The 2024 Oscar-Nominated Shorts: Animated

For the 19th consecutive year, ShortsTV and Magnolia Pictures present the Oscar-Nominated Short Films, 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)! 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.

Not for children under 13, verging on R. This is not a family-friendly program – topics include the Holocaust, implied child sexual abuse, and violent battle scenes.

Our Uniform – An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the folds and fabrics of her old uniform. Yegane Moghaddam, 7 min., Iran (in Farsi)

Letter to a Pig – 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. Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter, 17 min., France/Israel (in Hebrew)

Pachyderm– As every summer, Louise is entrusted to her grand-parents for a few days of vacation in the country. The green grass of the garden, the swimming in the lake, the fishing with Grandpa, everything seems as sweet as Grandma’s strawberry pies. Yet this year, the snow will fall in summer and a monster will die. Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius, 11 min., USA (in English)

Ninety-Five Senses – An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them. Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess, 13 min., USA (in English)

War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko – 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. Dave Mullins and Brad Booker, 11 min., USA

ADDITIONAL FILMS INCLUDED:

Wild Summon – Karni Arieli and Saul Freed, 14 min., UK (in English, narrated by Marianne Faithfull); nominated for a BAFTA and a Cristal Award at the Annecy International Animated film Festival.

I’m Hip – John Musker, 4 min., USA; nominated for a Cristal Award at the Annecy International Animated film Festival.