Oscilloscope Acquires “Shame and Money” for North America

By Tom Whitfield

Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired North American rights to Visar Morina’s “Shame and Money” and plans a theatrical release in early 2027. The Sundance Film Festival awarded the film the Grand Jury Prize in its World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

According to Oscilloscope Laboratories, that Sundance win qualifies the film to compete for the Oscar for international feature film under new Academy rules. The announcement cites no specific Academy provision, precise release date, acquisition terms or North American distribution plan. Its early-2027 window therefore signals intent, not a guaranteed schedule.

What does the North American acquisition change?

For audiences, the deal moves “Shame and Money” from international festival circulation toward a North American theatrical release. It does not yet tell them where or when they can buy tickets. The practical gain is possible access, not access on a confirmed date.

Oscilloscope Laboratories lists Astrit Kabashi, Flonja Kodheli, Kumrije Hoxa, Fiona Gllavica and Alban Ukaj in the cast. Morina co-wrote the film with Doruntina Basha.

The company’s synopsis follows a couple in their 40s who live with their extended family in rural Kosovo and make a modest living on a farm. A familial dispute costs them that livelihood. They move to Pristina, where pressure to provide for the family weighs on the parents as they seek work and a place to stay.

The economic pressure defines the story, but the announcement supplies no production budget, audience research or comparable data with which to judge its likely reach.

Morina said: “In times when the majority of people worldwide are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, I believe we need a kind of class consciousness, and I hope our film makes a small contribution toward that.”

Morina frames the film as a small contribution to class consciousness rather than a comprehensive economic argument. His claim concerns artistic intent, and the announcement offers no evidence by which to test its social effect.

Oscilloscope president Dan Berger said: “Visar’s has drawn a portrait of a family that is subtle, searingly real and ultimately humane. We feel as one with the characters and their struggles, fully signed on for this indictment of an economic system constructed to keep too many people down.”

Berger’s language goes further, calling the film an indictment of an economic system that keeps too many people down. That is the distributor’s position, not a measured finding about the film’s effect; the announcement includes no critical-reception or audience-response figures.

Oscilloscope Laboratories lists further awards: the Cinemasters Jury Prize at FilmFest Munich, best film and best actor at Prifest Kosovo, and four awards at ODA Film Festival covering best movie, actress, actor and script. The list establishes recognition across several festivals, but gives no jury citations or audience figures.

The company identifies producers Fabian Altenried, Sophie Ahrens and Kristof Gerega from Schuldenberg Films (“Objet a,” “Strange River,” “Life Is Not a Competition but I’m Winning”), together with Pia Hellenthal (“Searching Eva”) and Morina. It gives no production budget or sales figures for the film.

The international sales agency is The Yellow Affair. Oscilloscope Laboratories says rights have been acquired for France through Arizona Distribution, Indonesia through Falcon, Spain through Mirror Audiovisual, Switzerland through Trigon and Turkey through Filmarti. It expects further deals to close soon, though it names no prospective partners.

Eksystent Filmverleih released the film theatrically in Germany in September, according to Oscilloscope Laboratories; the announcement does not state the year.

“Shame and Money” is Morina’s third feature after “Exile” and “Babai,” according to the company. Cinetic Media represents him.

Any real change for viewers will depend on what follows the rights deal. If Oscilloscope sets firm dates and a clear North American release plan, it will turn Morina’s film from festival recognition and rights deals into an actual North American theatrical release. Until then, early 2027 remains the limit of what the company has promised.