Kosovan Drama 'Shame and Money' Set for 2027 US Release

Moviegoers in the United States will soon have access to a Kosovo-set drama that won top honors at Sundance. Oscilloscope Laboratories announced on October 28 that it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the film, Shame and Money. The distributor is targeting a theatrical opening in early 2027.

The film, directed by Visar Morina, follows a couple in their forties who live on a farm in rural Kosovo. A family dispute forces the couple to give up their livelihood. They move to the capital, Pristina, where they struggle to find work and housing while supporting their extended family. Morina co-wrote the script with Doruntina Basha. The cast includes Astrit Kabashi, Flonja Kodheli, Kumrije Hoxa, Fiona Gllavica, and Alban Ukaj.

The movie earned the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. This specific award qualifies the film to compete for the Academy Award for international feature film under current rules. Since its festival debut, the film has won the Cinemasters Jury Prize at FilmFest Munich. It also took best film and best actor awards at Prifest in Kosovo. At the ODA Film Festival, the film won four awards for best movie, actress, actor, and script.

Dan Berger, president of Oscilloscope, called the film a subtle and searingly real portrait of a family. He said the company feels a deep connection to the characters and their struggles. Berger described the movie as an indictment of an economic system constructed to keep too many people down. Morina said he hoped the film would contribute to greater class consciousness, noting that many people worldwide are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

The production team includes producers Fabian Altenried, Sophie Ahrens, and Kristof Gerega from Schuldenberg Films. They are joined by Pia Hellenthal and Morina. Schuldenberg Films has previously worked on titles such as Objet a, Strange River, and Life Is Not a Competition but I’m Winning. Hellenthal is also known for her work on Searching Eva.

International sales are handled by The Yellow Affair. Rights have been acquired for France, Indonesia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. The acquiring companies include Arizona Distribution, Falcon, Mirror Audiovisual, Trigon, and Filmarti. More deals are expected soon. In Germany, the film received a theatrical release in September through Eksystent Filmverleih.

Shame and Money is the third feature-length film for Morina. His previous works include Exile and Babai. He is currently represented by Cinetic Media.