Age: 26
Education: Filmmaking, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts
Profession: Film and music video director, LGBTQ activist
Did you know? He has an identical twin brother
Yuriy Dvizhon is one of the few gay artists in Ukraine’s creative industries who speaks about his sexuality openly.
He worked his way from the fear of being misunderstood in conservative Ukrainian society to the exceptional freedom he exudes now.
Unlike his many gay colleagues in show business, Dvizhon isn’t scared of public disapproval. To the contrary, he uses his voice and filmmaking skills to advocate for LGBTQ rights in Ukraine.
“I’m more useful this way,” Dvizhon told the Kyiv Post. “I don’t know how to do politics, but I know how to work with creativity.”
Dvizhon’s affection for art started long ago. As a kid, he loved drawing, listening to music and watching films. Later he made video slideshows to present his projects at school.
Just like his love for art, Dvizhon realized his sexual orientation early. Although he always accepted himself, jokes mocking gay people discouraged him from revealing his true self.
Dvizhon didn’t dare to talk frankly to his family either: He was afraid to be rejected and be left with no financial support from his parents. So when he moved to Kyiv to study filmmaking at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Dvizhon found a job and started to feel liberated.
For three years, he assisted directors on the shows at the STB television channel. Craving more room for creativity, Dvizhon shifted to assisting a music video director.
After finishing school, Dvizhon directed his first music video. Soon, he was invited to make a video for Iryna Bilyk, a fading but legendary Ukrainian pop singer.
In the next years, Dvizhon made over 30 music videos for musicians, including Pianoboy, Khrystyna Soloviy and Jerry Heil. He loves filmmaking, as it allows him to be a child, bringing to life his wildest dreams.
Dvizhon used to be afraid to join the Pride rally in Kyiv. Then, he visited his American boyfriend in San Francisco, California, and the freedom he saw astonished him.
Dvizhon was stunned to see that gay people could hold hands in public. His boyfriend’s family support also showed him a level of acceptance that gay people in Ukraine could only dream of.
In 2018, a pivotal moment merged Dvizhon’s directorial talent and principles into creative activism. That year, Ukrainian transgender singer Ziandzha appeared on a TV talent show only to be widely derided.
“I felt a resistance inside,” Dvizhon said.
So that same year, he collaborated with the Kyiv Pride non-profit and directed a music video for Bilyk’s song “Ne Hovai Ochei” (Don’t Hide Your Eyes), which features LGBTQ people. In some of the scenes, same-sex couples kiss, a bold rarity in Ukrainian pop culture. The video’s premiere was also Dvizhon’s public coming out, as he also appears in it.
Along with the video, Dvizhon released a short documentary of the same name where LGBTQ people talk about the value of being honest with themselves and share observations about society’s perceptions of the LGBTQ community.
“Many LGBTQ people thanked me for inspiring them to be free,” Dvizhon said.
This year, Dvizhon made another documentary about LGBTQ Ukrainians who moved to the U.S. in pursuit of a freer life. He also produced a video this year promoting LGBTQ rights ahead of the Equality March in June 2019. Featuring opinion makers supporting the march, the video helped to attract record 8,000 people.
Now Dvizhon is working on several projects that blend art and activism and hopes that they will help more LGBTQ people to come out.
“It’s so unbearable when you feel this freedom and others are limited,” he said.
