The race for the 2025 Oscars is underway, and Ukraine once again finds itself in the running for a top honor. Following last year’s victory for “20 Days in Mariupol” in the Best Documentary category, Ukraine has selected another powerful film, “La Palisiada”, to represent the nation in the Best International Feature Film category, as the Russian invasion looks set to enter a third year. 

Directed by newcomer Philip Sotnychenko, “La Palisiada”, his feature debut as writer/director, is a taut psychological crime drama set in 1996, just before the abolition of the death penalty in Ukraine. Following a detective (Novruz Hikmet) and a psychologist (Andrii Zhurba) as they attempt to solve the murder of a colleague, the film deftly weaves elements of noir with a post-Soviet setting, exploring alienation, crime, punishment, and morality in a country still suffering under the grip of the Russian Federation.

The Ukrainian Oscar committee’s consecutive selection of films examining Russian imperialism for Academy consideration highlights not only the country’s deep vein of rich cinematic talent but also the resilience of its filmmakers, who continue to create art amid the most challenging of circumstances. And, paradoxically, the war has acted as a crucible for creativity. 

Films such as “La Palisiada” and “20 Days in Mariupol” are more than just cinematic achievements; they serve as vital documents of the Ukrainian experience. Where “20 Days in Mariupol” captured the visceral reality of the Russian siege of the city through the eyes of AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov, “La Palisiada” takes a more reflective, psychological approach, examining a different era in Ukraine’s history but with undertones that resonate deeply with the current conflict. 

Since the start of the war, Ukrainian films have found success at major festivals and award ceremonies around the world. “20 Days in Mariupol” not only took home the Oscar for Best Documentary but also earned the Audience Award at Sundance. Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s “Pamfir” garnered acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, selling widely, and Maryna Er Gorbach’s “Klondike”, a harrowing tale set in the occupied Donbas region, won the Best Director award at Sundance in 2022. 

Ukrainian films have also made a mark at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs), with “Klondike” earning a nomination for Best International Feature, while “A House Made of Splinters”, a poignant documentary about a Ukrainian children’s shelter, won the BAFTA for Best Documentary in 2023. The latter also won the Best Director award in the World Cinema Documentary section at Sundance in 2022. 

As “La Palisiada” begins its journey towards the 97^th Academy Awards, it carries with it not just the hopes of a nation under siege but also the promise of a bright future for Ukrainian cinema. This selection is more than just recognition for a single film; it’s a celebration of the creativity and indomitable spirit of a people whose stories demand to be told.