Photophobia

During a war in Kharkiv, a twelve-year-old boy named Niki and his family seek refuge in a metro station. Because they view daylight as a lethal threat, Niki is forbidden from leaving the station, spending his days under neon lights. While exploring the crowded platforms and empty train cars, he develops a close friendship with an eleven-year-old girl named Vika. Together, the two children find the strength to face the outside world and the sun.

This documentary drama was co-produced by companies in Ukraine, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It was directed by Pavol Pekarčík and Ivan Ostrochovský, who previously collaborated on Velvet Terrorists in 2013. For Ostrochovský, this project followed Servants and preceded Igor and After and Only Beautiful Things to Look At. The screenplay was written by Marek Leščák, Ostrochovský, and Pekarčík. The film features Nikita Tyshchenko and Viktoriia Mats in the lead roles, with Yana Yevdokymova and Yevhenii Borshch appearing as Niki's mother and stepfather. Other cast members include Anna Tyshchenko and Vitaly Pavlovitch.