Ukrainian cinema at the Oscars: The Porcelain War among the nominees

The film The Porcelain War, about the war in Ukraine, has been nominated for an Oscar in the Documentary category. Find out more about the plot of the film, its authors, other nominated documentaries, and the main nominations

Order branded Visit Ukraine merchandise and support Ukraine (worldwide delivery)

BUY

The American Film Academy has announced the Oscar nominees, and this year's contenders include a film created in co-production between Ukraine, the United States and Australia - The Porcelain War.

This documentary not only tells about the events of the russian-Ukrainian war, but also shows how art can become a tool of struggle even in the darkest times.

We are going to tell you more about the film, its importance for the Ukrainian cultural front, and the list of other Oscar nominees.

The Porcelain War - beauty and struggle through the prism of art

The film The Porcelain War has been nominated in the Documentary category. It takes viewers to Kharkiv in 2022, one of the centers of war and resistance after the start of russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The story centers on three ceramic artists: Slava Leontiev, Anya Stasenko, and Andriy Stefanov. Despite the chaos and destruction, the characters try to preserve beauty in their lives. They fight to ensure that the culture of their country continues to live on, armed with their art, cameras, and in some cases, even weapons.

Andriy documents their struggle with his camera, while Anya and Slava create miniature porcelain figurines that symbolize the lost world, the current struggle, and hope for the future.

The film was directed by Ukrainian Slava Leontiev and American Brendan Bellomo. Together, they created a film that demonstrates how art can be not only a form of protest, but also a way to survive war.

Other Oscar nominees in the documentary category

In addition to “The Porcelain War”, the following films are nominated in the Documentary category:

“The Black Box Diaries,

“The Baby Files,

“Daughters,

“No Other Land,

“Sugar Cane Alley.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

The main Oscar nominations

The announcement of this year's nominees was postponed several times due to the large-scale fires in California, but eventually the list of contenders became available. Here are the main categories:

Best Picture.

“Anora,

“Brutalist,

“Bob Dylan: Unknown”, ‘Conclave’,

“Conclave,

“Dune: Part Two”,

“Emilia Perez,

“I'm Still Here,

“The Boys from Nickel,

“Substance,

“Wicked: The Conjuring.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Demi Moore - “Substance”,

Carla Sofia Gascon - Emilia Perez,

Mikey Madison - “Anora”,

Fernanda Torres - I'm Still Here,

Cynthia Erivo - Wicked: The Conjuring.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Colman Domingo - “Sing Sing”,

Sebastian Stan - “The Apprentice. The Rise of Trump”,

Timothée Chalamet - “Unknown”,

Adrian Brody - The Brutalist,

Rafe Fiennes - The Conclave.

Best Director

Sean Baker - “Anora”,

Brady Corbet - “The Brutalist”,

James Mangold - “Bob Dylan: Unknown”,

Jacques Audiard - Emilia Perez,

Coralie Farja for Substance.

Features of this year's ceremony

The film Emilia Perez received a record number of nominations among foreign films - 13.

For the first time, such stars as Ariana Grande, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Strong, Sebastian Stan, Kieran Culkin and Mikey Madison received nominations.

Last year, Ukrainian director Mstislav Chernov won a historic victory with his film 20 Days in Mariupol, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.

Why is the Porcelain War important for Ukraine?

This nomination is not only a recognition of the filmmakers' skills and the talent of the film's characters, but also an opportunity to tell the world about the events in Ukraine. The film shows how artists can inspire and fight for their country even in the most difficult times.

Documentary films have always been a powerful means of communication, and The Porcelain War has become another important voice in the conversation about the war and its impact on the lives of Ukrainians.

The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 2. 

We remind you! Ukraine's cultural heritage is rich and diverse. Thousands of years of spiritual development of our nation are collected in the expositions of museums throughout the country. Read more about the best museums in Ukraine and get ready for your own unforgettable trip.

Photo: press.oscars.org

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.