Guessing what short films Academy voters might select used to involve little more than a shot in the dark. It's still a tricky business -- but with the Friday announcement of the live-action shortlist that narrowed the field to 10, at least we can get a look at a manageable field of contenders.
In recent years the voters have gone for black comedy (Martin McDonagh's "Six Shooter"), gritty reality (Andrea Arnold's "Wasp"), slick comedy (Ari Sandel's "East Bank Story") and Holocaust melodrama (Jochen Alexander Freydank's "Toyland"). This year's shortlisted films include most of those elements (but no Holocaust, thankfully); based on nothing but a smattering of information, a few trailers and some reviews, I'm thinking that "The Door" and "Miracle Fish" have strong shots this time around.
But let's face it, nobody really knows what they'll go for. Here are some trailers, photos and info to help slightly clarify a confusing picture:
THE DOOR
Director: Juanita Wilson
Producer: James Flynn
Production company: Octagon Films
Country of origin: Ireland
Language: Russian
Running time: 17 minutes
Description: “The viewer bears witness to the universal tragedy of Chernobyl through the eyes of one man,” reads one description of the fragmented, impressionistic film, set in Russia, which opens with the theft of a door.
Website
THE GROUND BENEATH
Director: Rene Hernandez
Producer: Kristina Ceyton
Production company: Passion Pictures
Country of origin: Australia
Language: English
Running time: 20 minutes
Description: Follows a frightened teenage schoolboy and a couple of his friends.
HOTEL
Director-producer: Tim Conrad
Production company: Oyster Films
Country of origin: UK
Language: English
Running time: 19 minutes
Description: A British agent and a suspected terrorist find common ground.
INSTEAD OF ABRACADABRA
Director: Patrik Eklund
Producer: Mathias Fjellstrom
Production company: Direktorn & Fabrikorn
Country of origin: Sweden
Langage: Swedish
Running time: 22 minutes
Description: Comedy about a man who lives with his parents but dreams of becoming a great magician.
KAVI
Director-producer: Gregg Helvey
Country of origin: USA
Language: Hindi
Running time: 19 minutes
Description: 2009 Student Academy Award winner uses documentary-style techniques in story of Indian child who tries to escape from a life of forced labor in a brick kiln.
MIRACLE FISH
Director: Luke Doolan
Producer: Drew Bailey
Production company: Druid Films
Country of origin: Australia
Language: English
Running time: 18 minutes
Description: A shy eight-year-old boy, mercilessly teased by his classmates, wishes they’d all disappear and then wakes from a nap to find that they may have done exactly that.
