The documentary film «2000 Meters to Andriivka» by director Myroslav Chernov will represent Ukraine at the 98th Oscar Awards in the category of «Best International Feature Film».
This was announced by the Ukrainian Oscar Committee on Facebook.
«This uncompromisingly honest and poignant documentary dives into the realities of the Russian-Ukrainian war through human experiences – fragile, exhausting, yet full of dignity. This Ukrainian film deserves to be seen more widely, as it speaks for those who fight for freedom and the right to live every day,» the committee stated.
«2000 Meters to Andriivka» reveals the consequences of the war through a personal and painful lens.
Specifically, the director focuses on the Ukrainian soldiers – who they are, where they come from, and the incredibly tough decisions they must make in the trenches as they fight for every inch of their homeland.
«Against the backdrop of a failed counteroffensive operation in 2023, Chernov, alongside AP colleague Oleksiy Babenko, follows a Ukrainian brigade that is breaking through approximately 2000 meters of heavily fortified forest to fulfill a combat mission to liberate the village of Andriivka, occupied by Russia. Combining original footage, intense body camera videos from Ukrainian fighters, and powerful moments of personal reflection, «2000 Meters to Andriivka» shows with haunting intimacy that the further the soldiers advance through their devastated homeland, the deeper they realize – for them, this war may have no end,» the committee pointed out.
The world premiere of «2000 Meters to Andriivka» took place at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, where it won the award for Best Direction in the World Cinema Documentary category.
The Ukrainian premiere occurred at the Docudays UA festival, where the film triumphed in three categories. From August 28, the film was released in theaters across Ukraine.
«It is an honor for us to represent Ukraine in the category of «Best International Feature Film» at the Oscars. We will do everything possible for the voices of Ukraine and its soldiers to be heard, especially now when there was a massive shelling of Kyiv this morning. I receive the news about our selection while filming the recovery of civilians from the rubble. This adds even more responsibility on us, as documentarians and artists, to speak to the world, to cry out about what is happening, even when it seems futile,» Chernov reacted to the committee's decision.
The decision was made by a 12-member committee of film industry experts, including filmmakers and critics, elected through voting by members of the Ukrainian Film Academy.
The shortlist of 15 films in the «Best International Feature Film» category will be announced on December 16, 2025, with the five nominated films revealed on January 22, 2026, and the 98th Oscar ceremony taking place on March 15, 2026.
The Ukrainian Oscar Committee received eight submissions for the 98th Oscar in the «Best International Feature Film» category. In addition to «2000 Meters to Andriivka», seven other films were in contention, including «Bucha» by Stanislav Tiunov, «Diviya» by Dmytro Hreshko, and «Caution! Life Continues» by Anton Shtuka.