2000 Meters to Andriivka: Mstyslav Chernov's latest film to debut in US premiere
"2000 Meters to Andriivka" is the second feature film directed by acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker and Associated Press journalist Mstyslav Chernov, who has won numerous awards, including the Oscar, Pulitzer Prize, Directors and Producers Guild of America. The film will be showcased at the prestigious Sundance World Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA, from January 23 to February 2, 2025.
Rubryka reported this with reference to the film's team.
The Sundance Film Festival, widely regarded as the premier independent film festival in the United States and one of the most influential in the world, was a pivotal moment for Chernov's debut film "20 Days in Mariupol". In 2023, the film received the prestigious Audience Award, setting it on the path to possibly winning an Oscar.
Chernov, FRONTLINE, and the Associated Press created the film, which will compete with other documentaries from around the world in the World Cinema Documentary Competition.
Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka. Source: AP/Frontline
In "20 Days in Mariupol," the director provided a poignant and harrowing glimpse into the initial days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its effects on innocent civilians. However, in their latest film, Chernov and his colleague, Oleksandr Babenko, shift their focus to Ukrainian soldiers and captivate audiences with their powerful depictions of life on the front lines.
"At a time when the fate and future of Ukraine is being decided, it is important for me to show the soldiers' perspective. Those who gave their lives and those who continue to fight," Mstyslav Chernov says. "The film is designed to put the viewer right on the battlefield, next to the military, to see and feel their experience and what it is like to be there."
In 2023, while a fierce counteroffensive was taking place, reporters shadowed the troops from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade as they painstakingly scaled a narrow cliff to reclaim the tiny village of Andriivka, which was under Russian control and surrounded by mines on the outskirts of Bakhmut.
However, the more the soldiers push forward through their ravaged homeland, the more they come to understand that this war may never indeed be over for them.
Footage shot by Mstyslav Chernov during the filming. Source: AP/Frontline
Using intense GoPro footage of Ukrainian soldiers and incorporating moments of deep reflection, Chernov offers a personal and breathtaking perspective on the war in his country.
"2000 Meters to Andriivka" documents the battle that has become a symbol of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the 2023 counteroffensive — the largest military operation in Europe since World War II. The film offers a look at modern warfare, the scenes of which resemble battles that took place almost a century ago.
Footage shot by Mstyslav Chornov during the filming. Source: AP/Frontline
"Chernov creates an unparalleled film about the terrible beauty of liberating one's home. At the same time, he uncompromisingly shows the futility and horror of war itself," Kim Yutani, director of programming at the Sundance Film Festival, says.
According to Mstyslav Chernov, filming for the movie commenced in September 2023 and took nearly a year and a half to complete. Along with Chernov and Oleksandr Babenko, producers Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath were also involved in the project. The film's score was composed by Sam Slater, a two-time Grammy Award-winning composer and music producer known for his work on "Chornobyl" and "Joker."
Raney Aronson-Rath, Mstyslav Chornov and Michelle Mizner. Source: AP/Frontline
"We are proud to partner with the Associated Press again to deliver reliable reporting and a compelling, cinematic documentary. As with 20 Days in Mariupol, we hope 2,000 Meters to Andriivka will provide viewers with a glimpse into the human toll of the Russian-Ukrainian war," said the film's producer and FRONTLINE editor-in-chief and executive producer Raney Aronson-Rath.
Julie Pace, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of the Associated Press, echoed her sentiment:
"As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the Associated Press remains steadfast in its mission to provide critical, on-the-ground reporting that exposes the harsh realities on the ground. Through our ongoing partnership with FRONTLINE, we can give viewers an uncompromising perspective on this ongoing war."
For reference:
In addition to the Oscar, the film "20 Days in Mariupol" won the BAFTA Film Award and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
In the Netherlands, the Ukrainian Oscar-winning film "20 Days in Mariupol" was recognized as the best full-length documentary at the Septimius Awards.
It should be noted that Mstyslav Chernov's film "20 Days in Mariupol" became the highest-grossing documentary film in Ukrainian distribution.
The world premiere of "20 Days in Mariupol" occurred at the Sundance 2023 independent film festival in the USA, where the film received the Audience Award.
