Eyes On Ukraine is a short-form documentary that examines what happens when two crises collide: HIV and war. The film builds awareness around HIV, which, contrary to much of the world, is an escalating crisis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Through highly personal photographs and stories, it highlights the challenges people living with the virus face in Ukraine during times of war.
Attend the Premiere
Friday, December 5, 2025 • 7:30 PM
Hammer Museum at UCLA
Admission is free. No advance reservations.
Event details Add to calendarTrailer
Synopsis
This 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 Teenergizer, a large youth organization which supports young people in Ukraine who face challenges around HIV and mental health.
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, after decades chronicling the epidemic, has decided to hand over the camera to HIV-positive people, turning subjects into creators.
After Gideon trains Yana to use photography as a tool to tell her story, she sets out to share moments of her life. Her effort becomes pivotal as she inspires three young people living with HIV from Ukraine to join forces. After completing their own photographic training in Berlin, Liza, Mariia and Yehor return to Ukraine to shed light on a unique crisis during a difficult time in history.
DCP, color, 37 min. Director: Mo Stoebe. Executive Producer: Richard Gere. Producers: David Gere, Katja Kulenkampff. With: Yana Panfilova, Liza Shevchuck, Yehor Pasko, Mariia Deriuha.
Film Festivals
Prior to the premiere, the film is being shown at:
Awareness Festival (Santa Monica, CA) — October 2025
Newport Beach Film Festival (Newport Beach, CA) — October 2025
Voices Rising Festival (New York, NY) — November 2025
Tickets are available now for these screenings. Earlier this year, Eyes on Ukraine was honored at the Love Wins Film Festival (May 2025).
Watch Parties
The UCLA Art & Global Health Center and UNAIDS invite people to join the global preview of Eyes on Ukraine. "Watch parties" have already taken place at global venues, including at Harvard and Cornell universities, Noaks Ark Stockholm, multiple sites in Taiwan and Berlin, and the UN campus in Bonn, Germany.
The film comes with a discussion guide, a resource designed to foster meaningful dialogue and inspire action. The guide provides everything needed to host an engaging watch party, including discussion questions and suggested actions for further involvement. For more information, please email TPE@arts.ucla.edu.
World Premiere
The official documentary premiere is scheduled for December 5, 2025 at the Hammer Museum at UCLA. Admission is free. No advance reservations. Presented in partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, the UCLA AIDS Institute, and the Herb Ritts Foundation.
Accolades
Celebrated by audiences and organizations worldwide, Eyes on Ukraine has screened at a variety of film festivals, earning widespread praise for its intimate storytelling and urgent relevance.
Featured Artivists
Yana
When I was 18 years old, I got my first tattoo. It says, "I want to break free." These are the words of Freddie Mercury. The inscription symbolizes my journey as an HIV-positive activist. It also …
Liza
I am Liza, a 19-year-old Kyiv native, and my life's journey is a tapestry woven with threads of adversity and resilience. Growing up was far from ordinary. For the first six years, I lived with both …
Yehor
My name is Yehor, and I’m from Kryvyi Rih. My early childhood was carefree and joyful. At six, I found myself riding a motorcycle with my grandfather behind me, helping shift gears. My summer days …
Mariia
A shot, a rocket whistle, and sudden silence marked the moment that fractured our world. In the aftermath, the roof of our home was torn away, revealing a sliver of sky. The world fell into a …
Supporters
Funding is provided by the Herb Ritts Foundation and the UCLA AIDS Institute, with support and cooperation from UNAIDS.