What Shame and Money Is About
When rural livelihoods collapse, families fracture. That's the brutal premise at the heart of Shame and Money, a drama set in Kosovo that tracks the aftermath of economic catastrophe on the personal scale. The film follows Shaban and his wife Hatixhe, milk farmers in the village of Çikatova e Vjetër, who lose their farm and are forced to relocate with their extended family to Pristina, the capital. What unfolds isn't a simple rags-to-riches story—it's a portrait of how money, or the lack of it, corrodes family bonds and tests whether pride can survive necessity.
What We Know So Far
Directed by Visar Morina and co-written with Doruntina Basha, Shame and Money is a multinational effort, produced by a consortium spanning Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, and Belgium. The ensemble cast includes Astrit Kabashi as Shaban, Flonja Kodheli as Hatixhe, and Tristan Halilaj (known for his work in Balkan cinema) as Liridon, alongside Kumrije Hoxha, Fiona Gllavica, and others in a tightly woven family drama. Shot in Albanian and running 129 minutes, the film had its world premiere on January 25, 2026, at the Sundance Film Festival—where it immediately won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Why It's Anticipated
Sundance doesn't hand out its Grand Jury Prize lightly. The festival's recognition signals something vital: here's a film that doesn't look away from human suffering, that refuses easy answers. What's striking is how the premise itself—displacement, class anxiety, the shame of falling—feels urgently relevant, even if the setting is Kosovo. These aren't abstract themes; they're lived experience for millions. Morina's previous work suggests he won't sentimentalize his characters or their circumstances (though I can't speak to execution yet, obviously). The international production team and multilingual cast hint at a filmmaker interested in specificity, not stereotype—in the particular texture of one family's collapse rather than a broad statement about poverty.
Release and Where to Watch
Shame and Money is expected to arrive in German theaters on November 12, 2026. It has not yet been released, and streaming availability has not been publicly confirmed. Movie OTT will track platform announcements as rights are finalized—check back here as the release date approaches. Use the Where-to-Watch widget above to get notified the moment it becomes available on your preferred service.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Shame and Money releasing?
Shame and Money is scheduled for theatrical release in Germany on November 12, 2026. International release dates haven't been widely announced yet.
Is Shame and Money out yet?
No. The film had its world premiere at Sundance in January 2026, but it hasn't reached general audiences. It's not yet available on any streaming platform or in most theaters.
Where will I be able to watch Shame and Money?
Streaming and OTT availability hasn't been confirmed. Movie OTT will update this page as soon as distribution deals are announced—sign up for alerts so you don't miss it.
What is Shame and Money about?
The film follows a Kosovar farming family—Shaban, Hatixhe, and their relatives—who lose their livelihood and are forced to move to Pristina, where economic hardship and class divisions test their relationships.
Who is directing Shame and Money?
Visar Morina directed and co-wrote the film with Doruntina Basha. It's a co-production involving studios from six countries.
What to Look Forward To
A Sundance Grand Jury Prize is no small thing—it's a signal that critics and programmers saw something worth championing. Shame and Money arrives later this year carrying that weight, and the question isn't whether it's good (that's already been answered). The real question is whether audiences will sit with it, whether they'll let a film about rural collapse and urban desperation take up residence in their heads the way it clearly did at Park City. That's the work ahead. Keep an eye on Movie OTT for platform updates.
