Award-Winning Documentary 'Photophobia' Captures the Resilience of Children Sheltering in Kharkiv's Underground

The documentary "Photophobia," which provides a poignant look at the lives of children seeking refuge in the Kharkiv metro during the full-scale invasion, continues to garner significant international acclaim. This cinematic piece is a collaborative effort between Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine, filmed on location amidst the ongoing Russian aggression. Directed by the creative duo Ivan Ostrochovský and Pavol Pekarčík—who previously collaborated on the 2013 film "Velvet Terrorists"—the narrative centers on 12-year-old Nikita and his young friend, Vika.

These children were forced to adapt to a life lived entirely beneath the surface, grappling with a scarcity of resources and a pervasive sense of dread. The hybrid stylistic approach of "Photophobia" allows the filmmakers to starkly contrast the grim reality of the bomb shelter, situated four meters underground, with fleeting glimpses of the devastated cityscape above. Ostrochovský and Pekarčík initially arrived in Ukraine to deliver humanitarian aid in the spring of 2022 and spent approximately four months filming, driven by a desire to document instances of genuine humanity within a landscape of terror.

Spanning 71 minutes, the film was honored with the Europa Cinemas Label Award for Best European Film in the Giornate degli Autori section at the 80th Venice Film Festival in September 2023. The jury lauded the work as a "highly original and beautifully observed film," highlighting how it depicts individuals, particularly children, forging a new existence under inhumane circumstances. At the heart of the story is Nikita, whose parents have prohibited him from leaving the station because daylight has become synonymous with lethal peril. Within this confined space, illuminated only by artificial neon lights, Nikita meets 11-year-old Vika; their budding friendship eventually grants them the bravery to seek out the sun once more. To evoke a sense of familial warmth and positive emotion despite the tragic setting, the directors chose to shoot on eight-millimeter film.

Beyond its success in Venice, the film also secured the Youth Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the 22nd International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights. This recognition comes at a time when other recent Ukrainian war documentaries are also capturing the world's attention. For instance, Mstislav Chernov’s film "2000 Meters to Andreevka," which chronicles the mission of a 3rd Assault Brigade platoon to liberate the village of Andreevka near Bakhmut in the summer of 2023, was shortlisted for a BAFTA award this year. Chernov, an Academy Award winner for "20 Days in Mariupol," also received the directing award in the World Cinema Documentary category at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

These cinematic works, with "Photophobia" at the forefront, serve as vital testimonies to the enduring resilience of the Ukrainian people. By documenting both the quiet struggles of daily life in underground shelters and the intense combat occurring on the front lines, these films ensure that the human cost of the conflict is neither forgotten nor ignored by the global community.

The international success of these documentaries underscores a growing global interest in authentic, first-hand accounts of the conflict. As "Photophobia" travels to various festivals, it bridges the gap between distant headlines and the lived experiences of those most affected by the war, particularly the youngest generation whose childhoods have been reshaped by the necessity of survival.