Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov discusses his BAFTA-winning documentary '20 Days in Mariupol'. Topics include Russian invasion, journalistic courage during siege, emotional impact of the film, propaganda tactics, and emotional experiences in Mariupol.
Professional journalists in conflict zones are crucial for reporting on human rights violations and war crimes.
Documentary films play a significant role in providing context, resisting misinterpretations, and emotionally connecting viewers to complex events.
Deep dives
The Siege of Mariupol by Russian Soldiers
The podcast episode discusses the award-winning documentary, '20 Days in Mariupol,' which tells the story of the invasion and capture of the city by Russian soldiers. It highlights the importance of having professional journalists in conflict areas to report on human rights violations and war crimes. The documentary provides a unique perspective on the events and reveals the scale of the destruction, with neighborhoods gradually being destroyed as the front line advanced through the city.
The Impact and Importance of Documentary Films
The podcast emphasizes the importance of documentary films in providing context and resisting misinterpretations. It discusses how documentaries allow audiences to make their own judgments and provide a more comprehensive understanding of complex events. The podcast highlights the emotional impact of documentary films, sharing stories of tragedy and hope that connect viewers on a deeper level.
Personal Experiences and Challenges of Reporting
The episode delves into the personal experiences and challenges faced by journalists reporting in conflict zones. The director of '20 Days in Mariupol' shares his experiences in the city, including the heightened psychological trauma and the difficulty of making sense of the chaos and destruction. He emphasizes the need for journalists to stay mentally healthy and highlights the responsibility to document and share the truth, even in the face of widespread misinformation.
Last November we were joined in the studio by Ukrainian journalist and writer, Mstyslav Chernov, who made the film '20 Days in Mariupol’. It’s just won the Oscar for Best Documentary feature, so we thought it would be a good opportunity to remind you of the episode. He described what it was like to shoot the documentary from inside Mariupol, and chronicles the Russian invasion of the Ukrainian port city in 2022.
Today’s episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.
The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480
You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode