Entertainment
Oscar Nomination ‘Bittersweet,’ Says ’20 Days in Mariupol’ Filmmaker
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A Ukrainian filmmaker has described his Oscar nomination for best documentary as a bittersweet moment.
The Academy Awards in January announced Mstyslav Chernov’s film “20 Days in Mariupol” as among the nominees for best documentary.
Produced by The Associated Press and PBS’ “Frontline” and directed by Chernov, the documentary covers Russia’s siege of the city of Mariupol in the first three weeks of the war in Ukraine in early 2022.
Chernov, along with photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, had arrived in the Ukrainian city about an hour before Russia began its bombardment.
In the following days, they captured images of the physical and humanitarian effect of the attack, from the death of a 4-year-old girl and the bombing of a maternity hospital to scenes of freshly dug mass graves.
Several film critics have praised the film for its “relentless” look at the invasion.
FILE – In a scene in the documentary ’20 Days in Mariupol,’ Serhii, father of teenager Iliya, cries on his son’s lifeless body lying on a stretcher at a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 2, 2022.
In an interview with VOA’s Ukrainian Service, Chernov said the documentary is bigger than just what happened in Mariupol and tells the story of all the cities devastated by Russia’s attacks.
The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
VOA: Congratulations on being nominated. What was your reaction when you found out about your nomination?
Mstyslav Chernov: My first thought was, “Oh my God, there is so much more work to do, and it’s [an] even bigger responsibility.” And that’s exactly how we feel, because it is a bittersweet moment, a moment to acknowledge that the world cares. And at the same time, the moment to acknowledge that this all happened, and this film exists because of the huge tragedy.
VOA: As the first Ukrainian Oscar nominee, what does this mean for you and for Ukraine?
Chernov: Again, it means more responsibility, because now I am tasked to not only carry the memory of [the] citizens of Mariupol but also to represent Ukrainian cinema.
And I wish I could represent it in a much better, more peaceful way, but this is what it is now. We are the country at war. We are the country that was attacked, and our cinema will be inevitably telling the story of that war.
It’s just become so much more than just the story of Mariupol. It became [the] story of all the Ukrainian cities that got destroyed by Russian bombs. And it became a symbol of the impact of war on the civilian population, far beyond Ukraine.
FILE – A Ukrainian serviceman guards his position in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 12, 2022. The image is part of the documentary film ’20 Days in Mariupol,’ which has been nominated for an Academy Award in the category of best documentary.
VOA: The people in Mariupol right now are under Russian occupation. As you show this film, what do you want to tell those in Mariupol?
Chernov: When residents of Mariupol who lost their city and became IDPs [internally displaced persons] saw the film and spoke to me after, I always found a lot of hope in them. It’s about a feeling of community. And also, this hope is there because they lost so much. They don’t have [the] means to explain to people exactly how terrifying, how painful, this experience was for them.
And this film is a tool for them to carry these thoughts and to show what they lived through. I’m just trying to be as truthful as possible to what we felt and to what they felt. And if we win, it’s going to be a miracle.
The fact that we survived Mariupol is already a miracle. The fact that we made this film is a miracle. The fact that … so many people around the world saw this film and didn’t walk away and understood the pain of Ukrainians is a miracle.
[This is] definitely for the people of Mariupol. This story is about them. It’s not about us. This nomination is about them.
This interview originated in VOA’s Ukrainian Service.
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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.
The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.
The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.
Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.
Other ticket options
- Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
- Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
- Friday: Dh75
- Under 15s: Free
- People of Determination + carer: Dh375
Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.
Bigger family attractions
Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.
The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.
Six sports and top rugby action
Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.
Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.
The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.
The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.
Music all weekend
Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.
Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.
For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.
With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.
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