News
Oscar-winning Ukrainian laureate, Mstyslav Chernov, has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a judge.
The Academy has sent invitations to a total of 487 artists, including actors, directors, costume designers, and film festival executives, as stated on their website. Those who accept the invitation will have the right to vote for future Oscar winners. If all invitees join, the Academy will have 9,934 voting members.
Chernov, the director of the documentary "20 Days in Mariupol," received an invitation in the "Documentary Film" category. This year, the film, which depicts the Ukrainian city of Mariupol during the first 20 days of the Russian occupation, won an Oscar in its category, bringing the first Oscar to independent Ukraine.
"We are delighted to welcome this year's class of new Academy members," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. "These extraordinarily talented artists and professionals from around the world have made a significant impact on our community of filmmakers."
Also included in this category is Belarusian director Sergei Loznitsa. In March 2022, Loznitsa was expelled from the Ukrainian Film Academy because his films were shown at the Russian film festival "From Lviv to the Urals." In May 2022, during his speech at the Cannes Film Festival, Loznitsa condemned the boycott of Russian culture amid the war in Ukraine.
