Ukrainian journalist and director Mstyslav Chernov's acceptance speech at the 96th Academy Awards Sunday night for the film "20 Days in Mariupol" was one of distinct pain and sorrow.
The film was shot inside the war-torn port city of Mariupol and documented the early stages of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022. Winning an Oscar for best documentary feature should have been a highlight for Chernov and the team of journalists at the center of the film, however, Chernov's speech acknowledged the lasting emotional impact of and fatalities from the war on Ukrainians.
