'2000 Meters to Andriivka' by Ukrainian Director Chernov Wins Best Documentary Direction at Sundance

On January 31, Ukrainian journalist and director Mstyslav Chernov has won the Best Documentary Direction award at the Sundance Film Festival for his film ‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’ in the ‘World Cinema’ category.

The documentary follows the events of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023. Chernov accompanies a platoon of Ukrainian soldiers from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, tasked with liberating the strategically vital village of Andriivka in Donetsk region, which is surrounded by mines and accessible only through a narrow patch of forest.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “Andriivka is only 2,000 meters away. It’s a distance I summarize in terms of time: It’s a two-minute drive, a 10-minute run, or 35 seconds for a launched mortar to fly, but the campaign has taken these soldiers three months.”

Chernov explained, “This is the story of Ukrainian soldiers fighting for every inch of their land. It’s the story of a small forest and the village of Andriivka, located just two hours from my hometown. It’s the story of modern warfare – how it’s fought, how it’s endured, and how it changes us.”

Chernov worked on the project alongside his colleague, Associated Press photographer Oleksandr Babienko.

The film was produced by Michelle Misner and Rainey Aronson-Rath, who both received an Oscar for ‘20 Days in Mariupol.’ Misner also edited the film.

The soundtrack was composed by Sam Slater, a Grammy-winning composer known for his work on the series Chernobyl and the film Joker.

Previoiusly, it was reported that Ukrainian documentary filmmaker and war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year.