WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
Submerge yourself into the world of pigeons in this documentary dedicated to breeders, racers, and lovers. Zooming in on New York City, learn about the culture around pigeon breeding with coops on roofs and industrious feed sellers. Go behind the scenes of pigeon races and training the birds for regional competitions. Then learn about pigeon advocacy and every day caretakers providing food for the city’s friendliest creatures. With candid interviews from lead competitors, community leaders, and Mother Pigeon herself, this is not your conventional animal documentary; this is a pigeon religion.
CREATIVE TEAM
TROY VETRI, DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Troy Vetri is a New York-based documentary filmmaker originally from Fort Myers, Florida. He is a coveted Director of Photography in the commercial and branded content space, working with major clients including Nike, True Religion, Complex, Buzzfeed, First We Feast, People Magazine, and Entertainment Weekly. Alongside his commercial work, Troy has developed a distinct voice as a nonfiction storyteller, drawn to poetic, character-driven stories rooted in place and subculture. He has lensed documentaries for Bloomberg and the Simons Foundation, and co-directed the short film Benny, which premiered at DOC NYC. His latest film, Pigeon Religion, is his directorial debut of New York’s underground pigeon lovers: a reflection on the quiet rituals people create to find meaning, connection, and survival in a chaotic world. More of Troy’s work can be found at troyvetri.com
DAVID DOMINGUEZ, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
David Dominguez is a documentary cinematographer from Philadelphia that currently lives in Brooklyn. His work focuses on intimate, character-driven stories about everyday people who are often overlooked. Some of his most prominent titles have been featured in the Tribeca Film Festival, DOC NYC, and The Atlantic. When he's not working on films, David enjoys spending time with his two cats, Bobby and Phil, and riding his bicycle around the city.
EVAN HALLECK, EDITOR
Evan Halleck is a comedy-focused editor who has cut over 150 commercials for brands like Toyota, McDonald’s, and Bloomberg. Pigeon Religion marks his first feature as editor, building on a career that also includes visual effects credits on films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, Self Reliance, Sasquatch Sunset, and Peacock’s Based on a True Story.
Currently, Evan is finishing post on his feature directorial debut, a comedic-philosophical documentary titled Mummified and/or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Hoard Brendan Fraser's Finest Hour (& 55 minutes), look out for it in the festival circuit in 2026.
JENNY CATHERALL, PRODUCER
Jenny Catherall is a New York–based filmmaker and creative producer with over 15 years of experience in digital video for organizations including Clean Slate Initiative, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Simons Foundation, and TED. In addition to her work with nonprofits and foundations, she has directed independent short documentaries, including Big Party on the Other Side, an award-winning film that premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. She is also passionate about supporting other creatives as a producer, offering expertise in logistics, creative development and festival and acquisition outreach.