Your guide to the week’s best on Sky and free-to-air TV

20 Days in Mariupol (8.30pm, Wednesday, April 24, Rialto)

Winner of the award for best documentary at this year’s Oscars, writer-director Mstyslav Chernov’s harrowing story follows a team of Ukrainian-based journalists as they struggle to continue their work documenting the atrocities unfolding during the first weeks of the Russian invasion of the country in 2022.

“Gives you a sense of life during wartime that isn’t ... some distant thing happening to people thousands of miles away,” wrote Rolling Stone’s David Fear, while The Times’ Camilla Long thought that “this film is horrible, searing, a pristine example of objectivity; it is shockingly graphic. It should be taught in every journalism school, watched in every living room”.

All Blacks at War (Midday, Thursday, April 25, TVNZ 1)

Former New Zealand rugby star Andrew Mehrtens is joined by military historian Dr Christopher Pugsley for this special Anzac Day documentary which looks at the stories of 13 All Blacks who served – and were killed – during World War I.

The channel will also have live coverage of this year’s dawn (6am) and wreathlaying (11am) services in Wellington.

Stephen Fry: Willem and Frieda – Defying The Nazis (8pm, Thursday, April 25, Whakaata Māori)

The beloved British broadcaster fronts this 2023 British documentary which investigates a remarkable tale of forgery, sabotage and audacity by the Dutch Resistance that saved thousands of Jews from Nazi death camps. “A moving story,” wrote The Telegraph’s Anita Singh.

It is just one part of the channel’s Anzac Day commemorations, which also include live coverage of this year’s services from Gisborne and Auckland (5.40am) and Gallipoli (2.25pm) and new local documentary The Shooter of War (7pm).

Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams (8.30pm, Thursday, April 25, Rialto)

Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino helms this fascinating 2021 look at the life and career of Italian-born souter Salvatore Ferragamo, who was known as much for his innovation (he studied human anatomy after arriving in America) as his gorgeous creations.

As well as providing footwear for silentera stars like Lilian Gish, Mary Pickford and Gloria Swanson, he also designed Judy Garland’s famous “ruby red slippers” for The Wizard of Oz and had his own luxury brand based in Florence.

Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Stuhlbarg narrates, while the interviewed enthusiasts include Martin Scorsese, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin.

The Apollo (8.30pm, Friday, April 26, Sky Arts)

Roger Ross Williams (Cassandro, The Super Models) helms this 2019 documentary which explores the rich history of the iconic theatre in Harlem, New York. Known as a haven for black performers and audiences since the mid1930s, it has both shaped cultural history and fostered emerging talent. Among the interviewees are Angela Bassett, Jamie Foxx, Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle.

“The movie, through its addictive and exhaustively researched film and video clips, salutes a shocking range of genius,” wrote Variety’s Owen Gleiberman.

Food Rescue Kitchen (7pm, Saturdays from April 27, Three)

Six-part series which sees foodie influencer and home baker Naomi Toilalo challenging top chefs from around Aotearoa to create a three-course meal out of food she’s rescued.

Among those scheduled to take on the task are Peter Gordon, Michael Van de Elzen and Chantelle Nicholson. However, Toilalo’s first stop is Maketū and former MasterChef New Zealand winners Kasey and Kārena Bird.

Last Night in Soho (12.10am, Monday, April 29, TVNZ 2)

In this time-spanning, psychological horror, Thomasin McKenzie plays Eloise “Ellie” Turner, who lands a plum position at the London College of Fashion. However, the perils of moving to the big smoke, all the new sights, sounds and temptations quickly overwhelm her.

Apparently inspired by Don’t Look Now and Repulsion, Edgar Wright’s 2021 “dark valentine to London” also evokes memories of various Hammer horrors, The Neon Demon and Somewhere in Time.