Photophobia

Ukraine, February 2022, Niki, aged 12, and his family are forced to flee their home and take shelter in the underground train stations of Kharkiv to escape the war. Niki turns the metro station into his playground, because the outside world and daylight are synonymous with danger. As he wanders aimlessly among the abandoned carriages and occupied platforms, Niki meets 11-year-old Vika, and a new world opens up to him. Under the glare of the neon lights, Photophobia portrays from a child’s point of view, the daily lives of the many people confined to metro stations during the war. This poetic film blends documentary and fiction to create a genuine cinematic experience.

This film received the Youth Documentary Jury Prize at the FIFDH 2024.