Kuzma

The story of Andriy Kuzmenko, the leader of the legendary Ukrainian band Skryabin, who was loved by millions but truly known by only a few. Through exclusive, never-before-seen archival footage, the film reveals his personal evolution, self-irony, and a life lived at full speed—one whose impact is still deeply felt today.

Kuzma was one of the people who shaped the modern Ukrainian media landscape through his music, television work, books, and candid conversations with his audience. He was never afraid to be provocative, never tried to please everyone, and always remained close to ordinary people. His humor was more than entertainment—it was a way of speaking about difficult things with simplicity, and many of his thoughts remain strikingly relevant today.

More than ten years have passed since the death of Andriy Kuzmenko. During that time, he has become a cultural icon in Ukraine. Yet among countless memories and tributes, it has become increasingly rare to hear his own voice. The desire to bring audiences back not an image or a legend, but the living person himself became the starting point for the documentary Kuzma: Scarily Funny, offering a fresh perspective on his personality—one that remains vivid, meaningful, and influential even more than a decade after his passing.

“My greatest sadness is that Andriy will never be able to see how brilliantly, delicately, thoughtfully, and above all, how lovingly this film was made about him. Although perhaps he is sitting on a little cloud somewhere, carefully watching the film that spans his entire life and thinking, ‘Wow, you guys really pulled it off…’

I hope that, for at least an hour and a half, a new generation will step away from internet culture and immerse itself in the story of Skryabin—to see how society, ideas, and people changed… because that is life, and it constantly challenges us.”

— Svitlana Babiichuk, Andriy Kuzmenko’s wife

Directed by Artem Hryhoryan, the film takes viewers on Kuzma’s journey—from a boy growing up in Novoyavorivsk to an icon of Ukrainian pop culture. It is a story of freedom, pain, and love for people—values that resonated in every word he spoke. The documentary explores Kuzma as a figure of cultural memory whose presence has remained alive and influential even decades after his absence.

For a year and a half, KNIFE! Films worked with an extraordinary archive of more than 400 hours of video and audio recordings and over 22,000 photographs, most of which are being shown to audiences for the very first time. These materials became the foundation of the film’s narrative, allowing Andriy Kuzmenko to tell his own story in his own voice.

“Trends come and go, but Kuzma remains timeless. Some see him as a friend, others as a controversial figure. But one thing is certain—he leaves no one indifferent. And this film won’t either.”

— Producer Maksym Serdiuk