The Singers, a film screened and awarded at Cindependent’s 2025 festival, won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards. It was part of an historic tie in the category, the first in the history of the Oscars.
Directed by Sam A. Davis and shot on 35mm, the 18-minute musical comedy-drama is set in a rundown dive bar where an impromptu singing competition slowly becomes something much more — an exploration of connection, vulnerability, and what music can unlock in people.
The cast is made up almost entirely of first-time actors and viral singing talents discovered on TikTok and YouTube, with all music recorded live on set. The result is a film that feels as lived-in as the bar it inhabits.
“We are so thrilled for Sam and the entire team behind The Singers,” says Cindependent Founder and Executive Director Allyson West.
“This is exactly the kind of film Cindependent exists to celebrate — honest, human, and made with real care. Seeing it recognized on this stage is a joy. We hope to continue surfacing amazing filmmakers like this at our festival for many years to come.”
Adapted from Ivan Turgenev’s 1850 short story and reimagined in a contemporary American setting, the film premiered at South by Southwest on March 8, 2025, before collecting dozens of festival awards across the circuit including Best Director and Best US Short at Cindependent in September 2025.
It has been available globally on Netflix since February 13.
You can expect to catch more award winning films before they go mainstream at the 2026 Cindependent Film Festival September 17, 18, and 19 at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati.
Cindependent