Netflix will release the Oscar-nominated live-action short film “The Singers” worldwide on February 13, Variety exclusively reports.
Directed by Sam Davis, the film will be a great opportunity for voters and audiences to see the work of the Oscar-nominated filmmaker, who received acclaim for his work on Sean Wan’s coming-of-age film Diddy and the Oscar-winning short film Period End of Sentence, as well as his Oscar-nominated short film Nai Nai and Wipo.
Based on a 19th-century short story by Ivan Turgenev, The Singers takes place in a modest pub where a group of downtrodden patrons unexpectedly connect through impromptu singing. Music recorded live on set becomes a conduit of emotion, changing the room and the people in it.
Davis produced the film using first-time actors chosen for their authenticity and lived experience, and assembled an ensemble made entirely of viral singing talent and idiosyncratic internet personalities. The cast includes New York City singer Mike Yoon, who made waves in 2016 with his soulful rendition of “Unchained Melody” and later became a semifinalist on “America’s Got Talent.” Folk blues legend Chris Smither. Pianist and busker Will Harrington started busking in Provincetown as a teenager. Australian singer-songwriter Judah Kelly, 2017 winner of The Voice Australia. Matthew Corcoran, opera tenor and doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma; Hutch, a U.S. Army veteran and storyteller whose life experiences resonated through a viral video. And Tio Rigo and Mr. George, known as Lanteros 503, celebrate El Salvadoran pride with their fun TikTok performances.
“The Singers” had a strong festival track record, winning 35 awards at 49 festivals. The film had its world premiere at SXSW and was subsequently screened at Tribeca Festival and other venues.
Produced by Jacques Piatt, David Brechell, Charlie Cohen and Davis, “The Singers” arrived on Netflix just in time for singing on the Oscar ballot.
