The Girl Who Cried Pearls

The Girl Who Cried Pearls
FrenchLa jeune fille qui pleurait des perles
Directed byChris Lavis
Maciek Szczerbowski
Screenplay byChris Lavis
Maciek Szczerbowski
Isabelle Mandalian
Produced byMarc Bertrand
Christine Noël
Julie Roy
StarringColm Feore
James Hyndman
Gabrielle Dallaire
Simone Paradis
Music byPatrick Watson
Animation byLaura Stewart
Laura Venditti
Peggy Arel
Production
company
Release date
  • June 8, 2025 (2025-06-08) (Annecy)
Running time
17 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguagesEnglish
French

The Girl Who Cried Pearls (French: La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles) is a 2025 Canadian animated short film,[1] directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski and released in 2025.[2] Made through stop-motion animation,[3] the film centers on a young boy who meets and falls in love with a girl who secretly weeps pearls at night.[4]

The initial inspiration for the film came during the production of the duo's 2007 short film Madame Tutli-Putli, when a prop necklace unexpectedly fell apart, scattering pearls across the set, as they were filming the climactic scene.[5]

The Girl Who Cried Pearls was nominated[6] at the 98th Academy Awards in the category of Best Animated Short Film.[7][8]

Plot

Set in early 20th-century Montreal, the story follows a poor young man who falls in love with a girl whose tears turn into pearls. He trades the pearls to a merciless pawnbroker, who grows obsessed with their value. As the young man becomes entangled in the pursuit of money, he is forced to choose between his love for the girl and the promise of wealth.

Distribution

The film premiered at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.[4] It has been released in an English version narrated by Colm Feore, and a French version narrated by James Hyndman.[4]

The film was subsequently screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival,[9] where it was the winner of the award for Best Canadian Short Film.[10]

Reception

The film was named to the Toronto International Film Festival's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2025.[11]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Academy Awards March 15, 2026 Best Animated Short Film Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski Pending [12]
Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 Benshi Award Won [13]
Annie Awards 2026 Best Animated Short Subject Pending [14]
Bucheon International Animation Festival 2025 AniB's Choice Award Won [15]
Cinemania 2025 Compétition Courts métrages québécois Nominated
Countryside Animafest Cyprus 2025 Young Audience Competition Nominated [16]
Ottawa International Animation Festival 2025 CFI Award for Best Canadian Animation Won [17]
Toronto International Film Festival 2025 Best Canadian Short Film Won [18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lang, Jamie (2025-06-09). "Standout Canadian Titles in Annecy's Official 2025 Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  2. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (2025-06-10). "'The Girl Who Cried Pearls' Directors Discuss Crafting a Modern Fable in Miniature". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  3. ^ Lang, Jamie (2025-11-07). "'The Girl Who Cried Pearls' Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski". Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  4. ^ a b c Chris Robinson, "The Offbeat Production Methods Of The NFB’s Stop-Motion Film ‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’". Cartoon Brew, June 19, 2025.
  5. ^ Jennifer Wolfe, "‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’ Directors Discuss Crafting a Modern Fable in Miniature". Animation World Magazine, June 9, 2025.
  6. ^ "The 98th Academy Awards | 2026". www.oscars.org. 2026-01-22. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  7. ^ "98th Oscars Shortlists in 12 Award Categories Announced". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Hilary Lewis, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 16, 2025). "2026 Oscars Shortlists Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Neglia, Matt (2025-08-07). "The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Short Cuts Lineup". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
  10. ^ Pete Hammond, "‘Hamnet’ Wins Oscar-Predictive Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award". Deadline Hollywood, September 14, 2025.
  11. ^ Jamie Casemore, "TIFF unveils 2025 selections for Canada’s Top Ten features, shorts". Playback, January 6, 2026.
  12. ^ "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  13. ^ "In Official Short Film Competition at CINEMANIA. Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski's animated short The Girl Who Cried Pearls (NFB) screening in Montreal for the first time". Media Space. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  14. ^ Jamie Casemore, "NFB’s The Girl Who Cried Pearls secures Annie Award nomination". Playback, January 7, 2026.
  15. ^ Team, Z. F. (2025-10-28). "BIAF 2025 Winners: "Little Amelie', 'God Is Shy'". Zippy Frames. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  16. ^ Team, Z. F. (2025-07-21). "Countryside Animafest Cyprus 2025: Selection Results". Zippy Frames. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  17. ^ Lang, Jamie (2025-09-29). "OIAF Winners: 'Death Does Not Exist,' 'The Puppet And The Whale'". Retrieved 2025-11-21.
  18. ^ Erbland, Kate (14 September 2025). "The Toronto International Film Festival 2025 Awards Are Being Announced Now (Updating)". IndieWire.
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