-productions of Ukraine and other countries. "20 Days in Mariupol" became the first Ukrainian film to receive an Oscar.
The Oscars in various categories were presented at the ceremony in 2024:
- The best film is "Oppenheimer".
- Best Actor – Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”.
- Best Actress - Emma Stone, "Poor Creatures."
- The best director - Christopher Nolan for the film "Oppenheimer".
- The best documentary short film - "The Last Workshop".
- The best international film is "Zone of Interest", directed by Jonathan Glazer.
- The best animated film is "The Boy and the Heron", directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
- Best Supporting Actress - Da'Vin Joy Randolph, "Poor Creatures."
- Best Supporting Actor – Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer.
- Best Original Screenplay – “Anatomy of the Fall” by Justine Trier and Artur Arari.
- Best Adapted Screenplay – “American Reading” by Cord Jefferson.
Shortly before the Oscar ceremony, the BBC of Ukraine asked Mstislav Chernov whether he had prepared a speech in case of victory.
The director replied that any Ukrainian would exchange any world awards to avoid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"I wish this movie didn't exist, but it does." And since it is, I have to do everything I can to make sure as many people as possible see it. This is our main goal, and we are doing everything to achieve it," the director emphasized.
At all film festivals where the film won awards, Chernov used them to talk about the Mariupol tragedy and the war.
His documentary tells the story of the first weeks of the Russian invasion of Mariupol: shelling, the death of civilians, the bombing of a maternity hospital.
The tape shows scenes of the death of many local residents at the hands of Russian troops.
Chernov constantly reminds the audience that the war is going on in Ukraine and what they see on the screen is happening now.
Together with photographer Yevhen Maloletka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, they went to Mariupol on February 23, 2022, before the invasion. Their reporting helped the world see what was happening in the city.
For this work, they received the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award for journalists.
The film also depicts the personal lives of war correspondents and documenting history. Journalists risked their lives filming events in Mariupol.
"This film is hard to watch, but you have to watch it," Chernov remarked.
Before the film "20 Days in Mariupol" won the Oscar, it had already received numerous awards and recognition around the world.
The New York Times described the film as "a ruthless and truly important documentary."
Rolling Stone emphasized that it is "a chilling testament to the necessity and high cost of documenting life in a combat zone."
At Sundance, the main independent film festival in the world in 2023, "20 days in Mariupol" received the prize of audience sympathy.
Film critics from the USA recognized it as the best in the nominations "Director's Debut" and "Political Documentary" at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.
The Ukrainian film became the highest-grossing documentary in Ukraine last year, collecting over 500,000 hryvnias in the first weekend of release alone.
Mstislav Chernov received an award from the Directors Guild of America.
During the BAFTA awards ceremony in London, he spoke about Mariupol as a symbol of struggle and faith, urging to continue the struggle.
After receiving the Oscar, Chernov told reporters that his film represents the destroyed Ukrainian cities, a reminder to the world of the need to stop the invasion.
"This victory, I hope, will tell more people about what is happening in Ukraine and attract their attention," the director added.
