Montreal filmmaker Chris Lavis described the experience as "quite extraordinary" the morning after he and creative partner Maciek Szczerbowski won the Oscar for best animated short film for The Girl Who Cried Pearls on Sunday evening in Los Angeles. The victory came as a surprise to Lavis, who had convinced himself it wouldn't happen due to unfavorable betting odds.
A Surreal Moment on the Hollywood Stage
"As our name and movie got called out, some part of your lizard brain takes over and you find yourself on stage talking and shaking hands with Channing Tatum, and he's handing you an Oscar — which is much heavier than you think," Lavis recounted. The 17-minute National Film Board of Canada production, created over five years using handmade puppets and stop-motion animation, tells the story of a penniless boy in early 20th-century Montreal's St-Henri neighborhood who encounters a girl who weeps pearls of sorrow at night.
Montreal's Artistic Community Takes Center Stage
Szczerbowski gave a shout-out to "the fantastic city of Montreal" from the Oscar stage, an acknowledgment Lavis emphasized was far from gratuitous. "The city of Montreal and the artistic community we're a part of mean everything to us," Lavis said, specifically mentioning French actors Stéphane Demers and James Hyndman, as well as musicians Patrick Watson, Richard Reed Parry, and Sophie Trudeau who contributed to the film.
Lavis stressed that Canadians don't need to leave Quebec to create world-class art. "You can stay in Quebec and make world-class art, and use the people in your neighborhood," he asserted, celebrating the local talent that made their Oscar-winning project possible.
National Film Board's Impressive Legacy
The win marked the National Film Board of Canada's 12th Oscar victory (13th if counting a special achievement award in 1989). With 79 nominations total, Lavis noted that being part of this legacy helped him avoid feeling overwhelmed by the Hollywood spotlight. "You don't feel small," he said of representing the NFB on such a prestigious platform.
Celebrity Encounters and Calming Techniques
Patrick Watson, who composed the film's soundtrack and attended the ceremony, shared a breathing technique with Lavis to manage pre-award anxiety. "He told me he takes three long breaths through his nose, that it changes your body chemistry and takes the panic out," Lavis explained. "So I tried it as they were calling our names and it worked."
After the ceremony, the film team celebrated at the Vanity Fair party, which Lavis confirmed lives up to its reputation. "Your head's on a swivel," he said of the star-studded event where he conversed with Michael B. Jordan about animation appreciation and met longtime acting idol Stellan Skarsgård.
From Previous Nomination to Victory
This wasn't the filmmakers' first Oscar experience — their 2008 film Madame Tutli-Putli had been nominated but didn't win. That previous attendance prepared them mentally for either outcome. "I have to say, it's wonderful to be nominated, but it does feel better to win," Lavis admitted. "I'd be lying if I said anything else. It feels great, carrying around that hardware all night."
The Girl Who Cried Pearls is available for free viewing on the National Film Board's website and YouTube channel, allowing audiences worldwide to experience the Oscar-winning animation that celebrates Montreal's creative spirit.
