Oscar 2026: two Ukrainian films made it to the shortlist
17 December 00:36
Ukrainian cinema has once again made a loud statement on the international stage. The documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka by Mstislav Chernov and the animated documentary I Died in Irpin by Anastasia Falileeva have been shortlisted for the Oscar 2026. The shortlists were announced by the American Film Academy, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
What films from Ukraine are on the Oscar shortlists
The animated documentary I Died in Irpin was shortlisted in the Animated Short Film category. The 11-minute-long film combines animation based on charcoal drawings with personal archival footage of the director. The film tells the story of the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine through the personal experience of the author, who survived the occupation of Irpin.
The animated film I Died in Irpin has already won several prestigious awards:
- 2025, Best Short Film – International Film Festival in Innsbruck (IFFI), Austria;
- 2025, Best International Animation – International Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand, France;
- 2024, Best Short Film – Bucheon Animated Film Festival, South Korea, the award gives the opportunity to qualify for the Oscars in the Animated Short Film category;
- 2024, Best Documentary Animation – Cinanima Animated Film Festival, Portugal;
- 2024, Best Film of the International Competition – Linoleum International Festival of Contemporary Animation and Media Arts, Ukraine;
- 2024, best film in the national competition – Kyiv International Short Film Festival (KISFF), Ukraine.
The documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivkawas shortlisted in the Documentary Feature Film nomination.
The film tells the story of the fighting in Donetsk region and the path of the Ukrainian military during the liberation of the settlements.
Earlier, Ukraine also submitted this film in the International Feature Film category, but it was not shortlisted.
This is Mstyslav Chernov’s second participation in the award: his previous work, 20 Days in Mariupol, won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the 2014 Academy Awards.
“2000 Meters to Andriivka was produced in partnership with the Associated Press and Frontline (PBS). The American premiere took place on November 25 on PBS, and the Ukrainian online premiere took place on November 27 on Kyivstar TV.
Ukrainian theme in other nominations
In addition, the shortlist in the Short Feature Film category includes the film Rock, Paper, Scissors by Franz Böhm.
The film is about Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, and Ukrainian actors took part in its creation.
What’s next: dates and chances
The final list of Oscar 2026 nominees will be announced on January 22, 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles.
The inclusion of two Ukrainian films in the shortlists at once demonstrates Ukraine’s stable presence in the global cinematic discourse, especially in documentary and auteur forms that capture the war from the inside.
In 2025, Ukraine has already won a historic victory: Mstyslav Chernov’s 20 Days in Mariupol won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. And the film 2000 meters to Andriivka was previously honored with the F:ACT AWARD at one of the most prestigious documentary film festivals CPH:DOX in Denmark.
Thus, Ukrainian cinema not only keeps the world’s attention on the war in Ukraine, but also forms its own recognizable language in the global film space.
