‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’ Wins Award at Copenhagen Film Festival

Ukrainian director Mstislav Chernov has received the prestigious F:ACT Award at the Copenhagen Film Festival for his documentary 2000 Meters (1.24 miles) to Andriivka.

The film offers a powerful depiction of the Ukrainian army’s struggle to liberate the village of Andriivka near Bakhmut in September 2023. The film follows soldiers from Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Air Assault Brigade as they advance through heavily mined areas and engage in fierce battles for the liberation of Andriivka in eastern Ukraine.

As The Gaze previously reported, Chernov has recently gained international recognition, winning both an Oscar and a BAFTA for his film 20 Days in Mariupol, which was awarded Best Documentary at both ceremonies.

Explaining their choice, the Copenhagen festival jury praised 2000 Meters to Andriivka as a cinematic achievement:

‘Ultimately we give the F: ACT award to ”2000 Meters to Andriivka” not just because it’s a conflict on our doorstep, but because it’s a masterpiece in filmmaking: a haunting, multi layered portrayal of war comparable to All Quiet on the Western Front. The meaningless of war, and also its unsettling poetry are all on full display here. An artist in amongst bloodshed brings the reality home, and make an anti war film that forces us to reflect on the diginity of each human life lost.’

Chernov and Associated Press photographer Oleksandr Babenko documented the soldiers’ every step, providing a raw and gripping account of the operation. The production team also included producers Michelle Mizner and Rainey Aronson-Rath, who contributed to the film’s impactful storytelling.