Viktor: Support His Story

Hi friends,

We're the filmmakers behind ‘Viktor,’ an independent documentary that tells the powerful true story of a deaf man navigating life during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The film follows Viktor Korotovskyi, a young deaf man and aspiring photographer living in Kharkiv. Having grown up on war stories and samurai films, Viktor dreams of defending his country. But his attempts to enlist are repeatedly denied. Even during times of war, the deaf are barred from military service. Eager to find purpose, Viktor embarks on a personal quest to make his mark in a war he cannot hear.

‘Viktor’ is directed by two-time Emmy winning filmmaker and photographer Olivier Sarbil, who himself lost hearing in one ear while covering the Libyan Civil War. Sarbil explores the chaos of conflict and the deep, often unseen, scars war leaves on both hearing and deaf communities. As Viktor witnesses the horrors of conflict on the front lines, he chooses a different path – one centered on self-improvement, inner strength, compassion, and contributing to the war effort through his life as a civilian.

"An up close and personal, highly stylized excursion. (Grade A)" - IndieWire

"A truly singular experience worthy of its adulation" - Roger Ebert

"A true triumph of non-fiction filmmaking" - POV Magazine

"A deaf photographer's inner world redefines war cinema" - Modern Times Review

Shooting ‘Viktor’ was daring and complex. Sarbil operated the camera himself and was the sole sound person, a practice he honed covering conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and around the world. For Viktor, the shoot also required immense bravery and trust. The film’s voiceover is compiled from lengthy diary entries Viktor wrote capturing his firsthand experience of the war.

But the hardest part is getting our film out to the world. We need your support so that we can continue to share the film with global audiences, and, critically, so that we can send Viktor to screenings where his story is being told.

Stay tuned for more updates and photographs from Viktor himself and please check out the official Viktor Instagram page for further updates.

UPDATE: THANK YOU everyone so much for your generous donations. We are so thrilled to share that Viktor was able to join us for screenings in NYC, LA and DC. This would not have been possible without all of your support. Any additional funds will help us continue his travels and begin work on our impact campaign.