The Girl Who Cried Pearls
| The Girl Who Cried Pearls | |
|---|---|
| French | La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles |
| Directed by | Chris Lavis Maciek Szczerbowski |
| Screenplay by | Chris Lavis Maciek Szczerbowski Isabelle Mandalian |
| Produced by | Marc Bertrand Christine Noël Julie Roy |
| Starring | Colm Feore James Hyndman Gabrielle Dallaire Simone Paradis |
| Music by | Patrick Watson |
| Animation by | Laura Stewart Laura Venditti Peggy Arel |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 17 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Languages | English 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 shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the category of Best Animated Short Film.[6][7]
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,[8] where it was the winner of the award for Best Canadian Short Film.[9]
Accolades
Since its release, the film has been selected in various festivals around the world:
| Year | Festivals | Award/Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Annecy International Animation Film Festival | Benshi Award[10] | Won |
| TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival | Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film[11] | Won | |
| Countryside Animafest Cyprus | Official Selection – Young Audience Competition[12] | Nominated | |
| Bucheon International Animation Festival | AniB's Choice Award[13] | Won | |
| Festival de films CINEMANIA | Official Selection – Compétition Courts métrages québécois[14] | Nominated | |
| Ottawa International Animation Festival | CFI Award for Best Canadian Animation[15] | Won |
See also
References
- ^ Lang, Jamie (2025-06-09). "Standout Canadian Titles in Annecy's Official 2025 Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (2025-06-10). "'The Girl Who Cried Pearls' Directors Discuss Crafting a Modern Fable in Miniature". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (2025-11-07). "'The Girl Who Cried Pearls' Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski". Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jennifer Wolfe, "‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’ Directors Discuss Crafting a Modern Fable in Miniature". Animation World Magazine, June 9, 2025.
- ^ "98th Oscars Shortlists in 12 Award Categories Announced". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ Hilary Lewis, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 16, 2025). "2026 Oscars Shortlists Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (2025-08-07). "The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Short Cuts Lineup". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
- ^ Pete Hammond, "‘Hamnet’ Wins Oscar-Predictive Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award". Deadline Hollywood, September 14, 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Two NFB films honoured at TIFF". WebWire. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Team, Z. F. (2025-07-21). "Countryside Animafest Cyprus 2025: Selection Results". Zippy Frames. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Team, Z. F. (2025-10-28). "BIAF 2025 Winners: "Little Amelie', 'God Is Shy'". Zippy Frames. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ "The Girl Who Cried Pearls | CINEMANIA". festivalcinemania.com. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (2025-09-29). "OIAF Winners: 'Death Does Not Exist,' 'The Puppet And The Whale'". Retrieved 2025-11-21.