20 Days in Mariupol

A compilation of on-the-ground televised reporting at the onset of absolute devastation as a trio of Associated Press journalists get caught in Mariupol in the early days of the March 2022 Russian invasion. Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Audience Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. —M.G.

Day 1: February 24, 2022. The war has begun in the coveted Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Inside its borders, Ukrainian journalists from The Associated Press document the imminent destruction of a piece of their homeland, determined to risk their lives to ensure the world sees the horrific scenes from the front lines. 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL is an unsettling immersion into the first devastating days of the city under siege. Harrowing footage reveals Russia’s targeted attacks on civilians. Overwhelmed medics and police officers attempt to save as many as possible and plead for help from the international community. As the death toll rises and food, water, and electricity vanish, these heroic journalists must find a way to safety in order to tell their nation’s story before Russian forces stand to erase it from memory. —A.B.

Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.