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This project was created to inspire. The number 12 symbolizes honesty, justice, the power to overcome limitations, great ambitions, and an understanding of life’s deeper meaning. It is also significant in ancient mythology—think of the “12 Labors of Hercules.”
We have chosen 12 men who embody these qualities. Each of them has achieved something remarkable in the film industry, overcoming challenges and making an impact.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine, the creative industry, which contributed 4% of the GDP, came to a standstill. Many creative professionals lost their jobs and, more importantly, their confidence.
This exhibition is a message of hope. It aims to inspire, motivate, and remind people to keep moving forward, to embrace challenges, and to never stop creating.
The portraits are captured in black and white, emphasizing emotion and depth.
Each participant chose a location that holds personal significance to them.
The photos include an object that inspires them, representing their creative journey.
Through these images, we invite you to explore the power of inspiration and the resilience of the human spirit.
The project was done in 2020.
“Constantly change your focus. We waste too much time because we can’t concentrate.” Film director Lyubomyr Levytskyi compares himself to a lens. He says he sees details, the depth of things, and the hidden sides of people. A natural rebel, he directed Shtolnya—the first Ukrainian-language film in modern Ukraine’s history— despite widespread skepticism. Now, he is working on Captain Ukraine and once again facing doubts from critics. “Hope is a person’s enemy because nothing happens on its own. But faith—that is the driving force,” says Levytskyi. In the photo, he stands beside the statue of Perun, the Slavic warrior god, on St. Andrew’s Hill in Kyiv. The story of this statue is where the script for Shtolnya begins —the very script he holds in his hands. He finds inspiration in beautiful places, people, and firmly believes that a single piece of music can give birth to an entire film.
My brain is constantly generating ideas, and it’s hard to keep up with.” – Alexey Gladushevsky. Only bold projects, overflowing with creativity. If it’s a TV series, it must tear at the soul. If it’s reality TV, it must break rating records. He has been involved in hit shows such as The Biggest Loser Ukraine, The Bachelor, and Supermodel Ukrainian Style. For 13 years, Alexey has been working with STB Channel, where he started as a journalist. He also led Novy Kanal, but his journey with STB is special. His office is there, so choosing the shooting location was easy. In his hands, he holds his first “Teletriumph” award for Best Producing Work. “This statuette made me realize the true value of our work. Often, within the first few seconds, you can tell whether a project will be a hit. Everything has to come together like a puzzle. If I don’t feel a deep passion for an idea or if there are too many obstacles, it’s better to let it go. But if my enthusiasm doesn’t fade, I’m ready to fight until the end.” Alexey Gladushevsky finds inspiration in cinema and books. “Ideas are never a problem,” he shares. “Sometimes, it’s too much… My brain struggles to handle them all.”
Cinematographer Serhii Revutskyi both energizes others and recharges himself. He has a particularly deep sense of responsibility toward his craft. He takes on challenging tasks, gives his absolute best, and enjoys every moment of it. His work on Cossacks: An Absolutely Untrue Story and Love in Chains is proof of that. People who work with him say his superpower lies in his ability to say the right words at the right time, offering support and inspiration. He draws his own energy from adrenaline-fueled experiences. That’s why, in the photo, Revutskyi is holding a wakeboard. “Wakeboarding is the feeling of freedom. This passion helps me wake up, be alone with myself, and fully experience the ‘here and now’ moment,” he says. He compares himself to a paper boat drifting in the ocean—always at sunset. After all, that makes for the best shot.
Ostap Stupka, who has played dozens of roles in film and theater, is also a collector and retro enthusiast. No matter where he is in the world, his top priority is to purchase a vinyl record. His collection includes approximately four hundred records. In the photo, he is in the park near his home theater named after Ivan Franko. “There is a special energy here. There used to be a lake in this place, and a stream still flows beneath the theater’s stage,” the actor shares. In his hands is a well-worn record by the Dutch band Livin’ Blues. “Their blues-rock is magnificent,” Stupka notes. Music, cinema, theater, and books are his sources of inspiration. In addition to vinyl records, Stupka collects teapots. “I am a ‘teapot’ (novice) in many matters,” he laughs at himself, “and I love tea.” He considers his superpower to be the ability to quickly transform into character and just as quickly step out of it. “The curtain closes, you take a bow, and that’s it—you go home to watch football.”
“When I feel drained, I read motivational books.” In the hands of the lead actor of the film “Black Raven,” Taras Tsymbalyuk, are his grandfather’s personalized watch. His grandfather serves as an example for the actor: he worked as a turner at a factory, respected people, and loved life. Taras strives to follow this example. For the photoshoot, he chose the “actors’ street”—Yaroslaviv Val—for its aesthetics and harmony. A balance of an interesting project, health, and attention from loved ones is his source of inspiration.
Akhtem Seitablayev is a Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar actor, theater and film director, and screenwriter. In the photo, he is seen wearing metal tags around his neck, engraved with his name, surname, and blood type—similar to those worn by military personnel for rapid identification of the deceased and wounded in combat situations. In 2015, for Akhtem’s birthday, two soldiers named Oleksiy made these tags and sent them to him through a volunteer. Unfortunately, Akhtem never met them; 20 days after presenting the gift, both soldiers were killed in battles in Donbas. The photo captures Akhtem near the Crimean House, a place that unites public organizations addressing issues related to the peninsula. In 2016, when he was offered to lead this institution, he thought it was like “a suitcase without a handle.” Not one to hold a position nominally, Seitablayev has made the Crimean House a significant part of his life today. The same goes for directing. “It’s like creating worlds out of thin air. Or, as my teacher used to say, to make a film, you need to gather a team, inspire them with an idea, and then not interfere with making a good movie,” Seitablayev says about his profession. His films “Cyborgs” and “Haytarma” tell stories of people—their pain, strength, and dreams. They also reflect Akhtem himself. How could it be otherwise? “Creativity comes from those who create it. It’s something that resonates with you. A very subjective territory,” Akhtem notes. For him, being in the profession means feeling alive. “When you feel that you’re creating, building something, and it gives you a drive—you can go without sleep or food,” he shares about his inspiration. It doesn’t seem like he’s searching for it; rather, it’s within him.
“A state of rest is not for me.” Oleksandr Rudynskyi is a dynamic actor who played one of the leading roles in the series “First Swallows.” He aspires to achieve perfection in his craft, inspired by performances like those of Yevgeny Mironov. For a photoshoot, he chose the Karpenko-Kary Theatre University, where his studies profoundly influenced his development as an actor. In his hands is a journal documenting his “failures and victories.” When asked what inspires him, his concise answer is: “Well-played roles.”
The hills, well known to “Karpenkivtsi.” Six years after graduating from the theater university, actor, TV host, “Mister Ukraine 2014,” and the world’s most handsome man, “Mister Sea World 2018,” Bohdan Yusypchuk, returned here for a photoshoot in our project. “The dormitory is nearby. I remember stepping out here, looking at these views— without a single penny to my name but full of dreams and ambitions. You’re in the capital, and everything is still ahead of you. It feels like true freedom,” the actor shares. On Bohdan’s shoulder sits an angel made of cheap plastic. During his student years, when he faced health issues, job struggles, and financial difficulties, he would turn it on in his tiny room and believe that everything would soon get better. This angel is the only thing he took with him to his new apartment. His words carry simplicity, sincerity, and openness. He compares himself to water: “I can be as light as steam and as solid as ice.” The actor also advises seizing every opportunity: “Waiting for someone to find you, come to you, and invite you somewhere is pointless. Even if you’re a genius.”
“I don’t need constant inspiration to create—I simply cannot not create.”
Actor Daniil Mireshkin—the same bold school bully from the series DaughtersMothers—and his sword. A gift from director Lera Fedotova. A symbol of the struggle for recognition of his talent, a symbol of overcoming fears and battling himself.
The location for the photoshoot is the intersection between the university and the theater. It was here that he received important words of support from a respected theater mentor.
Pavlo Kostytsin’s passion is travel. He and his loyal companion—a suitcase bought on sale—have witnessed countless sunsets in different corners of the world.
The location for the photoshoot is an airport. Pavlo chose it also because aviation is his unfulfilled dream. But the dream of becoming an actor did come true: roles in theater, film, and TV series, twenty seasons of Battle of the Psychics, voicing the supervillain Gru in Despicable Me…
Pavlo believes that you must fall in love with every project you work on; otherwise, the results won’t be as they should. He takes a philosophical approach to his success: “I have no aggressive ambitions. I know how to let go of my own ideas in favor of better ones.”
However, one idea he has nurtured for years—making his own film—is something he is unlikely to give up on. He compares himself to the phenomenon of déjà vu. Perhaps the “old soul” within him has seen a lot. That’s why, by “turning himself inside out,” he can show people other worlds and explain how this one works…
It is unclear how deep it is, what the bottom is like, or how fast the current flows. Unpredictability and fundamental nature—that is the answer to why actor Alexander Piskunov chose a body of water for his photoshoot. The shoot took place at dawn, with temperatures dropping to 10 degrees Celsius and a cold downpour. Sasha was soaked through and freezing, but he didn’t show it. In the hands of the actor, who played leading roles in Kruty 1918 and Retribution, is a small golden cross—a gift from Darya Mikhailovna. As a child, he once saw a woman near a church and called her “Grandmother.” From that moment, she became his kindred spirit. She brought him sweets, told him stories about Jesus, and loved him. This cross, Sasha will one day pass on to his children. “What is your superpower?”—we asked this question to all our heroes. Sasha has yet to find the answer; he is in the process of discovering it. He is on a journey to himself.
People, stories, emotionally gripping moments, and brilliantly crafted things—that’s what inspires Rob Feldman, an actor who starred in the acclaimed British series Killing Eve.
For the photoshoot, he chose a location on the banks of the Dnipro River— ArtPrichal. “There’s a great view here: the river and the bridges dividing the city into two parts. It really reminds me of London, where I spent a lot of time,” the actor explains.
He considers friendliness to be his superpower. This trait helps him open many doors. It also unlocks the locks and keys he holds in the photo. For him, they symbolize responsibility and maturity.
“When you’re a child, you don’t have keys. Then, as you grow up, people start trusting you with them, giving you access to things. Over time, the keychains change—some keys are taken away, some are added. It’s a whole ritual. A philosophy of its own, from Rob Feldman.”
