perfectly a strangeness, a documentary short from Montreal-based filmmaker Alison McAlpine, has been nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 98th Oscars.
The award-winning documentary short follows three donkeys through the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert as they discover an abandoned observatory and the universe. The short is a sensorial and cinematic exploration of what a story can be.
“What an extraordinary honour!” said director, writer, producer Alison McAlpine.” It is wild and wonderful that perfectly a strangeness will be showcased at the Oscars! Enormous thanks to my Quebecois and Chilean creative team!”
The short has screened in 27 countries and at over 70 film festivals, achieving 19 awards. perfectly a strangeness marked its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Official Competition in 2024. It then went on to have a remarkable festival run, including:
- Toronto International Film Festival
- International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
- Festival du Nouveau Cinema De Montreal and many others.
Award Winning
At Cannes, the film was nominated for the Palme d’Or-Best Short Film and went on to win numerous awards during its festival run including the Grand Prize for the National Short Film Competition (Festival de Nouveau), Full Frame Jury Award (Full Frame Documentary Film Festival), Silver Hugo Documentary Short Award (Chicago International Film Festival) and was named to TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten. The full festival and awards list is available on the film’s website.
Second Sight Pictures in association with GreenGround Productions produce perfectly a strangeness
Caroline Siraqyan served as editor on the project alongside Nicolas Canniccioni as director of photography. Music by Ben Grossman and sound design by Samuel Gagnon-Thibodeau brought McAlpine’s world to life.
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec, La Sodec Quebec, Cineground, Difuze and SLA Location helped support the film’s funding.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The film is now available to stream on Crave in Canada through its distributor Premium Films.
SOURCE: perfectlyastrangeness.com
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