Ukrainian Oscar Winner Mstyslav Chernov Invited as a Judge to Academy of Motion Picture Arts

Ukrainian documentary filmmaker and war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year.

The Academy extended invitations to a total of 487 artists, including actors, directors, costume designers, and film festival executives, as detailed on their website. Those who accept the invitation will be eligible to vote for future Oscar winners. If all invitees join, the Academy will have a total of 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, depicting the Ukrainian city Mariupol under the first 20 days of Russian occupation, won an Oscar in its category, bringing the first Academy Award in independent Ukraine.

“We are thrilled to welcome this year’s class of new members to the Academy,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. “These remarkably talented artists and professionals from around the world have made a significant impact on our filmmaking community.”

Also included in this category is Belarusian director Serhiy Loznitsa. Loznitsa was expelled from the Ukrainian Film Academy in March 2022 because his films were featured at the Russian film festival “From Lviv to Ural.” In May 2022, during his speech at the Cannes International Film Festival, Loznitsa condemned the boycott of Russian culture amid the war in Ukraine.