“20 Days in Mariupol” wins BAFTA “Best Documentary” award

Ukrainian documentary ’20 Days in Mariupol” telling the story of the first weeks of fighting in the encircled city in 2022 has won the BAFTA award for best documentary

byYuri Zoria

19/02/2024

2 minute read

Credit: “20 Days in Mariupol” Facebook account

“20 Days in Mariupol” wins BAFTA “Best Documentary” award

On 18 February, the film “20 Days in Mariupol” directed by Mstislav Chernov won the Best Documentary category at the BAFTA Awards, according to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ official website.

Russia destroyed and overran Mariupol, a port city on the Azov Sea coast in Donetsk Oblast, home to nearly 500,000 people, early in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Most Mariupolites did not have a chance to evacuate, and the exact number of civilian casualties, estimated in the tens of thousands, remains unknown to this day.

The Ukrainian documentary tells the story of the first weeks of fighting in Mariupol. It includes footage of Russian shelling and the bombing of a maternity hospital.

The film was created by director and photographer Mstyslav Chernov, photographer Yevhen Malolietka, and producer and journalist Vasylisa Stepanenko.

“20 Days in Mariupol,” combining footage from Frontline and the Associated Press, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, winning the World Cinema Documentary Competition.

https://twitter.com/MargoGontar/status/1759317851440078868

The documentary was chosen as Ukraine’s submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards and received a Best Documentary Feature nomination. Additionally, it won the Directors Guild of America Awards, and was named one of the top 5 documentaries of 2023 by the National Board of Review. The film was screened at the 78th UN General Assembly and has garnered over 20 awards and 40 nominations.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!