Home / Arts and Entertainment / New Sundance Winner 'Shame and Money' Qualifies for Oscars
New Sundance Winner 'Shame and Money' Qualifies for Oscars
20 May
Summary
- Visar Morina's 'Shame and Money' now eligible for Academy Awards.
- The film won a major prize at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
- It follows a Kosovar dairy farming family facing urban displacement.
Filmmaker Visar Morina has signed with Cinetic for representation following his success with "Shame and Money." This film secured a prize at the 2026 Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition, making it eligible for the 2027 Best International Feature Film Oscar. New Academy rules allow films to qualify by winning top awards at designated festivals.
"Shame and Money" tells the story of Shaban and Hatixhe, dairy farmers in rural Kosovo. After a disruptive event, they relocate to an urban setting, confronting harsh economic realities with the help of affluent relatives. The film garnered critical praise at Sundance and maintains a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Global sales are managed by The Yellow Affair.
Morina, originally from Kosovo, moved to Germany at 15 due to political unrest. His cinematic style blends social commentary with magical realism, often focusing on the immigrant experience. His previous film, "Babai," earned him the Best Director award at the 2015 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. His earlier feature, "Exile," starring Sandra Hüller, premiered at Sundance in 2020 and was Kosovo's submission for the 2021 Academy Awards.
