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by Camden Ferrell  Every year, the Academy nominates 15 short films for an Oscar in 3 different categories: live-action short, animated short, and documentary short. These categories highlight the brilliant work being done in the short form for the medium of film, and it’s often a source of some of the year’s most timely and thought-provoking films. This year is no different with these short films covering a range of topics from abortion clinics to a dystopian society where kissing is punishable by death. For better or worse, these categories are a reflection of the moods and attitudes in our current year, and it’s always interesting to watch these films which don’t necessarily get as much attention as the feature length nominees every year. Below, I will rank the short films within each category while also sharing what I believe should win and will win at the Oscars next month.  Live-Action 5. Jane Austen’s Period Drama A light-hearted and humorous short that goes on for far too long. Despite only being 13 minutes, this is a short whose central misunderstanding feels like it has exhausted its goodwill by the end of its opening sequence. It’s sketch comedy that doesn’t understand the beauty of ending before the joke grows old. Institutions like SNL know to limit even its best material to only a few minutes, and the main joke of Jane Austen’s Period Drama is comedically adequate at best. If nothing else, it’s a competent palate cleanser among the more serious nominees, but it’s a nomination that has me scratching my head regardless. 4. The Singers During one evening, a dive bar sees itself become a place of musical jubilation as an unplanned singing contest takes place. Even though it has some great messages about the power of music and its ability to unite us in harmony if only for a moment, this is a short that feels lacking elsewhere. The writing and storytelling is decent but forgettable, and the final product fails to leave a mark like some of the other nominees. 3. Butcher’s Stain An Arab employee at an Israeli deli finds himself being accused of tearing down a hostage poster at his workplace. He must navigate his troubled home life with a workplace that seems to be at odds with his existence. It’s the obligatory social justice nominee in this category, and it’s one that is very well-made even if its subtext is less than ideal. There are some interesting moments of character interaction and a solid leading performance, but this one has the same problem that many social justice docs seem to have. It feels like it places the burden of integrity on the victims of political violence while and makes its empathy conditional on their behavior in the face of adversity. It’s undoubtedly well-meaning, but it’s somewhat lost in the execution. 2. A Friend of Dorothy A young teenage boy befriends an older woman in this adorable short. They bond over the daily chores he performs as well as his blossoming aspirations to act. It’s a sweet story that doesn’t overstay its welcome. However, one does wish it dived deeper into some of the themes and ideas that are suggested by its title. Despite its shortcomings, it’s a harmless and charming doc that will leave you smiling. 1. Two People Exchanging Saliva In this dystopian world, kissing is an offense that is punishable by death. Additionally, the way to pay for things in this society is to be slapped in the face. Malaise is a young employee at a department store who attends to frequent shopper Angine. They both have their own turmoil but quickly bond together over her routine visits to the store. In a world that prohibits intimacy, these women grow close in spite of it all. It’s a lovely and imaginative short that doesn’t make this “alternate” world too gimmicky like other similar shorts. Even amidst its absurdity, it never loses sight of the human experiences that bind us all. What Should Win: Two People Exchanging Saliva What Will Win: Butcher’s Stain  Documentary 5. Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud Brent Renaud was an American journalist and filmmaker who was tragically killed in 2022 by Russian soldiers. His work was important, and his dedication to his craft is admirable. That being said, this documentary is a paint by numbers portrait of his life and demise, and it’s one that feels unorganized especially as its runtime reaches the limit of what qualifies as a short. Its highlight reel style execution of the various injustices Renaud captured have mixed effect, and it’s a shame that such an interesting man couldn’t be eulogized in a better way. 4. Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” Another typical social justice doc for the genre, this movie still manages to strongly convey its message. It follows a group of Israeli protestors who stage silent protests in solidarity with the innocent Palestinian children who are dying due to the ongoing conflict with Israel. Can it feel like it pats itself on the back at times? Yes, but it’s important to recognize that people are not their government and vice versa. Seeing the unfiltered reactions to this display is proof that this documentary needed to be made. 3. The Devil is Busy This documentary follows the daily operations of an abortion clinic in Atlanta. I thought this made the most of the short film format to succinctly tell a story while also imbuing an undeniable message from the filmmakers. It’s another doc that unfortunately needed to be made, and it’s one that balances the complex emotions and events that one might find at a clinic like this one. 2. Perfectly a Strangeness What will likely be the least liked of the nominees is one that I found completely captivating. It follows three donkeys who discover an abandoned observatory in an unnamed desert region. It is beautifully shot and makes the most of its interesting albeit unpredictable subjects. Works on a superficial level but also on a more existential level as we grapple with our place in the universe. 1. All the Empty Rooms Steve Hartman embarks on a journey to take photos and document the bedrooms of children who were victims of school shootings. This framework is simple and allows its subjects to speak for itself. Seeing the bedrooms and hearing the accounts from their loved ones is tragic but necessary. It’s yet another documentary that unfortunately had to be made. It’s a stark reminder that grief doesn’t end when the news cycle does, and it’s a seemingly futile call to action for this to never happen again. What Should Win: All the Empty Rooms What Will Win: All the Empty Rooms  Animated
5. The Three Sisters This is truly a baffling nomination from the Academy. An overly simple short with less than stellar animation and a story that is so frustratingly rudimentary. It feels excessively long despite being quite short, and it doesn’t ever really justify its reason for existing. It’s not offensively bad, but it’s hard to think of a positive spin for this one. 4. Butterfly What will likely be the winner this year, Butterfly is a short that revels in its gorgeous animation and harrowing story. It follows a Jewish swimmer’s memory of life during WWII, and it’s one that leverages the creative capabilities of animation to tell this story in a unique way. Maybe I’m not as high on the final product as others, but it’s still a great piece of short filmmaking. 3. The Girl Who Cried Pearls This was one that took a while to win me over, but it’s an interesting story that begins quite formulaic but gradually distinguishes itself among other animated shorts. The animation is creepily uncanny and will linger for long after it ends, but it’s memorable if nothing else. I appreciated the open ended nature of its story and the tone that its director establishes and maintains throughout. 2. Forevergreen An orphaned bear finds himself de facto adopted by a benevolent evergreen tree. We watch as this cub grows up with this father-like tree. This short has really adorable animation and a heartfelt story that might make you cry if you let it. There’s no complex layers to unpack with this one, just a good old-fashioned heart melter with cute creatures. 1. Retirement Plan Ray is a man who dreams about what life has in store for him in retirement. This short plays like a visual poem, one that creates a unique sense of optimism and melancholy that will make you smile and hurt in all the right ways. The animation is nothing impressive but it almost feels like a perfect fit within the ethos of the short. Short, simple, and powerful. What Should Win: Retirement Plan What Will Win: Butterfly The Oscar-nominated shorts will be coming to theaters nationwide February 20. Find listings here: https://www.oscarnominatedshorts.com/
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