A documentary by Ukrainian directors Andriy Voloshin and Alexey Lebedev is vying to represent Ukraine at the 99th Academy Awards. The film tells the personal story of American-Ukrainian singer Kelsey Kimberlin, who, after the death of her cousin, came to Ukraine to understand his choices.
The documentary film “The Last Message” by directors Andrey Voloshin and Alexey Lebedev was included in the list of eight films submitted to the Ukrainian national selection for the Oscar in the category “Best International Feature Film.”
The Ukrainian Oscar Committee will select the film that will represent Ukraine on September 16, 2026.
The film centers on the story of Kelsey Kimberlin, an American-Ukrainian singer and social activist. Her cousin, Andriy Rachok, volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and died on February 22, 2024, during the battle for Avdiivka.
After his death, Kelsey came to Ukraine to learn more about her brother’s final months and to understand why he, like thousands of other Ukrainians, chose to defend his country.
