Eyes on Ukraine is a short-form documentary that explores what happens when two crises, HIV and war, collide. Set against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the film reveals how conflict worsens an escalating public health calamity in Eastern Europe and Central Asia—a region where HIV rates continue to rise. As infrastructure collapses and stigma persists, Eyes on Ukraine follows young people living with HIV who are navigating both survival and activism. Through highly personal photographs and first-person stories, the film highlights how art and community are powerful tools for resistance, even in the shadow of war.

Trailer

Synopsis

This 35-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 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. 

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, three sites in Taiwan, and the UN campus in Bonn, Germany, in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2024.

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.

Festivals

Eyes on Ukraine will be shown at the Love Wins International Film Festival in May 2025 and the Voices Rising Festival in November 2025.

Premiere

The official premiere is tentatively scheduled for December 1, 2025, World AIDS Day, to mark the 20th anniversary of the UCLA Art & Global Health Center and the 44th anniversary of the discovery of HIV by UCLA physicians.

Featured Artivists

Yana

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

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

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

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, with support and cooperation from UNAIDS.