For the 19th consecutive year, ShortsTV and Magnolia Pictures present the Oscar-Nominated Short Films projected in cinemas as the artists have intended, opening on Feb. 16th. 🎥

With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners (and have the edge in your Oscar pool – LFS members can participate in a ballot competition, vying for a prize and bragging rights)! 🏆

A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 10th. 👏

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS

Various Directors
Program length: 139 minutes

The ABCs of Book Banning
Directed by Sheila Nevins, Trish Adlesic, Nazenet Habtezghi

Reveals the voices of the impacted parties of books banned from school districts, inspiring hope for the future through the profound insights of inquisitive youthful minds. 2023, U.S., DCP, 27 minutes.

The Barber of Little Rock
Directed by John Hoffman and Christine Turner

The Barber of Little Rock explores America’s widening racial wealth gap through the story of Arlo Washington, a local barber whose visionary approach to a just economy can be found in the mission of People Trust, the nonprofit community bank he founded. 2023, U.S., DCP, 35 minutes.

Island in Between
Directed by S. Leo Chiang

Leo Chiang reflects on his relationship with Taiwan, the United States and China from the islands of Kinmen, just a few miles from mainland China. 2023, Taiwan, DCP, in English and Mandarin with English subtitles, 20 minutes.

The Last Repair Shop
Directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers

Tells the story of four unassuming heroes who ensure no student is deprived of the joy of music. It is also a reminder of how music can be the best medicine, stress reliever and even an escape from poverty. 2023, U.S., DCP, 39 minutes.

Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
Directed by Sean Wang

A personal love letter from director Sean Wang to his Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó, a grandma super team that dances, stretches, and farts their sorrows away. 2023, U.S., DCP, in Mandarin with English subtitles, 17 minutes

ANIMATED SHORT FILMS

Various Directors
Program length: 80 minutes

Letter to a Pig
Directed by Tal Kantor

A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream where she confronts questions of identity, collective trauma, and the extremes of human nature. 2022, Israel/France, DCP, in Hebrew with English subtitles, 17 minutes.

Ninety-Five Senses
Directed by Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess

An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them. 2023, U.S., DCP, 13 minutes.

Our Uniform
Directed by Yegane Moghaddam

An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform. 2023, Iran, DCP, in Persian with English subtitles, 7 minutes.

Pachyderme
Directed by Stéphanie Clément

Like every summer, Louise stays at her grandparents in the countryside for a few days during the holidays. It will snow at the height of summer and a monster is going to die. 2022, France, DCP, in French with English subtitles, 11 minutes.

WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
Directed by Dave Mullins

Set in an alternate WWI reality where a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a joyful game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers’ chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates. Neither soldier knows his opponent as the game and the war builds to its climatic final move. Whoever wins the game, one thing is for certain: there are no winners in war. 2023, U.S., DCP, 11 minutes.

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILMS

Various Directors
Program length: 133 minutes

The After
Directed by Misan Harriman

In this intense short film, a grieving rideshare driver played by David Oyelowo picks up a passenger who helps him confront the past. 2023, U.K., DCP, 18 minutes.

Invincible
Directed by Vincent René-Lortie

Inspired by a true story, Invincible recounts the last 48 hours in the life of Marc-Antoine Bernier, a 14-year-old boy on a desperate quest for freedom. 2022, Canada, DCP, in French with English subtitles, 30 minutes.

Knight of Fortune
Directed by Lasse Lyskjær Noer

The loss of a loved one, the grief, the risk of yellow skin, and a coffin, that is too much for Karl to face. 2023, Denmark, DCP, in Danish and Swedish with English subtitles, 25 minutes.

Red, White, and Blue
Directed by Nazrin Choudhury

Rachel (Brittany Snow) is a single parent living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected pregnancy threatens to unravel her already precarious position, she’s forced to cross state lines in search of an abortion. As Rachel contemplates the series of events that necessitated this journey and the obstacles placed in her path, we learn a heartbreaking truth that means her life will never be the same again. 2023, U.S., DCP, 23 minutes.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Directed by Wes Anderson

Chronicles a variety of stories by Roald Dahl, but the main one follows Henry Sugar, who can see through objects and predict the future with the help of a book he stole. With Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dev Patel. 2023, U.S./U.K, DCP, 37 minutes.