Ukrainian Film “2000 Meters to Andriivka” Named One of Top 5 Films of 2025 by U.S. Critics
The National Society of Film Critics in the United States has selected 2000 Meters to Andriivka, the latest documentary by acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, as one of the five best documentary films of 2025.
The Gaze reports this, referring to the organisation’s statement.
Chernov’s film, which follows Ukrainian civilians and soldiers confronting the devastation of Russia’s full-scale invasion, has drawn significant international praise for its emotional depth, raw authenticity, and journalistic precision. It appears on the critics’ list alongside "Come See Me in the Good Light," "My Mom Jayne," "Natchez," and "Orwell: 2+2=5."
Despite the recognition, the film narrowly missed out on an early-season win at the 35th Gotham Awards, where it competed in the Best Documentary category. The award went instead to My Undesirable Friends: Part I – The Last Air in Moscow by American director of Russian origin Juliia Loktev.
Her film, which chronicles the lives of Russian independent journalists persecuted as “foreign agents” after the invasion of Ukraine, has become a major contender on the U.S. awards circuit, also securing the Indie Film Site Network Advocate Award in November.
Chernov’s documentary continues to gain momentum. Earlier in the year, the Ukrainian Oscar Committee selected 2000 Meters to Andriivka as Ukraine’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The film documents the mission of a Ukrainian platoon attempting to break through a fortified forest to liberate a strategically important village from Russian occupation. Shot from the perspective of an embedded journalist, the story captures both the physical danger and psychological toll of a war that shows no signs of ending.
The latest accolade further solidifies Chernov’s international reputation after his previous award-winning work on frontline reporting and wartime storytelling.
As The Gaze previously reported, the 78th Cannes Film Festival, which opened on May 13, 2025, began with a powerful tribute to Ukraine. For the first time in its history, the festival hosted a special “Ukraine Day,” placing the war-torn country at the center of the global cinematic stage.
Read more on The Gaze: Ukrainian Cinema: 9 Must-Watch Films That Define a Nation’s Spirit