That’s a significant achievement for Ukrainian cinema! The recognition of documentaries like “The Porcelain War” and “Once Upon a Time in Ukraine” at the Academy Awards highlights the important stories and perspectives emerging from the region. Documentaries can play a crucial role in bringing awareness to historical and contemporary issues, and it’s great to see Ukrainian filmmakers gaining international recognition.

“Porcelain War“

Directors – Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev

Writers – Aniela Sidorska, Brendan Bellomo, Paula DuPre Pesman

Stars – Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko, Andrey Stefanov

Category – Documentary

“Under roaring fighter jets, Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya, and Andrey choose to stay behind. Defiantly finding beauty amid destruction, they show that although it’s easy to make people afraid, it’s hard to destroy their passion for living.”

“Once Upon a Time in Ukraine“

Directors – Betsy West, Tetiana Khodakivska

Category – Documentary, Short

“As the Ukraine war moves into its third year, a surprising story of resilience: how children in Ukraine are surviving the Russian war machine that has targeted them and their families. With creativity and imagination they have transformed backyards and playgrounds destroyed by missiles, invented fairy tales where vegetable armies vanquish Russian attackers, and carried on the Ukrainian tradition of music and dance in bombed out studios. Life behind the frontlines as seen through the eyes of the children who will inherit a country struggling to survive a brutal invasion.”

You can view the hole shortlist of 97th Oscars