The Czech-Slovak documentary If Pigeons Turned to Gold (Kdyby se holubi proměnili ve zlato), which won two awards at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, had its Czech premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival this week. Directed by Pepa Lubojacki, the personal documentary examines family, addiction and the challenges faced by people living on the margins of society.
The film screened in Karlovy Vary’s Special Presentations section ahead of its nationwide theatrical release on Sept. 24, 2026, distributed in Czech cinemas by Aerofilms. The festival debut follows a successful international run that began at Berlinale, where the documentary received the Berlinale Documentary Award and the Caligari Prize.
Lubojacki spent five years documenting the life of her older brother and other family members affected by addiction. Combining diary footage with stylized memories, animated photographs and graphic elements, the film explores the difficult questions surrounding care, responsibility and the limits of helping someone struggling with substance dependency.
A personal documentary recognized at Berlinale
At the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, If Pigeons Turned to Gold joined a growing wave of Czech documentaries winning international awards. The film received the Berlinale Documentary Award, which included a cash prize shared between the director and producers, as well as the Caligari Prize presented to a film in the festival’s Forum section.
The Berlinale jury praised Lubojacki’s “inventive directorial voice,” while the filmmaker used the recognition to highlight the experiences of people affected by addiction and homelessness. The film follows her brother and two cousins as they face long-term struggles that have affected their relationships, health and living conditions.
Lubojacki has said that sharing such a personal story was initially difficult, but international festival responses changed her perspective on the project. Audiences with direct experience of addiction, either personally or through family members, have told her that the film reflects feelings that are often difficult to express publicly.
The documentary’s approach combines raw personal footage with more experimental techniques. Photographs are brought to life through artificial intelligence tools, while reconstructed memories and visual collages create a style that moves between documentary observation and subjective reflection.
The film’s production involved Czech and Slovak partners, including producers Klára Mamojková and Wanda Kaprálová from CLAW films, Slovak company Guča films, Czech Television and FAMU. It was supported by several Czech and international film funds, including the State Audiovisual Fund, the Audiovisual Fund of Slovakia and Eurimages.
Karlovy Vary premiere and awareness campaign
After premiering at KVIFF, If Pigeons Turned to Gold will receive a Czech theatrical release on Sept. 24, bringing the documentary to cinemas several months after its international premiere. The film’s creators are also preparing an awareness campaign focused on public discussions about addiction and the experiences of people affected by it.
The campaign will include screenings followed by discussions with experts, educational screenings and an online resource aimed at people living with addiction and their families. Producers say the goal is to encourage a broader conversation focused on understanding and reducing stigma surrounding addiction.
“Change in public perception begins with listening, sharing stories and being willing to view addiction in all its complexity,” producers Mamojková and Kaprálová said. “People living with addiction and their loved ones deserve more empathy, support and understanding.”
With its combination of personal storytelling and experimental documentary techniques, If Pigeons Turned to Gold continues a strong year for Czech nonfiction cinema on the international festival circuit. The film’s Berlinale recognition adds to recent international attention for Czech documentaries, following major successes including an Oscar for the Czech co-production Mr. Nobody Against Putin and the Cannes Film Festival’s top documentary prize for Rehearsals for a Revolution.
