The documentary film “2000 meters to Andriivka” directed by Mstislav Chernov will represent Ukraine at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony in the nomination “Best International Feature Film”. About this reported Ukrainian Oscar Committee.
“This is an uncompromisingly honest and poignant documentary that delves into the reality of the Russian-Ukrainian war through human experience – fragile, exhausting and at the same time full of dignity. This Ukrainian film should become even more visible in the world, because it speaks on behalf of those who defend freedom and the right to life every day.” – the message says.
The film “2000 meters to Andriivka” shows the consequences of the war through a personal and emotionally complex perspective. The author pays special attention to the Ukrainian military – who they are, where they come from and what difficult decisions they make at the front, fighting for every piece of land.
“Set against the backdrop of a failed counteroffensive operation in 2023, Chernov, along with AP colleague Oleksiy Babenk, accompany a Ukrainian brigade as they make their way through approximately 2,000 meters of heavily fortified forest on a combat mission to liberate the Russian-captured village of Andriivka. Combining original footage, intense body-cam footage of Ukrainian fighters, and powerful moments of personal reflection, “2,000 Meters to Andriivka” shows with eerie intimacy: the further the soldiers advance through the devastated homeland, the deeper they realize that for them this war may not have an end.” – noted in the committee.
The world premiere of the film took place in January 2025 at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received an award for best direction in the World Cinema Documentary category. The Ukrainian premiere took place at the Docudays UA festival, where the film won in three nominations. Since August 28, the picture has been widely distributed in Ukraine.
“It is an honor for us to represent Ukraine in the category “Best International Feature Film” at the Oscars. We will do everything possible to make the voices of Ukraine and the Ukrainian military heard. Now this seems especially important, when there has been a massive shelling of Kyiv since the morning. I receive the news of the selection while I am filming how the bodies of civilians are taken out from under the rubble. And this imposes an even greater responsibility on us, documentarians, artists – to speak with the world, to shout to him about what is happening, even when it seems useless”, – the director Mstislav Chernov reacted.
The decision was made by the Ukrainian Oscar Committee, which includes 12 experts in the film industry — directors, producers and film critics, chosen by voting by members of the Ukrainian Film Academy. Among them: Dmytro Suholytkyi-Sobchuk (head of the committee), Maksym Asadchiy, Denys Budanov, Dmytro Desyaterik, Taras Dron, Marina Er Horbach, Andriy Khalpakhchi, Oleksiy Pershko, Kateryna Slipchenko, Marina Stepanska, Volodymyr Yatsenko and Serhii Zlenko.
