From Oscar-nominated filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Sczcerbowski (MADAM TUTLI-PUTLI, CIFF 2007), THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS is a darkly beautiful fable brought to life through exquisite stop-motion animation. Featuring handcrafted puppets, hypnotic narration by Colm Feore and a haunting original score by Patrick Watson, this meticulously designed film is a rich, gothic parable of innocence, desire and the devastating cost of greed. A rare and unforgettable blend of folk tale and cinematic artistry, it’s a story that glitters with magic but also cuts deep.

In early 20th-century Montreal, a poor boy falls for a mysterious girl whose sorrow manifests as pearls. Hoping to lift them both from poverty, he sells the pearls to a ruthless pawnbroker who becomes obsessed with their source. As temptation takes hold, the boy is forced to choose between love and wealth, in a decision that could cost him everything, including his soul.