The Czech Republic’s 2026 Oscar submission, I’m Not Everything I Want To Be, has officially secured U.S. distribution through Grasshopper Film. Directed by Klára Tasovská, the acclaimed documentary explores the life and work of Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, whose intimate, defiant images captured Prague’s underground and marginalized communities during the Communist era.
The film, which won Best Documentary and Best Editing at the Czech Lion Awards, has become one of the most decorated Czech documentaries in recent years. It has also earned major honors at international festivals in Torino and Montréal, and its U.S. release marks a significant step in its awards-season campaign.
Grasshopper Film will launch the theatrical rollout in New York and Los Angeles next month, positioning the title for consideration in both the Best International Film and Best Documentary Feature categories.
A portrait of defiance and identity
I’m Not Everything I Want To Be is composed entirely of Jarcovjáková’s own photographs, set to her diary entries and a layered sound design that transforms still imagery into a cinematic experience. The documentary traces her decades-long artistic journey through Communist Czechoslovakia, where she documented nightlife, sexuality, and social outsiders at a time when such subjects were taboo.
Jarcovjáková’s work, often raw and confrontational, offers a window into Prague’s hidden subcultures. Through her lens, she chronicled her own struggle for self-acceptance and freedom amid political and personal constraints. Tasovská’s film builds on this intimate archive, merging art and autobiography to explore questions of identity, belonging, and creative rebellion.
In a statement, Grasshopper Film’s founder Ryan Krivoshey called the documentary “a wild, intimate, and deeply political cinematic experience,” highlighting how the combination of sound, photography, and narration creates a unique storytelling form. Director Klára Tasovská expressed excitement about the U.S. release, saying that introducing Jarcovjáková’s work to American audiences “is sensational” and reflects the artist’s enduring influence on Czech visual culture.
International reach boosts Oscar ambitions
The U.S. deal was negotiated between Krivoshey and Wouter Jansen of Square Eyes, which handles international sales. The film has already been picked up for distribution in numerous territories, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, and India, signaling strong global interest.
For the Czech film industry, Grasshopper’s acquisition represents another milestone in the country’s growing international visibility. While Czech fiction features have historically dominated Oscar submissions, I’m Not Everything I Want To Be continues a recent trend of documentary contenders following the success of Caught in the Net and A Marriage Story, both of which gained attention beyond Czech borders.
Founded in 2015, Grasshopper Film has become a key distributor of independent and international cinema, known for its curation of auteur-driven works such as Albert Serra’s Afternoons of Solitude, Jem Cohen’s Little, Big, and Far, and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Pictures of Ghosts. The company’s support could prove crucial in raising the visibility of Tasovská’s film during awards season.
As Jarcovjáková once wrote of her own artistic philosophy: “What is strange is interesting, but what is most strange is most interesting.” Through Tasovská’s lens, that restless curiosity and empathy now reach a global audience—one image, and one frame, at a time.
In the Czech Republic, I’m Not Everything I Want to Be is currently streaming on Netflix.
