A Montreal-based filmmaking duo is at the centre of Canada's success at this year's Academy Awards, winning best animated short film for The Girl Who Cried Pearls and helping drive a total of four Canadian victories on Hollywood's biggest night. Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski earned their first Oscar for the 2025 stop-motion film, produced with the National Film Board of Canada. The win also marks the 12th Academy Award for an NFB production.