London ties to Oscar-nominated animated short

A filmmaker with roots in London is among this year's Academy Award nominees. CTV’s Lauren Stallone reports.

‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’ has been nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

Directors Maciek Szczerbowski and Chris Lavis said they are both thrilled to represent Canada at the Oscars.

“It’s a combination of gratitude and enormous relief,” said Lavis.

Szczerbowski said the recognition is still sinking in.

“It’s starting to sink in slowly, but it is a true joy to get that validation for us all,” he said.

Szczerbowski is not only representing Canada but the city of London as well.

“I have fond, wonderful memories of London and wanted to send you guys a big kiss,” Szczerbowski said.

Set in Montreal, ‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’ follows a poor boy who falls in love with a girl whose sorrow transforms into pearls. The boy sells the pearls to a ruthless pawnbroker.

“This greed and love tension was the basis of the fable, and this love of Montreal was sort of the setting,” Lavis said. “We lived in this world for the five to six years it took to make it.”

The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026.