If Pigeons Turned to Gold

synopsis

For five years, director Pepa Lubojacki documented the emotional stories of her own family. Why did addiction cost her beloved brother and two cousins their relationships, sense of security, health and a roof over their heads? And what if the underlying cause is not addiction itself, but something that began much earlier? An inventive blend of intimate video diaries, animated photographs, stylised memories and graphic collages makes the film a distinctive experience, at once raw and playful. As both a filmmaker and a sister, Pepa faces questions with no easy answers: where does love end and control begin? Should she try to save them or let them go? This brutally honest film won the Best Documentary Award at the Berlinale.

biography

Pepa Lubojacki is a documentary screenwriter and director. Her short film o-chlup was longlisted for the Magnesia Award for emerging talent in 2019 and screened at Ji.hlava, PragueShorts, River Film Festival, Cineffable and other festivals. She spent several years working on the programming team of the Mezipatra Queer Film Festival and co-organised the Queer Eye cultural festival. She also helped programme FAMUFEST and moderated discussions at Ji.hlava. Her work explores stereotypes, family bonds and addiction. Pepa loves strawberries, pigeons and bats, and is vegan for the animals.

film details

director:	Pepa Lubojacki
producer:	Zdeněk Hala
script:	Pepa Lubojacki
script dramaturgy:	Lucie Králová