Screening of Mstyslav Chernov's film 20 Days in Mariupol cancelled in Serbia

In Serbia, the screening of the film "20 Days in Mariupol" by Ukrainian photographer Mstislav Chernov, scheduled for October 11 at the Contemporary Gallery of the Lazarevac Cultural Centre as part of the Beldocs Echo Film Festival, has been cancelled.

This was reported by the organisers of the Beldocs Echo Film Festival.

"It is important for us that you know that Beldocs is not behind this decision. We believe that every screening of this film is important for the Serbian audience, and we will make every effort to show this film again as soon as possible," the statement reads.

According to Beta, earlier, the Serbian Radical Party called on the Lazarevac municipality and the Cultural Centre to cancel the screening of Chernov's film and appealed to the competent authorities to prevent its promotion anywhere in Serbia.

The party stated that "the promotion of such a position contradicts the official policy of the Republic of Serbia, which has been neutral since the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine".

It will be recalled that the film 20 Days in Mariupol will represent Ukraine at this year's Oscar Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

Chernov, along with the Associated Press team, photographer Yevhen Malolietka and producer and journalist Vasylisa Stepanenko, were the last international journalists to remain in the city.

Among other things, the film depicts the bombing of the Mariupol maternity hospital on March 9, 2022.