The director of "20 Days in Mariupol", Mstyslav Chernov, who was applauded by Hollywood, brought the first Oscar to Ukraine. Photo

The director of the documentary "20 Days in Mariupol", Mstyslav Chernov, brought the Oscar to Ukraine. In early March 2024, a team of Ukrainian journalists, with the support of their foreign colleagues, were honored with a prestigious award.

On April 19, a photo of Chernov at the Kyiv Central Railway Station was posted on the Art House Traffic Twitter account. The director is posing against the backdrop of tracks and blue Ukrzaliznytsia cars, holding a golden statuette.

In addition, a press conference with the film's creators was held at the station, which was the first meeting with the team in Ukraine. "When people need hope, moments like the Oscars give strength. They give strength to us, the military and doctors, not to give up," emphasized Chernov.

The journalists remembered the defenders who helped to create the film: the soldiers of the 73rd Special Operation Forces Center helped them get out of the Mariupol hospital surrounded by Russians. Photojournalist Yevhen Malolietka also shared a story about how the footage allowed many Mariupol residents outside the city to find their relatives: "People asked me to film us. They didn't expect anything to change, that NATO troops would come and break the blockade. People need to know that they are heard."

The filmmakers noted that although they had shown the world the tragedy, their mission was not complete: they should not stop talking about Mariupol. Ukrainians said that many foreigners were shocked by the events after watching the film, because they had never even known about it before, or they thought the news was fake.