The Ukrainian documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” won the Oscar for Best Documentary on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
“I wish I had never made this film.” Upon receiving the award, director Mstyslav Chernov emphasized that his goal with “20 Days in Mariupol” was to show the world the true stakes of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The film chronicles the first days of the war in Ukraine, documenting the numerous atrocities committed by Russian soldiers against the civilians of Mariupol. Its win as the first Ukrainian work to receive an Oscar carries profound symbolism, with its harrowing images confronting viewers with the stark reality of war.
