Elliot Page, along with Matt Jordan Smith and Tuck Dowrey from Page’s production company Pageboy Productions, have officially joined forces as executive producers for the short film “An Avocado Pit,” directed and written by Ary Zara.
The narrative centers around the encounter between Larissa, a trans woman, and Claudio, a cis man, who, despite their differences, find unity in an evening of shared dancing. “An Avocado Pit” has earned prestigious accolades, including Oscar-qualifying awards at Outfest and the Guadalajara International Film Festival. Additionally, it received a grand jury special mention for best lead acting at the AFI Festival and secured the best queer short award along with the international student prize at the Festival du Court Métrage de Clermont Ferrand in France.
The film, produced by Lisbon-based Take It Easy, features Portuguese actor Ivo Canelas and trans actress Gaya de Medeiros, with Andreia Nunes and Frederico Serra as producers. Ary Zara, a transgender individual, activist, and filmmaker who studied cinema in Lisbon and Austin, developed the project during the 2023 Torino Film Lab.
Expressing their enthusiasm, Page, Jordan Smith, and Dowrey shared, “’An Avocado Pit’ is precisely the type of project that resonates with us at Pageboy Productions. We are delighted to be part of this short film, and it is an honor to amplify Ary Zara’s significant contributions.”
The cinematography is skillfully executed by Leandro Ferrão, and Travelling Distribution is handling the film’s distribution. Anticipation surrounds its competition in the best live-action short film category at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards.
Regarding the Oscars, the preliminary voting period spans from December 14 to 18, covering nine categories with varying shortlisting numbers. The shortlist announcement for these categories, including documentary features and international features, is set for December 21. As the Oscars approach, nominations voting is scheduled for January 11-16, 2024, with the official announcement of the 96th Oscar nominations on January 23, 2024.
