A film with an actor from Mykolaiv is shortlisted for an award «Oscar 2026»

The short film about the war in Ukraine «Rock, Paper, Scissors», starring actor Oleksandr Rudynskyi from Mykolaiv, has been shortlisted for the «Oscar 2026».

The film was included in the category «Feature Short Film», in which 15 films are competing for the final nominations.

The film was directed by German-born British filmmaker Franz Boehm and is based on the real-life events of the first months of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The 20-minute film tells the story of Ivan, a young man living in the east of the country. His father is a surgeon who operates on wounded soldiers and civilians in a frontline hospital. In the story, the protagonist tries to protect the patients from the Russian occupiers.

«Rock, Paper, Scissors» is the 26-year-old director's graduation film. The film premiered at the Show Me Shorts 2024 short film festival. In addition to Oleksandr Rudynskyi, the film stars Ukrainian actors Serhii Kalantai, Yurii Radionov and Oleksandr Yatsenko.

The shortlists of nominations were announced by the American Film Academy on 16 December. They also included other Ukrainian films: the documentary «2000 metres to Andriivka» by Mstyslav Chernov and the animated film «I Died in Irpin» by Anastasia Falileeva.

In February of this year, the film won a BAFTA award in the category «Best British Short Film». During the award ceremony, Oleksandr Rudynskyi dedicated his speech to the actor Yevhen Svitlychnyi, who died at the front.

Earlier it was reported that Oleksandr Rudynskyi played a role in the American series «Agency». In March this year, the Mykolaiv actor was awarded the title of Honoured Artist of Ukraine.