The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences plans to recut the 90-minute Oscars broadcast for international licensees to include the Best Documentary Feature category, won by the Ukraine war-themed film 20 Days in Mariupol, which was initially omitted from the original package, according to Deadline.

Disney, the broadcaster of the 2024 Oscars, cut the award presentation and acceptance speech for the documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, which showcases the early stages of the all-out war in Mariupol during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, from the international TV version of the Oscars, despite the film winning Ukraine’s first Academy Award for Best Documentary on March 11.

Before falling to the Russians, Mariupol faced Russia’s devastating attacks, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties. Occupied individuals underwent “filtration” checks, often leading to imprisonment or deportation. Russia now conceals war crimes by rebuilding and portraying normalcy in the city.

The decision to recut the Oscars broadcast came after Suspilne TV, the Ukrainian public broadcaster, protested the exclusion of the Best Documentary Feature category from the 90-minute version. They expressed being “shocked and deeply disappointed” that the decision also omitted the acceptance speech by Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, according to Deadline.

In his Oscar acceptance speech, Chernov mourned the civilian lives lost due to Russia’s invasion, urged the film community to ensure the truth prevails, and emphasized that the people of Mariupol and the fallen will never be forgotten.

The National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine sent a strong protest to Disney, expressing disbelief that the omission of the Documentary Feature category, which awarded a film on the horrors of war, could be a politically motivated decision approved by the company’s management, especially during a time when democracies are resisting military aggression threatening global peace.

Maksym Onopriienko, member of the National Council, wrote on LinkedIn today: "In just 3 days after our letter to The Walt Disney Company addressing the omission of the Ukrainian speech, we've achieved a significant victory!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced plans to recut the 90-minute version of the Oscars.

This decision aims to restore a pivotal moment: the Best Documentary Feature category won by the powerful Ukraine war-themed film "20 Days in Mariupol."

The restoration demonstrates the power of collective action and advocacy from the side of the National Council and Suspilne TV, the broadcaster that holds rights to air the Oscar show in Ukraine."