Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film


169: Mstyslav Chernov on “20 Days in Mariupol"

October 26, 2023

Associated Press videographer Mstyslav Chernov won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of Russia's war against Ukraine. When the war escalated in February 2022, Mstyslav covered the front lines for his documentary "20 Days in Mariupol". The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will begin streaming on PBS Frontline on November 21st. It's been selected for the DOC NYC Short List that's known as a predictor of Oscar contenders. 

Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Mstyslav in front of a live audience at the School of Visual Arts in the MFA program for Social Documentary. Mstyslav talks about his journey as a war journalist and his exploration of different storytelling forms that include his writing a novel called "The Dreamtime" published in the U.S. by Cherry Orchard Books.

On Instagram: @purenonfiction @thompowers1