Canadian Filmmakers Achieve Multiple Wins at the 2026 Academy Awards

Montreal-based filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski have brought Canada into the spotlight at the 2026 Academy Awards by winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film with their stop-motion production ‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls.’ Produced in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, the win marks the 12th Oscar for an NFB project. The filmmakers highlighted the importance of creating the film in Montreal, citing the city’s tight-knit artistic community as essential to the project’s success. They praised local musicians, visual effects artists, and other collaborators, many of whom were within walking distance, for contributing to the authentic and compelling storytelling. The night also saw other Canadian victories: Toronto-born director Maggie Kang won Best Animated Feature for ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters,’ while Canadians contributed to Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein,’ winning Oscars for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Production Design. Experts attribute these successes to the depth of talent available in Canadian cities, particularly Toronto and Montreal, and the country’s supportive environment for filmmaking. This year’s wins mark the second time Canadians have collectively secured four Oscars in a single year, matching a previous high set in 2023.