A filmmaker from Michigan participated in an historic Oscar moment at the 2026 Oscar ceremony.
Sam A. Davis, who directed the live-action short “The Singers,” spoke onstage while accepting the live-action short Oscar for “The Singers.”
As presenter Kumail Nanjiani announced with surprise, “The Singers” tied with another nominee, “Two People Exchanging Saliva.”
Davis, who accepted with producers Jack Piatt and David Breschel and singer Mike Yung (who appears in the movie), mentioned his hometown southwest of Lansing during his remarks. “First, I want to thank my parents, who convinced a kid from Potterville, Michigan, that this was a viable career avenue. Thank you, Mom and Dad.”
The filmmaker seemed as shocked with the tie as the rest of the audience, saying, “Wow. I didn’t know that was a thing, a tie. But I’m happy to be up here.”
What is ‘The Singers’ about?
According to Netflix, “The Singers” involves an impromptu singing contest at bar that becomes a chance for the down-on-their-luck participants to connect and shine.
Who is Sam A. Davis?
Davis was the cinematographer and producer of the documentary short subject nominee “Nai Nai and Wai Po.” He also helped co-produce, film and edit the 2019 winner in the same category, “Period. End of Sentence.”
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan native shares 2026 Oscar win in rare tie for live action short
Reporting by Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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