Ukrainian Film Mother of Apostles Sets National Record with 88 International Awards
The Ukrainian film Mother of Apostles has made cinematic history, setting a national record by receiving 88 international awards, the highest number ever achieved by a Ukrainian film. The feat has been officially registered in the Ukrainian Book of Records, The Gaze reports, citing Detector Media.
Produced by Studio “Zolote Runo” with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the film premiered in 2020 and is based on true events.
It tells the powerful story of a mother searching for her son — a Ukrainian pilot — whose plane was shot down over Russian-occupied territory.
Since its release, Mother of Apostles has been presented at 62 international film festivals across 28 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, China, the UK, Australia, Turkey, Israel, Spain, Poland, and Romania.
Major Awards Include:
• Grand Prize at the Asia Film Art International Film Festival (AFAIFF) in Hong Kong
• Best Film and the Ecumenical Jury Award of the Vatican, along with Best Soundtrack for composers Roman Hryhoriv and Illia Razumeiko
• Two prizes at the Calella Film Festival in Spain
The film is dedicated to the mothers of Ukrainian soldiers who went to defend Ukraine in 2014. It follows a woman’s journey through a hostile and devastated war zone in search of her son.
Through her love and humanity, she touches the lives of everyone she meets, embodying the eternal maternal spirit that brings sons home — alive or fallen.
Read more on The Gaze: 2025 Year Ukrainian Theatre Renaissance: Top Kyiv Performances Drawing Global Attention