Canada’s Oscar Entry, Berlin Prizewinner ‘Nina Roza’ Acquired in U.S. by Dekanalog (EXCLUSIVE)

New York-based indie distributor Dekanalog has acquired the U.S. rights to “Nina Roza,” Canada’s Academy Awards submission. Geneviève Dulude-De Celles’ film won the Silver Bear for best screenplay at the Berlin Film Festival this year.

It was screened as a work-in-progress in the First Look program at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in 2025, winning the Urban Post First Look Award and the Jannuzzi Smith Award.

In the film, a viral video of an 8-year-old Bulgarian artist catches the eye of a major art collector. Mihail is sent there, 30 years after leaving his home country, to assess the value of the girl’s work and confront the ghosts of his past.

Dekanalog will release “Nina Roza” theatrically in early 2027, followed by VOD and Blu-ray debuts. The company has also acquired the U.S. rights to Dulude-De Celles’ 2018 feature, “A Colony,” and plans to also release next year.

“ ‘Nina Roza’ brilliantly explores the subtle, but profound ways immigration affects a person’s identity — something all too rarely depicted on screen,” says Sam Wunderl, partner at Dekanalog. “We are incredibly proud to be bringing Dulude-De Celles’s work to a U.S. audience.”

Dulude-De Celles said, “I am thrilled that ‘Nina Roza’ has the opportunity to be presented in the United States. By following the journey of a Canadian of Bulgarian origin who returns to his home country, the film invites us to look with empathy at those who choose to settle far from their homeland. I hope the film will spark discussions about identity, heritage, and the long-term cost of immigration. Our team feels in good hands with Dekanalog and is excited about the next steps in our collaboration.”