Academy's Documentary Shorts Shortlist - Watch Them!

When you’re trying to be seen as a short film, it can be difficult to step outside the feature-length shadow. If you’re Oscar-nominated, you’ll eventually be packaged into a multi-film program and play a handful of theaters across the country. Perhaps you’ll be purchased by HBO and find yourself showcased for a premium cable audience – like last year’s Academy Award winner A Girl in the River. Or you may screen at an infinite variety of regional festivals, submitted and curated for a different niche audience. Bottom line: unless you’re being actively scouted, many beautiful short films go unnoticed by moviegoers who would likely be eager to absorb the material if they knew it existed.

So, without further ado, here is the Academy’s ten-wide, recently released shortlist for Best Documentary, Short Subject. You can even watch half of the titles online now. While only half of this list will compete for the gold once nominations are announced in January, here’s hoping the whole group finds a lasting reception that goes beyond the jokes of its category’s presenters at the Oscars.

• Brillo Box (3¢ Off) Reviewed
• Close Ties
• Extremis Now Streaming
• 4.1 Miles Now Streaming
• Frame 394 Now Streaming
• Joe’s Violin Now Streaming
• The Mute’s House Trailer
• The Other Side of Home Trailer
• Watani: My Homeland Trailer
• The White Helmets Now Streaming

Oscar-nominated or not, what are some of your favorite short films you’ve checked out recently?

Comments

[Krister]

Here is full "Joe's violin": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D5h_Y8N4tg

[ConMan]

I hope Extremis ends up winning. So powerful.

[ConMan]

I saw the five shorts that are available to watch. Joe's Violin looks like a pretty easy winner, but Extremis was also really good.