Eva Victor, the star of the hit TV show "Billions," has made a bold and personal directorial debut with "Sorry, Baby," a film that tackles the sensitive topic of sexual assault with a unique blend of humor and empathy.

In "Sorry, Baby," Victor plays Agnes, a grad student-turned-professor navigating the disorienting aftermath of sexual assault. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, takes a distinct approach to telling this difficult story, using laughter as medicine to shift the focus from the act of sexual violence to the ups and downs of healing.

"I was writing for a person who really wanted to engage with the world about the absurdity of that kind of trauma," Victor explains in an interview with PEOPLE. "I wanted the film to feel like a hug."

Victor's approach to the film was influenced by her own experiences, and she wanted to create a story that would resonate with others who have gone through similar traumas. "It's not such a simple thing to have people connect to a film like this," she says.

The film's producer, Barry Jenkins, was drawn to Victor's unique voice and perspective, which he saw in her online videos that had gone viral. "He said, 'Those videos are filmmaking,'" Victor recalls. "''You're making all the choices about what shots there are and what people look like, and you're doing the edit. That's directing.'"

The film features a talented cast, including Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch, Louis Cancelmi, and Kelly McCormack. Victor says that working with this ensemble was a therapeutic experience, and that she was grateful to have a community of like-minded storytellers around her.

"Sorry, Baby" is now playing in select theaters, with a wide release set for July 25. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.

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