The team that represented a Ukrainian film at the Oscars shared their views on the results

"A House Made of Splinters" is the only film to be nominated for an Oscar in 2023 and the second time ever that Ukraine is among the producing countries.

The film's producer Monica Gellstrom reckons:

"We are very proud and happy to have been nominated for an Oscar and to have the opportunity to continue to talk about the war against Ukraine and the long-term effects of the war on children. We are with Ukraine.

However, the film representing Ukraine did not win at the Oscar ceremony on 12 March. The Russian-made film Navalny won in the best documentary category.

Darya Bassel, one of the Ukrainian co-writers of the film, commented

"I think it's important not to forget how far our film has come before the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles. It's incredible. And the fact that "A House Made of Splinters" was nominated for an Oscar shows that it's a real, talented and important film. Now the film can be seen in Ukrainian cinemas. So everyone who is worried about the fate of the Oscar, I invite you to the cinemas. Also, visit the website of the Children's Voices Foundation. This foundation was set up by Azad Safarov and Elena Rozvadovskaya during their work on the film. They help children from high risk zones. The foundation needs our support. So does Ukrainian cinema.

Vika Khomenko, the second Ukrainian co-producer of the film, said:

I would add that everyone and everyone on our big team has been cheering and working to make this film happen, to make it speak to the audience. The film also illuminates the long-term effects of war on our generation in the future, including a narrative of human frailty and human resilience. An Oscar nomination is already a focus on Ukraine.

A team from all four countries - Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden and Finland - represented the film at the awards ceremony. From Ukraine, Azad Safarov, line producer and co-director, and Elena Rozvadovskaya, coordinator and consultant of the film, were the co-founders of Voices of Children Foundation. The heroines of the film, teachers of the Lisichansk Centre for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Children, Olga Tronova and Margarita Burlutskaya.

The Ukrainian co-producers of the film were Daria Bassel and Vika Khomenko (Moon Man Company). Moon Man Company joined the project in 2020 and thanks to this the film became an official coproduction with Ukraine. The film was supported by the State Film Agency of Ukraine and the IMS Foundation.

The film by Danish director Simon Lereng Vilmont tells the story of a temporary orphanage in the now occupied town of Lisichansk. At the time of filming, it was only 20km from the front line. The protagonists of the film are children deprived of parental care. At the orphanage, they await the decision of their fate: to return to their old home or move to a new one. Meanwhile, dedicated social workers give the children moments of joy and peace and take them back to their near-lost childhood.

The film is currently in distribution in Kiev (Kino42, Planet Kino, Blockbuster, Zhovten, Lira, Fakel, Start) and Lviv (Planet Kino, Forum).