Mstyslav ChernovМстислав Чернов

Biography

Mstyslav Chernov is a Ukrainian filmmaker, war correspondent, and photojournalist whose documentary '20 Days in Mariupol' (2023) became the first Ukrainian film ever to win an Academy Award. Born in Kharkiv, Chernov began his career as a journalist and joined the Associated Press in 2014. During the 2022 siege of Mariupol, Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko were the last international journalists in the city, documenting the devastating bombardment at enormous personal risk. The resulting footage — showing civilian casualties, mass graves, and the bombing of a maternity hospital — became essential evidence of the war's brutality. His Oscar acceptance speech — 'I wish I'd never made this film' — resonated worldwide.

Notable Works

Awards & Recognition

• Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature (2024)
• Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (2023)