Kartuna has acquired North American distribution rights to Dogs of God, an animated feature written and directed by Latvian filmmakers Lauris Abele and Laitis Abele, following its screening at the Sitges Film Festival. The company plans to release the film in theaters in 2026.
“Dog of God” also represented Latvia in the international Oscar race and was shortlisted for the European Film Award in the Animated Feature category. Animation could prove fruitful for Latvia again during awards season. Earlier this year, “Flow” became Latvia’s first film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and was also nominated for International Animated Feature.
Dog of God is a rotoscope-animated period horror fantasy set in a 17th century Livonian village. The film depicts a village of missing artifacts, magic, and a self-proclaimed werewolf called “The Dog of God” who upends the villagers’ fragile order.
Ivo Briedis and Harijs Grundmanis are co-writers on “Dog of God,” which is produced by Kristele Pudane, Raitis Ābele and Giovanni Labadessa. The film, which premiered at Tribeca Festival and played at more than 30 festivals around the world, including Fantasia and Frightfest, has been praised for pushing the boundaries of adult animation, with Variety calling it “a cult favorite among Yorgos Lanthimos-like aficionados of dark fantasy, graphic novels, and genre-bending absurdist films.”
“‘Dogs of God’ is one of those movies that defies categorization. It’s part fable, part fever dream,” said James Belfer, founder and CEO of Kartuna. “This work is bold, unsettling, and darkly funny in the best sense of the word. Louris and Leitis have a very singular vision, and we’re thrilled to be championing it to an audience hungry for something truly new in animation.”
Director Rightis Abele was similarly excited about the partnership, declaring, “The distributors I spoke to were both impressed and horrified, and Kartuna was no exception.”
Founded by James and Adam Belfer, Cartuna champions unconventional voices in animation, producing and distributing projects that push the boundaries of format, tone, and technology. This year’s acquisitions include “Boys Go to Jupiter,” “Dead Lover” and “Tamara 2030: A Punk Cat in Dark.”
The deal was negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers by Media Move’s Justina Koronkiewicz and Kartuna’s James Belfer.
