The film '20 Days in Mariupol' wins the Director's Guild Award

The director, Mstyslav Chernov, was awarded by the Directors Guild of America for his "outstanding directorial achievements in documentary cinema". 

"I would like to thank you for this recognition.  Although, unfortunately, it cannot stop a bullet or protect a child from the debris. At the same time, I recognise the power of cinema... which helps us all cope with an unjust world and gives us hope for an end to all the bad things that have already happened," Chernov said when upon receiving the award.

In addition, '20 Days in Mariupol' was also recognised as the best documentary by the London Critics' Circle Awards.

It will be recalled that '20 Days in Mariupol' has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Documentary category. The award ceremony will take place on March 11 in Hollywood.