Arabic version: شهادة الأوسكار على تعادل نادر لجائزة أفضل فيلم قصير

According to BBC News,

An unusual moment unfolded at the Oscars on Sunday night when two films tied for the best short live action film award. The films, “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” shared the honor, marking only the seventh tie in the Academy’s nearly 100-year history. The last tie occurred in 2013 for best sound editing.

The tie was announced by comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani, who humorously acknowledged the unusual situation, stating, “It’s a tie, I’m not joking, it’s actually a tie.” The audience reacted with surprise and laughter as Nanjiani assured them that the ceremony would continue smoothly despite the unexpected twist.

“The Singers,” an 18-minute musical comedy, was the first film announced as a winner. Director Sam A. Davis described the film as a celebration of music and art’s ability to unite people in an increasingly isolated world. He was joined on stage by producer Jack Piatt during their acceptance speech.

Following this, the co-directors of “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, took to the stage. Singh continued his acceptance speech even after the microphone was cut off, making a playful reference to recent comments from actor Timothée Chalamet, which elicited both laughter and jeers from the audience.

This rare occurrence of a tie adds to the Academy’s storied history of shared awards, which includes notable moments like the 1969 tie between Hollywood legends Katherine Hepburn and Barbara Streisand for best actress. The first tie recorded at the Oscars was in 1932 for best actor, although that tie was based on different voting rules from today.