Hollywood has hit rock bottom! The 2026 Oscars: a list of winners, including a film about Russian propaganda

The 2026 Oscars ceremony has become one of the most talked-about events in recent years. The evening was memorable not only for Paul Thomas Anderson’s long-awaited triumph, but also for the high-profile scandal surrounding the ‘Best Documentary’ category, where a film about Russian propaganda took the prize. The Academy’s decision sparked a wave of criticism and debate, particularly given the absence of a Ukrainian film about the war from the shortlist. Find out which films and actors were the main winners at the 2026 Oscars and why the ceremony’s results caused so much controversy

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On the night of 16 March, the 98th Academy Awards ceremony – the American Film Academy’s top honour – took place in Los Angeles. The big winner of the evening was Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, but for Ukrainian viewers, the ceremony will be remembered for the controversial choice of winner in the documentary film category.

The controversial winner of the 2026 Oscars

In the ‘Best Documentary Feature’ category, where bookmakers favoured the film ‘The Perfect Neighbour’, victory went to the Russian film ‘Mr Nobody vs Putin’.

The film, directed by Pavel Talakin, a former school organiser from the Chelyabinsk region, documents changes in the Russian school system and the broadcasting of propaganda during school assemblies following the start of the full-scale invasion. Despite its stated critical message, many reviewers note that the film portrays ‘innocent Russians’ who distance themselves from their state’s actions.

The film’s award has sparked disappointment and debate that the Film Academy is effectively normalising the presence of the Russian narrative on the international stage, overlooking the issue of collective responsibility.

This situation stands in stark contrast to the fact that Ukrainian director Mstislav Chernov’s film ‘2000 Metres to Andriivka’ did not make the shortlist for the nomination. The film, which depicts the harsh reality of the front line and the daily heroism of Ukrainian soldiers, was overlooked by the Academy, despite having previously won the Directors Guild Award and other major accolades.

The theme of the war in Ukraine was only partially addressed in the ‘Best Short Documentary’ category, which included the film ‘Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud’ — about an American journalist who was killed near Kyiv in 2022.

A historic evening for Paul Thomas Anderson

In the feature film category, the ceremony put everything in its place for one of the most acclaimed directors of our time. After 14 unsuccessful nominations in the past, Paul Thomas Anderson finally received the recognition he deserved. His film ‘One Battle After Another’ took home six awards.

The film, which tells the story of the confrontation between a radical left-wing activist (Leonardo DiCaprio) and a racist colonel (Sean Penn), won in the following categories:

▪️ Best Picture

▪️ Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson)

▪️ Best Adapted Screenplay

▪️ Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn)

▪️ Best Casting

▪️ Best Editing

For Sean Penn, this statuette marks his third career win, following his roles in ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk’.

Surprises in the acting categories

The suspense in the ‘Best Actor’ category was resolved in favour of Michael B. Jordan. He beat Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet, winning the award for his role as twin brothers in the film ‘The Sinner’. This genre thriller about a clash with vampires in 1930s Mississippi won a total of four statuettes, including awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.

There were no surprises in the Best Actress category. Irish actress Jessie Buckley took home the Oscar for her role in the film ‘Hamnet’. She became the first actress since Renée Zellweger (2020) to sweep all the major awards of the season (Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Actors’ Choice Awards), without yielding to her rivals at any stage.

The award for Best Supporting Actress went to Amy Madigan (‘Weapons’) — this came 40 years after her first nomination.

Technical awards and animation

Visual effects: The film ‘Frankenstein’ confirmed its status as a visual masterpiece, winning three awards: for Best Make-up, Costumes and Art Direction.

Blockbusters: “Avatar: Fire and Ashes” took home the statuette for Best Visual Effects, whilst the racing drama “F-1” predictably won in the Best Sound category.

International cinema: The Norwegian film “Sentimental Value” was named Best Foreign Film.

Animation: The Netflix project ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ beat ‘Zootopia 2’, winning the award for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as the statuette for Best Song (‘Golden’).

Short Film: For the first time since 2012, the Academy declared a tie — the award for Best Live-Action Short Film was shared by “Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva”. The film “The Girl Who Cries Pearls” was named Best Animated Short Film.

Reminder! Easter is one of the most joyous holidays in Ukraine, but in the context of the war, it is celebrated quite differently from what many tourists are used to. When planning a trip to the country in spring 2026, it is important to take into account not only the traditions of the celebration but also the strict security regulations in force during martial law. Find out what restrictions will be in place over Easter in Ukraine and what tourists need to know.