Shortened Oscar Show to be recut to include “20 Days in Mariupol” after outage

The Academy will recut the Oscars' international broadcast to restore the Best Documentary Feature category, won by 20 Days in Mariupol, after protests from Ukraine's Suspilne TV over its omission and the exclusion of Mstyslav Chernov's speech.

Mar 15, 2024 - 06:38

Shortened Oscar Show to be recut to include “20 Days in Mariupol” after outage

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences plans to recut the 90-minute Oscars broadcast for international licensees to include the Best Documentary Feature category, won by the Ukraine war-themed film 20 Days in Mariupol, which was initially omitted from the original package, according to Deadline.

Disney, the broadcaster of the 2024 Oscars, cut the award presentation and acceptance speech for the documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, which showcases the early stages of the all-out war in Mariupol during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, from the international TV version of the Oscars, despite the film winning Ukraine’s first Academy Award for Best Documentary on 11 March.

Before falling to the Russians, Mariupol faced Russia’s devastating attacks, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties. Occupied individuals underwent “filtration” checks, often leading to imprisonment or deportation. Russia now conceals war crimes by rebuilding and portraying normalcy in the city.

Disney cuts awarding of Ukrainian film “20 Days in Mariupol” in Best Documentary nomination from international TV version of Oscars

The decision to recut the Oscars broadcast came after Suspilne TV, the Ukrainian public broadcaster, protested the exclusion of the Best Documentary Feature category from the 90-minute version. They expressed being “shocked and deeply disappointed” that the decision also omitted the acceptance speech by Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, according to Deadline.

"I wish I never made this film. I wish to give [away] all the recognition [in exchange for] Russia not killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians."
Director Mstyslav Chernov's bittersweet reaction to "20 Days in Mariupol" winning Ukraine's first Oscar.
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