Eyes On Ukraine is a short form documentary which examines what happens
when two crises collide: HIV and war.
when two crises collide: HIV and war.
ThIS 30 minute film follows 24-year old Yana Panfilova, a Ukrainian HIV-positive activist living in Berlin. Born with the virus and exiled from her home in Kyiv because of the war with Russia, she continues to run an organization called Teenergizer which supports young people in Ukraine who face challenges around HIV and mental health in general. To shed light on the growing HIV crisis and stigma associated with the virus in her country, Yana works with veteran photographer Gideon Mendel who has been chronicling the epidemic for decades. Armed with a camera, she sets out to share moments of her life to tell her story and inspires three young HIV-positive individuals from Ukraine to join forces and do the same.
