“We can change society through art, through creativity – through theatre and ballet – and also cinema,” said Alexandre Singh, co-director of Two People Exchanging Saliva, as the film made headlines at the 2026 Academy Awards.
In a surprising turn of events, Two People Exchanging Saliva won the Academy Award for best live action short film, sharing the honor in a rare tie with The Singers. The announcement was made by Kumail Nanjiani during the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
This year marked only the sixth time in Oscar history that a tie occurred, a situation that left approximately 22 million Oscar pools in disarray. The tie was decided by just three votes, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s nominees.
The Singers, directed by Sam A. Davis, was acquired by Netflix, while Two People Exchanging Saliva, directed by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, was distributed by The New Yorker. The film premiered at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival and is set in a dystopian society where kissing is punishable by death.
Charli XCX, who reviewed Two People Exchanging Saliva on Letterboxd, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I really enjoyed this.” The film’s team responded with excitement, saying, “We LOVE her taste in film, so it was truly surreal to see her review of our film pop up on Letterboxd!!!”
The Oscars 2026 ceremony was hosted by Conan O’Brien, adding to the event’s star-studded atmosphere. The recognition of Two People Exchanging Saliva as a significant work of art reflects the evolving landscape of cinema and its impact on societal issues.
As the dust settles from this year’s ceremony, the film community looks forward to the discussions and developments that will arise from this landmark event. Details remain unconfirmed regarding future projects from the directors and cast involved in Two People Exchanging Saliva.