'20 Days in Mariupol' wins best documentary feature film
"20 Days in Mariupol" won the Oscar for best documentary feature film.
Filmmakers Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath accepted the award, which was presented by Kate McKinnon and America Ferrera.
"Probably I will be the first director on this stage who will say I wish I had never made this film," Chernov said about his film, which offers a harrowing account of the Russia-Ukraine war. "I wish to be able to exchange this [for] Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities. I wish to give all the recognition to Russia for killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians."
"I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting their lands, all the civilians who are now in their jails, but I cannot change the history," he continued. "I cannot change the past. But we, all together, you ... some of the most talented people in the world, we can make sure that the history record is set straight, and that the truth will prevail -- and that the people of Mariupol and those who have given their lives will never be forgotten. Because cinema forms memories and memories form history."
Other nominees in the category included "Bobi Wine: The People's President," "The Eternal Memory," "Four Daughters" and "To Kill a Tiger."