Montreal-based filmmakers lead Canadian Oscar wins with animated quick victory
A Montreal-based filmmaking duo is on the centre of Canada’s success at this yr’s Academy Awards, successful finest animated quick movie for The Woman Who Cried Pearls and serving to drive a complete of 4 Canadian victories on Hollywood’s greatest evening.
Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski earned their first Oscar for the 2025 stop-motion movie, produced with the Nationwide Movie Board of Canada. The win additionally marks the twelfth Academy Award for an NFB manufacturing.
Maciek Szczerbowski, left, and Chris Lavis settle for the award for animated quick movie for “The Woman Who Cried Pearls” through the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP – Invision, Chris Pizzello
Lavis mentioned the movie’s story is rooted within the metropolis the place it was created.
“For us, it is a fable set in Montreal. There’s a romantic high quality to it and for that sort of story, puppet animation is the best automobile,” he mentioned.
Szczerbowski mentioned making the movie in Montreal was key, crediting a close-knit creative group for its success.
“We’re very completely happy that we did that. Frankly, that’s the place the credit score is due,” he mentioned. “That’s the place we reside. We began households there, and we reside in a small little radius of simply an insane wealth of expertise.”
He mentioned the undertaking introduced collectively collaborators throughout disciplines, from musicians to visible results artists, many situated inside strolling distance.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get day by day Canada information delivered to your inbox so you may by no means miss the day’s prime tales.
“What we managed to tug out of our small little group is probably the most significant factor to us,” he mentioned, including such a manufacturing would have been tough to copy in a sprawling hub like Los Angeles.
Charlie Keil, a professor on the College of Toronto’s Cinema Research Institute, mentioned the second additionally highlighted Canadian illustration on stage, noting actor Will Arnett was among the many presenters.
The win was considered one of 4 for Canadians at this yr’s Oscars.
Toronto-born director Maggie Kang took dwelling finest animated characteristic for Ok-Pop Demon Hunters, a worldwide hit she has described as a “love letter” to Korean tradition.
Mark Jones of Sheridan School in Oakville, Ont., mentioned the movie related with audiences due to its authenticity.
“I feel a part of what hooked audiences in was the truth that this was a really authentically informed story from the attitude of Korean tradition,” he mentioned.
Canadians have been additionally a part of the award-winning crew behind Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Two Canadians contributed to the movie’s finest make-up and hairstyling win, reworking actor Jacob Elordi into the monster. Two others shared the Oscar for finest manufacturing design, acknowledged for elaborate units that included an enormous ship inbuilt a Toronto car parking zone.
Keil mentioned del Toro regularly chooses to work in Canada, pointing to the nation’s depth of expertise.
“Guillermo del Toro is a giant Canada stan. He chooses to make his movies in Canada every time attainable,” he mentioned.
Set designer Shane Vieau mentioned Canadian crews proceed to display their experience on a worldwide stage.
“There’s no higher artisans than in Toronto. I imply, we’re positively on the world market,” he mentioned.
The wins mark the second time Canadians have collected 4 Oscars in a single yr, matching a earlier excessive set in 2023.
