Prague-based sales company Filmotor has acquired international sales rights to If Luck Will Come, the debut feature documentary by Danish filmmaker Camille Bildsøe, ahead of its international premiere in the Kids Screenings section of the 79th Locarno Film Festival. The acquisition follows the film’s world premiere at CPH:DOX 2026, where it screened in NEXT:WAVE Competition.
Produced by Sofie Husum Johannesen for Danish company Elk Films, If Luck Will Come follows two Afghan children over three years as they approach adolescence under Taliban rule, where play becomes an act of resistance and gender determines their futures.
Director Camille Bildsøe comments: “When we first arrived in Afghanistan, we encountered a country defined not only by fear and restriction, but also by extraordinary resilience, imagination and joy. Zahra and Zalgai insisted on continuing to play and dream even as their world grew smaller around them. Their courage shaped every decision we made throughout the filmmaking process.”
She adds: “From the beginning, it was essential that the film be created with patience, humility and in close collaboration with Afghan filmmakers and advisors. The safety and dignity of our participants always came before the film itself, and their voices remain at the heart of the story.”
Michaela Čajková, CEO of Filmotor, comments: “From the moment we saw If Luck Will Come, we were deeply moved by its emotional honesty, cinematic sensitivity and extraordinary access. Camille Bildsøe has created an intimate coming-of-age story that transcends headlines, revealing Afghanistan through the eyes of children whose resilience and humanity stay with you long after the film ends. We are proud to welcome the film to our slate and look forward to building its international journey from Locarno.”
Producer Sofie Husum Johannesen of Elk Films adds: “We are thrilled to welcome Filmotor on board. Their passion for auteur-driven documentaries and their commitment to bringing important stories to audiences worldwide make them the ideal partner for If Luck Will Come. We look forward to introducing the film to the audiences and the international industry in Locarno.”
Filmotor adds how, “shot during the first years following the Taliban’s return to power, If Luck Will Come offers a rare portrait of everyday life inside Afghanistan while placing the safety, dignity and autonomy of its participants at the centre of the production. Developed in close collaboration with Afghan filmmakers, cultural advisors and child-development specialists, the project was created as an ethical partnership that prioritised informed consent, participant safety and long-term engagement with the families throughout filming and post-production.”
Alongside the feature documentary, a specially produced 25-minute broadcast version is available for television broadcasters.
If Luck Will Come marks Bildsøe’s feature documentary debut. The film is produced by Elk Films in collaboration with Point of View and Akkeri Films, with support from the Danish Film Institute, Norwegian Film Institute, Icelandic Film Centre, Creative Europe MEDIA, Nordic Film & TV Fund, and broadcasters DR, NRK, SVT and RÚV. Filmotor will launch worldwide sales at Locarno, with rights for Denmark, Norway and Iceland excluded.
