Mstislav Chernov/Arthouse Traffic
On Friday, April 19, a meeting with the creators of the documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” took place in Kyiv. This is the first Ukrainian film to win an Oscar.
The award for the Best Documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” was brought to Kyiv by its director Mstislav Chernov. This is reported by Suspilne Kultura.
The photo of the director with Oscar at the Kyiv train station was shared by the company-distributor of the tape in Ukraine Arthouse Traffic on social networks. As Suspilne writes, the meeting with the film crew took place in the premises of the Central Railway Station. During his speech, Mstislav Chernov said that he would be happy to exchange the golden statuette for Ukraine's victory in the war.
When people need hope, moments like Oscar give strength. They give us, the military, doctors, the strength not to give up, – Chernov notes.
The creators also remembered the fighters who helped escape from the besieged hospital in Mariupol – the 73rd SSO center, noting that some of them still continue to fight at the front.
Yugen Maloletka also said that photos and videos from the city surrounded by Russians helped many people who were outside Mariupol to find relatives.
People asked “take us down”. They did not expect that something would change, that NATO troops would come and break through this blockade. It is important for people to know that they are heard, the creators add.
Even when the stories have been told, the creators of the film strive to make sure that Mariupol is not forgotten. Not only because Mariupol is the beginning of a full-scale war, but also because Mariupol became a symbol of all the cities that were destroyed and occupied after.
Mstislav Chernov brought Oscar to Ukraine/MKIP
They also said that many people at the meetings and showings of the tape said that they did not know that this really happened in Ukraine, or at all – believed that it was a fake.
The documentary “20 days in Mariupol” tells about the first weeks of fighting in Mariupol, Donetsk region, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This is the first Ukrainian film to win an Oscar. In 2024, it won the award as the best documentary film.