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Yes, You Can ‘Tie’ at the Oscars — Two Films Just Did
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Yes, You Can ‘Tie’ at the Oscars — Two Films Just Did

#Oscars #Academy Awards #Tie #Live Action Short #Film Competition #Award Ceremony #Voting System #Cinema History

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Two films tied for Best Live Action Short at the 98th Academy Awards
  • This is only the seventh tie in Oscar history
  • The Academy allows exact ties without tiebreaking procedures
  • Previous notable ties include Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn in 1969

📖 Full Retelling

At the 98th Academy Awards ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15, 2026, two films - Sam A. Davis' 'The Singers' and Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh's 'Two People Exchanging Saliva' - were jointly awarded the Best Live Action Short prize, marking just the seventh tie in the history of the Academy Awards after receiving identical vote counts in the final round of judging. The winners expressed surprise and delight at the unprecedented outcome, with 'The Singers' producer Jack Piatt remarking backstage, 'That was incredible. We've got to know all the other filmmakers in our category, so that was really special,' while director Davis noted he would have been happy to lose to the other winning film. Musteata and Singh, who admitted they had discussed the theoretical possibility of a tie as 'Oscars geeks,' were equally thrilled, confirming they were happy to share the award. While the moment surprised many viewers, ties are a fully legitimate outcome at the Oscars according to the Academy's rules, which state that if two nominees receive exactly the same number of ballots in the final round of voting, both are declared winners and receive their own statuettes without any tiebreaking procedure or runoff vote. The statistical odds of an exact tie are extremely small given that Oscar winners are determined by thousands of votes, making this rare occurrence all the more noteworthy in cinema history.

🏷️ Themes

Academy Awards, Film Industry, Award History

📚 Related People & Topics

Tie

Topics referred to by the same term

Tie has two principal meanings:

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Academy Awards

Annual awards for cinematic achievements

The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements, as assessed by the Academy's voti...

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Mentioned Entities

Tie

Topics referred to by the same term

Academy Awards

Annual awards for cinematic achievements

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This tie at the Oscars is significant as it marks only the seventh occurrence in the Academy Awards' nearly century-long history, making it a rare and noteworthy moment in cinema history. It affects the filmmakers involved who now share the prestigious award, potentially enhancing both their careers and the visibility of their short films. The event also highlights the integrity of the Academy's voting system and demonstrates that democratic outcomes can sometimes produce unexpected but legitimate results.

Context & Background

  • The Academy Awards began in 1929 and have had only seven ties in their entire history
  • The first Oscar tie occurred in 1932 when Wallace Beery and Fredric March tied for Best Actor
  • In 1969, Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand tied for Best Actress, a unique occurrence in that category
  • The most recent tie before this event was in 2013 when 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'Amour' tied for Best Original Score
  • The rules for Oscar voting allow for ties when nominees receive exactly the same number of ballots in the final round
  • The voting process involves thousands of Academy members, making exact ties statistically rare
  • The Best Live Action Short category has had ties before, but this is only the seventh in Oscar history

What Happens Next

Both winning films will likely receive increased attention and distribution opportunities following their shared victory. The filmmakers may be invited to speak at film festivals and industry events to discuss their work and the unique experience of sharing an Oscar. Additionally, this rare occurrence might prompt discussions about the voting system, though the Academy has historically maintained the current rules that allow for ties without modification.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do ties occur at the Oscars?

Ties are extremely rare, with only seven occurring in the entire history of the Academy Awards spanning nearly a century. The statistical odds are particularly low given that winners are determined by thousands of votes from Academy members.

What happens when there's a tie at the Oscars?

When two nominees receive exactly the same number of ballots in the final round of voting, both are declared winners and receive their own statuettes without any tiebreaking procedure or runoff vote, as per the Academy's rules.

Which categories have had Oscar ties?

Oscar ties have occurred across various categories including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Score, and now Best Live Action Short. The most recent tie before this event was in the Best Original Score category in 2013.

Do both films get equal recognition for winning?

Yes, both films are recognized as official Oscar winners and receive equal prestige. Each winning film gets its own Oscar statuette, and both films' names are engraved on the official Oscar records.

How does the Academy ensure voting integrity when ties occur?

The Academy uses a preferential voting system that ensures all votes are counted fairly. When a tie occurs, it's because the final vote count between the two nominees was exactly equal, which is verified through multiple rounds of counting by the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

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Newsletters Open Menu Close Open Search Close Read Next: Conan O’Brien Opens the 2026 Oscars with a Little of This, a Little of That, and One Incredible Amazon Joke Newsletters Close Open Menu Close Open Search Search for: Search for: Close Menu Follow Us Facebook X Instagram Pinterest YouTube Alerts & Newsletters Email address to subscribe to newsletter. Subscribe By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 IndieWire Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Oscars Yes, You Can ‘Tie’ at the Oscars — Two Films Just Did This year's Live Action Short competition marks just the seventh tie in Academy Awards history. By Alison Foreman Alison Foreman More stories by Alison Yes, You Can ‘Tie’ at the Oscars — Two Films Just Did Read more Meet the Punk-Rock Projectionist Showing His Own Films in a Tiny Theater on Wheels Read more Praying ‘Sinners’ Wins Best Picture? Try the Hypnotic Vampire Classic ‘Ganja & Hess’ While You Wait Read more March 15, 2026 9:24 pm Share Share on Facebook Post Google Preferred Share on LinkedIn Show more sharing options Share to Flipboard Submit to Reddit Pin it Post to Tumblr Email Print This Page Share on WhatsApp This year’s live action short competition just taught much of the movie-loving world that, yes, there can be a tie at the Oscars . On Sunday at the Dolby, the 98th Academy Awards honored not one but two films, Sam A. Davis’ “The Singers” and Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh’s “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” with Best Live Action Short . That’s the seventh time that’s happened in the ceremony’s history. “That was incredible,” said “The Singers” producer Jack Piatt, when asked about the tie backstage. “We’ve got to know all the other filmmakers in our categor...
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