Rostislav learned about his own identity from his father. One of the most important moments in his life was traveling with him to the reburial of Tsar Nicholas II. But shortly after that, his father passed away. Since then, Rostislav has tried to find refuge in his art, while also reinventing what it means to be a Russian prince. Now, he wants to help guide his almost 12 year old son through that journey—better prepared, the only Romanov boy of the next generation. Rostislav is also 12 years sober. His story is one of resilience, identity, and healing.

Prince Rostislav Romanov is the great-great-grandson of Grand Duchess Xenia, sister of Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duke Sandro. His family fled Russia after the Revolution, finding refuge in England—where they’ve lived in quiet exile for generations. Now, over a century later, Rostislav grapples with what it means to carry this name in a world that still projects myths onto his bloodline.

As the world descends into propagandistic myth-making, Romanov Family: The Best Kept Secret explores something quieter—and more human. It’s about intergenerational trauma, the longing for home, and how ordinary people inherit extraordinary histories and yet forge their own path.

While various impostors and claimants on SocialMedia are eager to try on The Tsar’s title, Rostislav faces a difficult choice: reclaim a more public role for him or protect his family privacy.

In an age when politicians and social media alike rewrite the past to justify the present, this film offers something rare: a personal lens on how history lives on in real people, not just in monuments, myths, or propaganda. Prince Rostislav Romanov isn’t seeking a throne; he’s searching for meaning in a name that others see as sacred, scandalous, or symbolic.

As war conflicts, displacement, and historical amnesia reshape the world, this story speaks far beyond the Romanovs. It’s about what we inherit from our ancestors—and how the past continues to shape the stories we tell our children. It’s also about resisting the seductive illusion of a "glorious past" in favor of something more honest, and more human.

By supporting this film, you’re helping preserve a piece of living history—captured intimately, before it transforms into legend.

Research and development began in 2021, with production officially launched in 2024. Now, we’re seeking support for a few final filming trips across Europe and post-production—so we can bring the story to life and present it to potential partners.

WHAT'S THE NEED?

• Hard drives, project setup, syncing footage
• Transcription, translation, subtitling
• Hire a professional editor
• Pay our cinematographers
• Hire production assistants and drivers
• Cover travel costs and gear/van rental
• Compensate the filmmakers for their expenses in 2023-2025

THE TEAM

Victor & Olga at the DOC NYC premiere of their previous film “Busy Inside”

Victor Ilyukhin (Director/Editor) received an MFA in Social Documentary from the School of Visual Arts in NYC in 2014. Victor is a non-fiction filmmaker who has worked internationally in documentary film and television for more than 10 years. His recent short documentary “The Strength to Fight” about sickle cell disease got Best Documentary Award at New York State International Film Festival. He produced and co-edited the documentary “Busy Inside”, which premiered at The Moscow International Film Festival, won the audience award at the Middlebury Film Festival, was screened at DOC NYC, Hamptons Doc Fest, and broadcasted nationally on PBS in 2021 and 2023. In 2021 Ilyukhin founded Un/Filmed School offering workshops in documentary filmmaking worldwide led by internationally acclaimed filmmakers. Victor is a queer immigrant filmmaker, living in the US, who believes in the healing power of documentary filmmaking.

Olga Lvoff (Producer/Editor) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and a member of The European Film Academy. Her recent feature, “Busy Inside” about multiple personality disorder aired on PBS (“America Reframed” slot) and was featured in The New York Times in 2021. It premiered at Moscow International Film Festival and won the Audience Award for the Best Feature at Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival in 2019. Olga’s previous full-length documentary film, “When People Die They Sing Songs,” was broadcast on NHK (Japan). It was nominated for Student Oscar in 2014 and won CINE Golden Eagle Award. Olga’s editing work has been shown at ARTE channel, Tribeca Film Festival and Lincoln Center. Olga leads film workshops in Un/Filmed School, Columbia University and Hunter College in New York. Besides working in film, Olga is a theatre director: she made her theatre debut in 2024 in LaMaMa theatre in New York.

Justin Ervin (Director of Photography) is an award-winning writer, director and cinematographer of both scripted and non-scripted work. His work has appeared on notable platforms including Netflix, PBS, HBO and Hulu, and was Cinematographer on the EMMY-nominated, Netflix Original Documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? which was also nominated for two NAACP Image Awards in 2023. Justin was the DP on 761st: The Original Black Panthers starring Morgan Freeman. His cinematography was featured in the Webby Award-winning video for the San Francisco Opera in summer of 2022. As a cinematographer, Justin continues to operate at the vanguard, creating at the intersection of documentary and narrative cinematography aesthetics.

WHO ELSE IS A PART OF THE FILM?

Consulting Producer: Paul McGuire

Supervising Editor: David Bartner

Story Consultant: Pola Rapaport

Associate Producers: Evgenia Borisova, Alla Larionova

Pitch Deck Design: Enrique Vega

Fiscal Sponsorship: Lynnette Gryseels, TFC

HOW DO I CONTRIBUTE?

To pledge to a project just follow these steps:

• On the project's main page, click the "Make a Pledge" button, enter the dollar amount you’d like to pledge, and click continue.
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Please note: when a pledge is first placed it is a pending payment that only gets charged after the campaign period is over, and only if the campaign successfully raised 80% or more of their funding goal. If a tip to the platform is given alongside a pledge, the credit card will be charged immediately for the tip at the time of pledging.

Important Reminders!



• Please provide your full name or company name when checking out, no nicknames please. 
• A mailing address is required for donors who contribute $2,000 or more, or who select rewards that must be mailed.
• ALL donations to this campaign are tax deductible in the US. In accordance with IRS regulations, The Film Collaborative (TFC) issues tax receipts. Crowdfunder admin fees and credit card processing fees are deducted before TFC receives the funds. TFC issues tax receipts on the amount they receive minus the fair market value of the incentive you select. Tax-deductible receipts will be issued after the campaign ends, not at checkout. Thank you for your support and patience!

RISKS AND CHALLENGES:

Every independent film endeavor has its risks. We have great confidence our risks are minimal. We feel the greatest outstanding risk is the film not being seen- which is why we are launching this campaign, to get the help from others to ensure it is seen. We’ve been working with fervor to put together a strong team of individuals to help us distribute and release the film. It takes a village to make a film and we invite you to be a part of our village.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact  Victor at  [email protected]