Exclusive Interview: Oscar Winner Natalie Musteata Reflects on Armenian Roots, Surreal Victory, and a Historic Oscars Moment
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
The Armenian Report got an exclusive interview with Oscar-winning filmmaker Natalie Musteata, who was awarded Best Live Action Short Film as co-director of “Two People Exchanging Saliva.” In a personal and reflective conversation, Musteata spoke about the emotional weight of the moment, her Armenian heritage, and what her film represents in today’s changing film landscape.
Looking back at the moment her name was announced at the Academy Awards, Musteata described an experience that felt almost unreal. “It was the most surreal moment of our lives—truly an out-of-body experience. We knew it was a possibility because a few weeks earlier, someone at a Q&A had asked how we’d feel if the award was shared (we said we’d be thrilled), so we ended up looking into the history of ties at the Academy Awards,” Musteata told The Armenian Report exclusively.
She explained that while the idea of a tie had been discussed before, actually living through it was something entirely different. “It turns out that the chance of a tie anywhere in a given year is about 7%, and in a specific category it’s just 0.35%. So the fact that it actually happened felt kind of unbelievable. And getting to share the win with a film we love made the whole experience—which was already unforgettable—even more joyful.”
For Musteata, the rare tie carried a broader meaning beyond personal recognition. She noted that it helped bring attention to a category that is often overlooked. “What made it especially meaningful is that it put a real spotlight on the shorts—something that’s often a bit sidelined at the Oscars. Both Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel mentioned the tie, which was surreal in itself. Critics had already been saying this was an especially strong year for shorts, so having that extra attention, on top of the joy of sharing the award with filmmakers we admire, felt incredibly special.”
She also recalled a lighter moment from the press conference that followed, when the winning teams took photos together. “During the press conference that followed, we took group photos with the other team. And after some more traditional shots, I suggested we do something crazy. I can’t remember who came up with the idea exactly, but we decided to fight over the Oscars. As soon as we took those photographs, we knew they’d be on the cover of publications the next morning, and sure enough, I woke up to my silly face on the BBC and Indiewire.”
Beyond the celebration, Musteata spoke with deep emotion about her Armenian roots and the personal meaning of standing on one of the world’s biggest stages. “It was incredibly meaningful. My maternal grandmother, Luiza Derderian, was Armenian, and we were very close until she passed in 1999. She was an actress—the most vivacious and generous person I’ve ever known—and she was the one who first introduced me to the stage, where both my mother and I spent so much of our childhood.”
She shared that her grandmother’s influence continues to shape her life and work. “My mother, Roxana Marcoci, who grew up in Romania before defecting in the late 1970s, was in the audience on Sunday night. But in many ways, I think it would have meant even more for my grandmother to see me accept that Academy Award. When she first came to America, she didn’t speak the language, but she quickly built a community within the Armenian and Romanian diasporas. She even returned to acting, performing in productions with an Armenian cultural group in New York.”
A recent discovery added another layer of meaning to the moment. “She was also an avid traveler, and recently, while looking through her photo albums, I found a picture of her at the Beverly Hills Hotel—where we had been just a few days before the Oscars. That coincidence felt incredibly moving, like a quiet reminder of how present she still is in my life and in this moment.”
Speaking about her film, Musteata reflected on its unusual style and the wider shift happening within the film industry. “I think that the Academy has been moving in this direction for some time now, especially as it’s become more international in recent years. When Parasite, Bong Joon Ho’s incredible Korean-language film, won Best Picture, it felt like a real turning point—the first time a non-English language film had done so.”
She expressed hope that her work is part of that growing openness. “I hope our film speaks to that same openness. As bold and absurd as it is on the surface, at its core it’s a very universal story—about a connection that can’t exist because of the strictures of society.”
At the same time, she pointed to changes within the Academy itself. “That said, I do think the Academy’s newer, younger, and more international members are playing a big role in recognizing work like this, and we’re incredibly grateful to be part of that shift.”
The sense of Armenian connection extended beyond Musteata’s personal story and onto the Oscars floor itself. Academy Award nominee Sev Ohanian also shared with The Armenian Report how meaningful it was to encounter fellow Armenians during one of the biggest nights in the film industry.
“I met Alexandre at an industry event during the week before the Oscars,” Ohanian said.
“He overheard me telling someone that I am Armenian—a favorite topic of mine at parties—and instantly got happy. He told me his wife and partner Natalie is one-quarter Armenian, and introduced us. It warmed my heart.”
The connection quickly grew into a shared celebration of Armenian identity within the global film community.
On Oscar night, that sense of unity became even more tangible.
“After their big win, my Natalie and I took a selfie with Natalie and Alexandre to celebrate their moment,” he said. “We also got a selfie with our other Armenian sister Maddie, and her actual sister Hannah.”
Despite the fast-paced and often chaotic nature of the evening, Ohanian said the presence of Armenians throughout the event stood out.
“Wish we could’ve all taken one all together, but it was a chaotic night,” he said. “I also want to give one last shoutout to our other Armenian brother Alex Kalognomos who was there that night. He helps oversee events like the Oscars. He came through big time for my family and me when we needed help, and it was just so nice bumping into fellow Armenians left to right at the Academy Awards. It felt right.”
His reflections add another layer to Musteata’s historic moment, showing how representation at the highest levels of the film industry is not only personal, but deeply communal—connecting Armenians across backgrounds, professions, and generations on one unforgettable night.
—
This is an exclusive report by The Armenian Report. Republishing is permitted with proper credit to the original source.
A friend showed me Sprunki the other day and I got completely hooked on the music mixing aspect. You drag characters around and they each add a different sound layer. Pretty creative concept and surprisingly relaxing once you get into it.