LOS ANGELES — In an unusual turn at the 98th Academy Awards, two films shared the Best Live-Action Short Film honor Sunday, marking only the seventh tie in the Academy’s 98-year history.
“The Singers,” directed by Sam A. Davis and produced by Jack Piatt, tied with Two People Exchanging Saliva, created by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata.
A Historic Moment
Presenter Kumail Nanjiani confirmed the tie on stage, saying, “It’s a tie. I’m not joking. It’s actually a tie. So everyone, calm down, we’re going to get through this!” He added humor, noting that the short-film segment would take “twice as long” because of the double awards.
For Piatt, this marked his first Oscar win and nomination, while it was Davis’s first win and second nomination. Singh and Musteata were celebrating both their first nomination and first Academy Award victory.
Acceptance Speeches Highlight Art and Collaboration
Musteata expressed joy in sharing the award with “The Singers,” saying, “We love all of our fellow nominees.” Singh emphasized the transformative power of art:
“Maybe it takes 10 years’ time, but we can change society through art, through creativity, through theater and ballet and also cinema.”
The remark drew laughter from the audience, nodding to recent comments by Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet about ballet and opera.
A Rare Occurrence
Ties in Oscar history are uncommon. The first occurred in 1932 with Fredric March and Wallace Beery for Best Actor. Notable ties include Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand sharing Best Actress in 1968, and the sound-editing tie between Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty in 2012.
After the speeches, host Conan O’Brien quipped, “I just want to say congratulations to both winners. You just ruined 22 million Oscar pools.”
The winners celebrated on stage with their teams, capturing a memorable moment in Academy history.
