First 'Oscar' in Ukraine's History: Director of '20 Days in Mariupol' Delivers Powerful Speech at Ceremony – 'I Wish I Never Made This Film'
In Los Angeles, the jury of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the winners of the 96th Academy Awards. Mstislav Chernov's film 20 Days in Mariupol, which depicts the realities of the beginning of the full-scale Russian war in Ukraine, was recognised as the best feature documentary in the Best Feature Documentary category and won Ukraine its first ever Oscar.
"20 Days in Mariupol is a first-hand look at Russia's atrocities in Ukraine, featuring footage of a bombed-out maternity hospital, mass graves, people looting shops for food and much more.
The director of 20 Days in Mariupol delivered a powerful speech at the Oscars in support of Ukraine.
"This is the first Oscar in the history of Ukraine. And it is a great honour for me. But I will probably be the first director on this stage to say that I wish I had never made this film. I would like to be able to exchange it for Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities," Chernov said.
He continued: "Russians are killing tens of thousands of my compatriots. I want them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are defending their land, all the civilians who are now in their prisons. But I cannot change history. I cannot change the past."
The Ukrainian director then called on Hollywood personalities to use their voices to raise the voice of the Ukrainian people.
"We are all together: you. I am addressing you, some of the most talented people in the world. We can make sure that history is corrected, that the truth prevails, that the people of Mariupol and those who gave their lives are never forgotten, because cinema shapes memories, and memories shape history."
In the press room, director Chernov spoke to Variety about how he believes Hollywood can contribute to ending the violence in Ukraine.
"History is not always how it happened. It is how we remember it, and future generations will look back and wonder what is happening to us now. They will see it through the prism of cinema, whether documentary or fiction," he said. "Children in Ukraine... when they are at war, when they are hiding from bombs and bombings, they want to escape to another world."
Chernov, a journalist with the Associated Press, was filming the city of Mariupol during a heavy artillery attack. He didn't set out to make a film, but wanted to record what he saw.
"It was a necessity," he told Variety in January.
The film 'Oppenheimer' expectedly won in the category of 'Best Picture'. The creative team of the film took home seven Oscars in total: for 'Best Director', 'Best Actor', 'Best Supporting Actor', 'Best Original Score', 'Best Editing', and 'Best Cinematography'.
Emma Stone rightfully earned the title of Best Actress for her leading role in the film 'Poor Creatures'.
'Boy and Heron' was recognised as the Best Animated Feature Film, and the Best Animated Short Film went to 'The War is Over'.
The technical award for 'Best Sound' was awarded to 'Zone of Interest', while the 'Best Original Song' category victory went to the composition "What Was I Made For?" (from the film 'Barbie').
See the full list of Oscar winners for 2024 here.