The Singers
Promotional poster
Directed by
  • Sam A. Davis
Written by Ivan Turgenev
Produced by
  • Sam A. Davis
  • Charlie Cohen
  • Jack Piatt
Starring
  • Michael Young
  • Chris Smither
  • Will Harrington
  • Judah Kelly
  • Matt Corcoran
Cinematography
  • Sam A. Davis
Edited by
  • Sam A. Davis
Music by
  • Island Styles
Production
companies
  • Highway West Entertainment
  • Junk Drawer
Distributed by Netflix
Release dates
  • March 8, 2025 (2025-03-08) (SXSW)
  • February 13, 2026 (2026-02-13) (Netflix)
Running time
18 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Singers is a 2025 American short musical comedy film directed by Sam A. Davis. The film, featuring a cast discovered through viral videos and street casting, includes Mike Young and Judah Kelly. Based on a 19th-century Russian story by Ivan Turgenev, it depicts an improvised sing-off by downtrodden patrons in a pub. [1]

It had its world premiere in the Narrative Short Competition at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025. Netflix acquired the global streaming rights of the film on January 16, 2026 and released the film for global audience on February 13, 2026.[2][3]

It tied with Two People Exchanging Saliva to win Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards.[4]

Summary

At a small blue-collar bar, a construction worker pesters other patrons for money and drinks. The bartender, tiring of his behavior and bragging, offers him a drink if he can out-sing an older regular, then extends the competition to the entire bar: the best singer in the venue will earn a hundred dollars and free drinks.

The patrons participate, with the exception of a younger man who is too shy to sing but reveals a beautiful voice while singing to himself in the bathroom before quietly leaving the bar. While the older regular indeed proves talented, the construction worker is also a skilled singer and pianist. The bartender then joins in the competition with a moving and emotional performance that brings some patrons to tears and inspires a group hug with most of the bar.

As the embrace ends, another patron steps forward, proving himself to be an unexpectedly gifted operatic singer as the competition continues.

Cast

  • Michael Young
  • Chris Smither
  • Will Harrington
  • Judah Kelly
  • Matt Corcoran
  • Michael Keyes

Production

The film is based on a story by Ivan Turgenev Singers published in A Sportsman's Sketches an 1852 cycle of short stories. The story was included in A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, a 2021 book of didactic literary analysis by American author and professor George Saunders, from where Sam A. Davis got the inspiration to adapt it by placing it alongside modern medium. The project was shot on 35mm to create a rich look for the warm story, and the music was recorded live on set, two challenging aspects adding truth to the narrative.[5] Music Supervision was handled by the award winning Music Supervisor Sean Fernald.

Release

The Singers had its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025 in Narrative Short Competition.[6] On April 13, it was presented in Narrative Shorts Competition at the Florida Film Festival.[7]

It had its New York Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, 2025.[8]

It was presented in the Screens as part of SHORTS PROGRAM: LIVE ACTION 2 in Short Competition at the AFI Fest on October 24, 2025.[9]

It was screened on November 9, 2025 at the Coronado Island Film Festival.[10]

The film became available to stream on Netflix worldwide on February 13, 2026.[11]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Indy Shorts International Film Festival July 28, 2025 Narrative Grand Prize The Singers Won [12]
Narrative Audience Choice Award Won
Coronado Island Film Festival November 9, 2025 Audience Award Winners – Shorts & Emerging Filmmakers: Best Live Action Short Won [13]
HollyShorts Film Festival November 17, 2025 Best International Film Won [14]
Best Director Sam Davis Won
Academy Awards March 15, 2026 Best Live Action Short Film Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt Won[a] [4][15]

Notes

  1. ^ Tied with Two People Exchanging Saliva.

See also

  • Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
  • 98th Academy Awards

References

  1. ^ "The Singers". American Film Institute. March 8, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  2. ^ Hammond, Pete (January 16, 2026). "Netflix Acquires Oscar-Shortlisted Live-Action Short Film 'The Singers' In Advance Of Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  3. ^ "Netflix Awards Catalog: Complete List of Academy Award®, Emmy®, Golden Globe® and BAFTA Wins and Nominations" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  5. ^ William Earl (November 22, 2025). "How Short Film 'The Singers' Used Viral Talent to 'Make Something Very Human and Handmade' About Male Vulnerability". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  6. ^ "2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival Lineup". South by Southwest. March 9, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  7. ^ "The Singers". Florida Film Festival. April 13, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  8. ^ "The Singers". Tribeca Film Festival. June 5, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  9. ^ "Short programe Live Action 2: The Singers". AFI Fest. October 24, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  10. ^ "The Singers". Coronado Island Film Festival. November 27, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  11. ^ Clayton Davis (February 4, 2026). "Netflix Sets Release Date for Oscar-Nominated Live-Action Short 'The Singers' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  12. ^ "2025 Indy Shorts International Film Festival Announces Academy Award®-Qualifying Winners; "The Singers" Soars with Duet of Narrative Grand Prize and Audience Choice Honors". Heartland International Film Festival. July 28, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  13. ^ "2025 Coronado Island Film Festival Filmmaker Award Winners". Coronado Island Film Festival. November 9, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  14. ^ "Celebrating 2nd Annual HollyShorts London Award Winners". HollyShorts Film Festival. November 17, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  15. ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 22, 2026). "Oscars: Full List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2026.