Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2013 - Animation

After many years of marriage, Walter and Madge have grown apart: he lives on the floor and she lives on the ceiling. They live separate, parallel lives, never talking, barely even looking at each other. When Walter tries to reignite their old romance, it brings their equilibrium crashing down, and the couple that can’t agree which way is up must find a way to put their marriage back together.

DIR/SCR Timothy Reckart; PROD Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly. UK, 2012, color, 11 min. NOT RATED

Maggie Simpson spends a day at the Ayn Rand Daycare Center where she is diagnosed at an average intelligence level. Longing to be grouped with the gifted children, Maggie finds her destiny by rescuing a lonely cocoon from Baby Gerald, who is busy smooshing butterflies.

DIR David Silverman; SCR/PROD Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Al Jean; SCR David Mirkin, Joel Cohen, Michael Price; PROD Richard Raynis, Richard Sakai. US, 2012, color, 5 min. NOT RATED

From first-time director John Kahrs, this is the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him.

DIR John Kahrs; SCR Clio Chiang, Kendelle Hoyer; PROD Kristina Reed. US, 2012, b&w, 7 min. NOT RATED

Learn how to transform familiar objects into fresh guacamole!

DIR/SCR/PROD Adam Pesapane; PROD Sarah Phelps. US, 2012, color, 2 min. NOT RATED

The story about the dog of Eden. What happened in those first days of creation that made man and dog so inseparable? The dog, as he lives through this curious world, encounters a strange creature; a human being named Adam – and with that discovers a new found connection to the world.

DIR/SCR Minkyu Lee. US, 2012, color, 16 min. NOT RATED

…Plus the following award-winning short animated films:

Total runtime: 88 min

Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2013 - Live Action

Set in a war-torn fishing village in Somalia, an all-Somali refugee cast brings to life this coming of age fable of a Somali boy who is faced with falling into the pirate life, or rising above to choose the path of an honest fishing man.

DIR/SCR/PROD Bryan Buckley; PROD Mino Jarjoura, Rafiq Samsodien. South Africa, 2012, color, 16 min. In Somali with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Set against the dramatic landscape of contemporary Afghanistan and the National sport of Buzkashi – a brutal game of horse polo played with a dead goat – Buzkashi Boys tells the coming of age story of two best friends, a charismatic street urchin and a defiant blacksmith’s son, who struggle to realize their dreams as they make their way to manhood in one of the most war-torn countries on earth. Shot on location in Kabul city by an alliance of Afghan and international film makers, this film is a look at the life that continues beyond the headlines of war in Afghanistan.

DIR/SCR Sam French; SCR Martin Roe; PROD Ariel Nasr. Argentina/US, 2012, color, 18 min. In Dari with English subtitles. NOT RATED

At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his nine-year old niece, Sophia, for the evening.

DIR/SCR Shawn Christensen; PROD Mara Kassin, Andrew Napier, Damon Russell. US, 2012, color, 19 min. NOT RATED

Soldier Nathan died during World War I. A strange collector imprisoned his shadow and gave him a new chance: a second life against 10,000 captured shadows. It is love that guides him, as his purpose is to meet Sarah again, the woman he fell in love with before he died. But when he discovers that she’s already in love with someone else, jealousy clouds his mind and pushes him towards a bitter decision, not without consequences.

DIR/SCR Tom Van Avermaet; PROD Ellen De Waele. Belgium, 2012, color, 20 min. In Dutch with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Henry, a great concert pianist, has his life thrown into turmoil the day the love of this life, Maria, disappears mysteriously. He’ll then discover the inevitable verdict of life.

DIR/SCR/PROD Yan England. Canada, 2012, color, 21 min. NOT RATED

Total runtime: 114 min