LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — The 98th Academy Awards delivered a rare tie, emotional wins, and global stories that highlighted the power of cinema. The ceremony, held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, celebrated artistic excellence across categories.
In a surprising moment, “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” co-directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, shared the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film with “Singers,” directed by Sam A. Davis. The tie marked one of only a handful of such outcomes in Oscar history. Both films received equal votes from Academy members.
Singh and Musteata expressed gratitude during their backstage interview. Singh said they never expected to win and emphasized their love for cinema as a tool for empathy. The film marks their first collaboration as filmmakers.
“Two People Exchanging Saliva” stands out for its striking black-and-white visuals and dystopian narrative. The 36-minute film explores themes of repression, intimacy, and state control.
Set in a surreal world, the story follows a forbidden romance between a married woman and a shop assistant. In this society, even a kiss — described clinically as “exchanging saliva” — is punishable by death. The film uses stark imagery and sharp compositions to highlight emotional isolation and societal pressure. Musteata explained their artistic choice. She said black and white reveal truth in a raw form. Singh added that color can distract, while monochrome creates clarity and purity.
“Singers” offers a contrasting tone. Inspired by a 19th-century story by Ivan Turgenev, the film follows struggling bar patrons who bond through an impromptu singing contest.
Acclaimed filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir received two nominations but did not win. Her works, “The Devil is Busy” and “The Perfect Neighbor,” earned recognition in the documentary short and Documentary Feature categories.
“All the Empty Rooms” won Best Documentary Short. The film captures the untouched bedrooms of children killed in U.S. school shootings. “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” won Best Documentary Feature. It follows a teacher near the Ural Mountains documenting both his students and the growing control of public narratives during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Javier Bardem presented the Best International Film award. The honor went to “Sentimental Value,” directed by Joachim Trier. The Norwegian film explores a strained father-daughter relationship set against the backdrop of filmmaking. Trier used his acceptance speech to call for kindness, tolerance, and unity in a divided world.
Unlike recent ceremonies, political speeches remained minimal. Still, filmmakers used their moments to reflect on global tensions and the role of art. Singh described the world as dark and absurd but stressed that art can change people. His message echoed the broader tone of the evening.
Kumail Nanjiani presented the short film award and added humor to the moment. He joked about the category taking longer due to the tie. Host Conan O’Brien led the ceremony with his signature wit. Performer Rohan Ramanan also appeared during the opening monologue. Veteran producer Raj Kapoor returned as executive producer and showrunner. He brought years of experience to the production, having earned multiple Emmy nominations.
The night’s biggest winners included “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” The films took home six and five awards, respectively, cementing their dominance at the 2026 Oscars.
