Rinat Akhmetov Foundation Supports Ukrainian Oscar Campaign for Film "Traces"

The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has announced its support for "Traces," a Ukrainian-Polish documentary chosen as Ukraine's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The foundation has provided a $200,000 grant to advance the film's international Oscar campaign.

This initiative marks the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation as the first non-profit organization in Ukraine to support an Oscar campaign for a Ukrainian film. The support underscores the foundation's commitment to preserving testimonies from civilians affected by Russia's war against Ukraine and ensuring their stories reach a global audience.

Directed by Alisa Kovalenko and co-directed by Marysia Nikitiuk, "Traces" narrates the deeply personal stories of six Ukrainian women who survived sexual violence and torture during the Russian aggression. The documentary has already garnered international acclaim, including the Panorama Audience Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The foundation's involvement extends beyond financial aid. Through its Museum of Civilian Voices, which has collected over 145,000 testimonies, the organization has been documenting the human cost of the war in Ukraine. The partnership with "Traces" aligns with a shared mission to preserve individual experiences and amplify the voices of survivors.

The $200,000 grant is intended to increase the film's visibility among members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the broader international film community, bringing the experiences of Ukrainian women to one of the world's most influential cultural platforms.