Oscars: Ukraine Selects ‘Traces,’ About Women Who Survived Sexual Assault During War With Russia, for International Feature Race

Ukrainian filmmakers Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk’s documentary “Traces,” a portrayal of Ukrainian women who refused to remain silent after surviving sexual assault during the war with Russia, is Ukraine‘s submission in the international feature category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

In a statement, the Ukrainian Academy Awards Committee called “Traces” an “honest and profound documentary about an experience that is extremely difficult to put into words, and about the strength of women who find the courage within themselves not to remain silent.”

“Despite the extreme complexity of the subject matter, the film finds a delicate and expressive cinematic language that does not alienate the viewer but allows them to connect with the protagonists, hear their stories, and empathize with them,” the statement added.

“Traces” follows the journey of Iryna Dovhan, a former captive turned activist who documents testimonies of affected women in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. The doc “weaves a portrait of a collective trauma while opening space for hope. Iryna gathers other survivors into a circle of courage and care,” according to its synopsis. “Together, they transform their pain into a force for truth, justice and mutual support. More than a record of war crimes, ‘Traces’ is a testament to resilience and the solidarity of women standing side by side,” the synopsis adds.

The film won the Panorama Audience Award in the Panorama documentary category at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, where it launched.

“For me, ‘Traces’ representing Ukraine at the Oscars is a chance to use this moment to break the silence, build solidarity, and stand against impunity,” Аlisa Kovalenko said in a statement to Variety. “As a survivor myself, I have lived through this transformation in Ukraine — from almost total silence to a chorus of women who refused to remain silent about Russia’s crimes of sexual violence. Today, I believe these voices can become a collective force of resistance and a driver for change. I hope ‘Traces’ can carry them further — so they are not only heard, but can help shape the path towards justice.”

Producers Olha Bregman and Natalia Libet jointly commented: “For us, making ‘Traces’ was always a mission: to amplify the voices of our directors and the women at the heart of this film, and to give them a platform to speak to a global audience in their fight for justice. Representing Ukraine in the international feature category is an incredible honor, and we see it as a continuation of that mission. We will keep working to amplify survivors voices, and we believe deeply in the power of this story to do so.”

The shortlist for the 2027 Oscar nominations will be announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Dec. 15, with the final selection announced on Jan. 21. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 14 in Los Angeles.