On September 18th, the Ukrainian Oscar Committee chose the film that will represent Ukraine among the contenders for the nomination for the Academy award in the category of “Best International Feature Film.”
The chosen film is 20 Days in Mariupol directed by Ukrainian journalist and photographer Mstyslav Chernov. Alongside Chernov, the film was worked on by photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko. The movie depicts the beginning of a full-scale invasion – an Associated Press team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting atrocities of the Russian invasion. As the only international reporters who remain in the city, they capture what later become defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital, and more.
The film was selected through a vote by members of the Ukrainian Oscar Committee, chaired by Valentyn Vasyanovych.
It’s worth noting that five films participated in the national selection: 20 Days in Mariupol by Mstyslav Chernov, Iron Butterflies by Roman Liubyi, Pamfir by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Boney Piles by Taras Tomenko, and SHTTL by Adrien Walter.
