Cartuna Acquires North American rights to latvian Animated Horror “DOG OF GOD”
By Michael Gingold
Cartuna has secured North American distribution rights to DOG OF GOD, the rotoscope-animated folk-horror feature representing Latvia in the 2026 Academy Awards’ Best Animated Feature category. The announcement follows acclaimed festival screenings at Tribeca, fantasia, FrightFest, and others. Latvia won the Best animated Feature Oscar this year for FLOW.
Directed by Lauris Ābele and Raitis Ābele, and co-written by Ivo Briedis and Harijs Grundmanis, DOG OF GOD is a 17th-century period piece set in livonia. the film centers on a village thrown into turmoil by a missing relic, accusations of witchcraft, and a figure known as the “Dog of God,” who claims to be a werewolf.
“DOG OF GOD is one of those films that defies categorization-it’s part parable, part fever dream,” says Cartuna founder and CEO James Belfer. ”It’s bold, unsettling, and darkly funny in all the best ways. Lauris and Raitis have such a singular vision and we’re thrilled to champion it to audiences who crave something truly new in animation.”
Director Raitis Ābele noted, “The distributors I talked to were impressed and afraid. Cartuna was no exception.”
DOG OF GOD has also been shortlisted for Best Animated Feature by the European Film Awards and is slated for theatrical release next year.
