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The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
2025 | 17 min
In Montreal, at the dawn of the 20th century, a poor boy falls in love with a girl whose sorrow turns into pearls. He sells them to a ruthless pawnbroker, who hungers for more. Tempted by greed, the boy must choose between love and fortune. The choice could damn his soul.From the Oscar-nominated team of Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli), this meticulously crafted film is a testament to the magic of stop-motion animation. With handmade puppets, mesmerizing narration by Colm Feore and a haunting score by Patrick Watson, The Girl Who Cried Pearls is a timeless parable of desire, deception and the price of innocence.

Awards and distinctions

  • Golden Bat for Best Short Film
    Fantafestival: Mostra Internazionale del cinema di fantascienza e del fantastico, Rome
    2025
  • AniB's Choice Award
    International Animation Festival, Bucheon
    2025
  • Special Mentions Award
    International Animation Festival, Taichung
    2025
  • CFI Award for Best Canadian Animation
    International Animation Festival, Ottawa
    2025
  • Audience Grand Prix Stop Motion Animation (ex aequo with Ferdinand Ehrhardt's DETLEV)
    StopTrik International Film Festival, Maribor
    2025
  • Mention du Jury meilleur court métrage québécois
    Festival de cinéma de la ville de Québec, Québec
    2025
  • Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film
    International Film Festival, Toronto
    2025
  • Benshi Prize
    International Animated Film Festival, Annecy
    2025