Perfectly a Strangeness

Last updated
Perfectly a Strangeness
Perfectly a strangeness 2024.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Alison McAlpine
Written byAlison McAlpine
Cinematography Nicolas Canniccioni
Edited byCarolina Siraqyan
Music by Ben Grossman
Production
company
Second Sight Pictures
Release date
Running time
15 minutes
CountriesCanada
Chile

Perfectly a Strangeness (stylised perfectly a strangeness) is a 2024 documentary short film written and directed by Alison McAlpine. [1] It was largely filmed at La Silla Observatory, an European Southern Observatory (ESO) site in Chile, with some shots filmed further north at ESO's Paranal Observatory. [2]

Contents

The short had its world premiere at the Short Films Competition of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Short Film Palme d'Or. At the 98th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Documentary Short Film.

Summary

The Cannes Film Festival summary says: "In the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert, three donkeys discover an abandoned astronomical observatory and the universe. A sensorial, cinematic exploration of what a story can be." [3]

Release

The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, [4] and had its North American Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. [1] It has since travelled to over 70 international film festivals, playing in 27 countries [5] and winning 19 awards. [6] “One of the most cinematic documentaries of the year”, according to Deadline Hollywood writer Matthew Carey, [7] Perfectly a Strangeness was nominated by Cinema Eye Honors for Best Nonfiction Short Film of 2026. [8] and nominated by the 2026 Academy Awards for Best Short Documentary Film. [9] [10]

Awards and nominations

YearOrganizationCategoryResultRef.
2024 Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo Documentary Short Film 2024Won [6]
Festival du nouveau cinéma National Competition Grand PrizeWon [11]
Science New Wave FestivalTheme-Sensitive AwardWon [6]
Thess International Short Film FestivalCinematic Achievement AwardWon
FIEVBest Quebec Short Film-Jury PrizeWon
2025 Academy Awards Short Documentary ShortlistShortlisted [12]
Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short Oscar QualifyingWon [13]
Cinema Eye Honors Nonfiction Short FilmNominated [6]
IDA Documentary Awards Best Short Documentary Special MentionWon
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival The John Franklin Humanities Institute AwardWon
Toronto International Film Festival Canada's Top Ten Won [14]
Trento Film FestivalSilver Gentian, Best Artistic Technical ContributionWon [6]
i-Fest International Film FestivalBest Direction ShortWon
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma Best Short FilmWon
Nevada City Film FestivalBest CinematographyWon
Tramway Film FestivalBest Film, Cine Sinn FineWon
Athens International Film + Video FestivalFrom the Booth AwardWon
Festival Internacional de Cine de Medio Ambiente de CanariasBest Short Documentary FilmWon
Planet in Focus Best Canadian Short AwardWon
Miami Short Film Festival Best Experimental FilmWon
2026 Academy Awards Best Documentary Short Film Pending [15]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Short Documentary Film Nominated [16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 C.J. Prince, "11 Must-See Short Films at TIFF 2024". The Film Stage, September 2, 2024.
  2. ↑ Interview with the director on Deadline
  3. ↑ "PERFECTLY A STRANGENESS". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ Jackson Weaver, "Cannes is looking pretty Canadian this year with David Cronenberg, Guy Maddin features". CBC News, May 16, 2024.
  5. ↑ "film screenings". perfectly a strangeness. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Awards". perfectlyastrangeness.com. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  7. ↑ Carey, Matthew (2025-12-11). "Oscar-Contending Short 'Perfectly A Strangeness' Takes Audience To Desert Terrain Of Donkeys And Cosmic Observatories". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  8. ↑ "Awards". perfectlyastrangeness.com. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  9. ↑ "98th Oscars Shortlists in 12 Award Categories Announced". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ Hilary Lewis, Beatrice Verhoeven (December 16, 2025). "2026 Oscars Shortlists Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Le FNC dévoile son palmarès". CTVM, October 21, 2024.
  12. ↑ "98TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 12 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED | Academy Press Office". Oscars.com, December 16, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Le FNC dévoile son palmarès". CTVM, October 21, 2024.
  14. ↑ Carlos Diaz, "Canada’s Top Ten: TIFF Celebrates the Best in Cinema for 2024". That Shelf, January 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ Pat Mullen, "The Tragically Hip, Okurimono Lead Canadian Screen Award Documentary Nominees". Point of View , March 26, 2025.
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