Photo: Janis Mazuch
The film "Shame and Money", directed by Visar Morina, has achieved extraordinary success in the international arena, winning the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic (best international dramatic film) at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
This prestigious award represents an important moment for cinematography in Kosovo. “Shame and Money” was announced as the winner in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition category, being singled out by the jury for its strong emotional narrative and profound social approach.
The film, written by Visar Morina and Doruntina Basha, tells the story of a farming family from Kosovo who face a painful move to the city and harsh economic realities, addressing themes such as poverty, dignity, shame and dependence on the help of relatives. The intimate and realistic narrative has received international critical acclaim.
The main roles are played by Astrit Kabashi and Flonja Kodheli, who have been praised for their powerful performances. Other actors in the film include Kumrije Hoxha, Abdinaser Beka, Fiona Gllavica, Alban Ukaj, Tristan Halilaj, etc.
The Hollywood Reporter has described the film as "a slow-paced, carefully constructed and beautifully acted drama," emphasizing Visar Morina's directorial strength and the emotional impact of the story.
The Sundance win reinforces "Shame and Money"'s position as one of the most important Balkan films of recent years and paves the way for new presentations at international festivals, as well as wider global distribution.
The Sundance Film Festival is considered the largest and most prestigious independent film festival in the world. It presents auteur films, not commercial Hollywood productions. In the past, Sundance has also discovered great directors and actors, and winning an award at Sundance is considered a very high artistic achievement.
