Chernobly: My Promised Land wins Best Documentary Short at the 2025 Grierson British Documentary Awards

Directed by: Mark Dominic Devlin

This film follows Vadim, an eccentric engineer and refugee who, after losing his home to Russian airstrikes in 2015, starts anew in the last place anyone expects – Chernobyl. With big plans, he clashes with the village mayor and powerful locals while trying to transform the area. But when war returns, Vadim doesn't flee. This time, he takes the Russians head-on in battle and unites with the village locals after years of conflict.

Jurors praised this film for its "extraordinary storytelling, emotional depth, and sense of place that felt expansive despite its brief runtime." With remarkable access and layered, human storytelling, this short documentary captures themes of resilience, belonging, and community against the backdrop of history and displacement. Cohesive, compelling, and beautifully crafted, jurors declared this film as "a masterclass in documentary filmmaking."

Available to watch on Now TV.