Oscilloscope Secures North American Rights for Sundance Winner 'Shame and Money'

Oscilloscope Laboratories has secured the North American distribution rights to the feature film 'Shame and Money.' The movie is directed by Visar Morina and previously 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 the current rules established by the Academy.

The distributor is currently planning a theatrical release for the film in early 2027. The narrative follows a couple in their forties who reside in rural Kosovo with their extended family. They sustain a modest living through their farm, but a dispute within the family results in the loss of their livelihood. Consequently, the family is compelled to relocate to the capital, Pristina. In the urban setting, the parents face significant pressure to provide for their household while struggling to secure employment and suitable housing.

Visar Morina co-wrote the screenplay with Doruntina Basha. The cast includes Astrit Kabashi, Flonja Kodheli, Kumrije Hoxa, Fiona Gllavica, and Alban Ukaj. Morina shared his motivation for the story, noting that many people worldwide are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. He expressed a belief in the need for greater class consciousness and hoped the film would contribute to that broader understanding.

Dan Berger, the president of Oscilloscope, praised the director's work. He described the film as a subtle and searingly real portrait of a family. Berger stated that the company feels a deep connection to the characters and their struggles. He characterized the movie as an indictment of an economic system that is constructed to keep too many people down.

The production team includes producers Fabian Altenried, Sophie Ahrens, and Kristof Gerega from Schuldenberg Films. They are joined by Pia Hellenthal and Morina himself. 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 for the film are being handled by The Yellow Affair. Rights have already been acquired for France, Indonesia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. The acquiring companies include Arizona Distribution, Falcon, Mirror Audiovisual, Trigon, and Filmarti, respectively. Additional deals are expected to be finalized soon. In Germany, the film received a theatrical release in September through Eksystent Filmverleih.

Since its debut at Sundance, 'Shame and Money' has accumulated numerous accolades. These include the Cinemasters Jury Prize at FilmFest Munich. The film also took home best film and best actor awards at Prifest in Kosovo. At the ODA Film Festival, the movie secured four distinct awards for best movie, actress, actor, and script.

This marks the third feature-length film for director Visar Morina. His previous works include 'Exile' and 'Babai.' He is currently represented by Cinetic Media.