The film “20 days in Mariupol” directed by Mstislav Chernov received an Oscar for best documentary film, it was announced at the 96th awards ceremony. This is the first Oscar in the history of Ukraine.
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Key facts
- The winners of the 96th Oscars have been announced. In the category “Best Documentary Film” the award was won by the film “20 days in Mariupol” by Ukrainian director Mstislav Chernov.
- This is the first Oscar in the history of Ukraine. It’s an honor for me. But, perhaps, I will be the first director on this stage to say: I did not want to make this film. I would like to be able to exchange this Oscar for Russia never attacking Ukraine or occupying our cities. I can’t change history, the past. But together we can make sure that the truth wins. And the people from Mariupol, and everyone who gave their lives in the war, were never forgotten,” Chernov said when receiving the award.
- The film competed with the films “Bobi Wine: The People’s President”, “To Kill a Tiger”, “The Eternal Memory” and “Four Daughters”.
- Chernov’s film shows the first days of the Russian siege of Mariupol. Together with the director, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko worked on the film. All three received the Pulitzer Prize for their work in Mariupol. Stepanenko is a member of the Forbes “30 under 30” list.
- The film shows the beginning of a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, as well as the rescue of Associated Press journalists from a city surrounded by Russians.
Context
In February 2024, the film “20 days in Mariupol” by Mstislava Chernova won the BAFTA Award for “Best Documentary Film”. Receiving the award, Chernov said that he wanted to draw attention not to himself, but to the events in Ukraine.
In Ukraine, “20 Days in Mariupol” collected more than UAH 531,000 at the box office in four days and became the highest-grossing documentary film at the national box office. Its box office totals more than UAH 2 million, and the film was watched in cinemas by more than 16,000 spectators.
Thanks to participation in the Oscars, the box office and the film’s chances of expansion are growing. But this will not affect the income of the film crew and director – they worked as Associated Press journalists and do not have other financial incentives for working on the film.
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