Oscars 2024: Ukrainian Film Takes Best Documentary Over Priyanka Chopra's 'To Kill a Tiger'
At the 96th Academy Awards, the documentary film " To Kill a Tiger ," supported by Priyanka Chopra, missed out on a victory. Despite its nomination for Best Documentary Feature Film, the Oscar went to the Ukrainian film "20 Days in Mariupol." Priyanka joined "To Kill a Tiger" as an executive producer through her production company, Purple Pebble Pictures, shortly before the Oscars ceremony.
For those unfamiliar, "To Kill a Tiger" was helmed by director Nisha Pahuja and centered on a sexual assault survivor from rural India. In an interview with People Magazine, Priyanka Chopra shared insights into her support for the film.
“I seek and attach myself to work that really pushes the conversations of issues that I feel close to or passionate about, and sexual violence against women definitely is one of them,” she said.
“In India, we say one-third of women in India have experienced sexual violence, and that statistic has to be higher because of underreporting,” she added. “The film speaks to not just survivors, but their allies as well, men supporting women. It’s very interesting to have a window into that and to see how a father fights his entire community, the justice system, against what he’s told is the norm for his daughter’s rights,” Priyanka said.
Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov became visibly emotional as he accepted the award for Best Documentary Feature. Overwhelmed by the win, Chernov expressed, “I am honoured but I will probably be the first director on this stage to say that I wish I had never made this film.” He confessed he wished he could exchange the win with ‘Russia never attacking Ukraine, never invading our cities. I wish to be able to exchange this for Russian not killing 10,000 of my fellow Ukrainians.” He said he wished he could exchange the honour for ‘releasing the hostages’.
About ‘To Kill a Tiger’
"To Kill a Tiger," a Canadian production directed by Nisha Pahuja, originally from Delhi and now based in Toronto, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival 2022. It secured the Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at its world premiere.
The narrative delves into Ranjit's relentless pursuit of justice for his 13-year-old daughter, who was kidnapped and subsequently subjected to sexual assault by three men.
For those unfamiliar, "To Kill a Tiger" was helmed by director Nisha Pahuja and centered on a sexual assault survivor from rural India. In an interview with People Magazine, Priyanka Chopra shared insights into her support for the film.
“I seek and attach myself to work that really pushes the conversations of issues that I feel close to or passionate about, and sexual violence against women definitely is one of them,” she said.
“In India, we say one-third of women in India have experienced sexual violence, and that statistic has to be higher because of underreporting,” she added. “The film speaks to not just survivors, but their allies as well, men supporting women. It’s very interesting to have a window into that and to see how a father fights his entire community, the justice system, against what he’s told is the norm for his daughter’s rights,” Priyanka said.
Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov became visibly emotional as he accepted the award for Best Documentary Feature. Overwhelmed by the win, Chernov expressed, “I am honoured but I will probably be the first director on this stage to say that I wish I had never made this film.” He confessed he wished he could exchange the win with ‘Russia never attacking Ukraine, never invading our cities. I wish to be able to exchange this for Russian not killing 10,000 of my fellow Ukrainians.” He said he wished he could exchange the honour for ‘releasing the hostages’.
About ‘To Kill a Tiger’
"To Kill a Tiger," a Canadian production directed by Nisha Pahuja, originally from Delhi and now based in Toronto, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival 2022. It secured the Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at its world premiere.
The narrative delves into Ranjit's relentless pursuit of justice for his 13-year-old daughter, who was kidnapped and subsequently subjected to sexual assault by three men.
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