Ukraine chose MSTySlav Chernov’s “Andriivka in the 2000 Meter” as the entry in the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The film records the mission of the Ukrainian platoon to free Andrivka, a village occupied by the Russian army. Filmed with a combination of helmet cameras, drones and ground footage, the film keeps modern wars from being distinguished and emphasizes the endurance of resistance under extreme conditions.
Reviewing the variety movie, Guy Lodge wrote: “‘2000 Meters Andrifka” is a vigorous, exhausting, propulsive and petrified documentary, with the general tone of worrying fatigue encapsulated by the miserable, barbed wire questions of a single soldier. For many of his lost companions, that was already the case. ”
The Ukrainian Oscar Committee said: “This is a fragile, exhausting, dignified, uncompromising, honest, insightful documentary, divided into the reality of the Russian and Ukrainian wars through human experience.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chernov was previously awarded the 2024 Academy Award for Best Documentary Features in “20 Days of Maripol.” His latest work premiered at Sundance 2025, where he won the Best Director Award in the World Documentary Program. The film continued to earn multiple honors at CPH:DOX’s Best Research Documentary F:ACT Awards for CPH:Docudaysua.
“Andrifka from 2000 Meters” was produced by Frontline PBS and the Associated Press and edited by Michelle Mizner. The project continues Chernov’s collaboration with leading documentary producers and distributors, strengthening his position as one of Ukraine’s most internationally visible filmmakers. He is represented by CAA and Cinetic Media.
Ukraine has submitted films to the International Functional category since 1997, but has not yet secured a nomination. Previous entries include Valentyn Vasyanovych’s “Atlantis” (2019), Maryna Er Gorbach and Mehmet Bahadir Er’s “Klondike” (2022), and Antoniolkic’s “Luxembourg, Luxembourg” (2023). “20 Days of Maryupol” has created a list of candidate categories.
The Oscar International feature summary will be announced on December 16th, with the last five candidates announced on January 22nd.
