While blockbuster features typically dominate the headlines, the Academy Awards offer a unique spotlight for short-form storytelling that deserves equal attention. The live-action short category is a perennial highlight, showcasing a vast spectrum of global talent, varied production scales, and boundary-pushing narratives. This year’s five nominees for the 98th Academy Awards offer a masterclass in brevity, proving that a powerful story doesn’t require a two-hour runtime to leave a lasting impression.
Political Friction in Butcher’s Stain
Written and directed by Meyer Levinson-Blount, Butcher’s Stain is a 26-minute exploration of the simmering tensions within Tel Aviv. The narrative centers on Samir (Omar Sameer), an Arab butcher working in a local supermarket. His daily routine is upended when hostage posters—taped up nightly by a colleague—are found torn down every morning. As Samir faces rising suspicion from his coworkers, the film expertly weaves his struggle for innocence into a complicated domestic life involving his young son and ex-partner. It is a high-stakes thriller that captures the heavy atmospheric pressure of regional politics within the confines of a grocery store.
Heartfelt Legacies in A Friend of Dorothy
In Lee Knight’s A Friend of Dorothy, the legendary Miriam Margolyes delivers a poignant performance as a grandmother whose passing sparks a surprising inheritance battle. Stephen Fry appears as the executor of the estate, tasked with explaining why Dorothy left a portion of her legacy to JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu), a young man who is not a relative. While Dorothy’s grandson is frustrated by the decision, the 21-minute film uses flashbacks to reveal a tender, platonic bond built on a mutual love for acting. It is a heartwarming, albeit traditional, drama that celebrates chosen family.
Subverting Tradition in Jane Austen’s Period Drama
For those who enjoy a bit of wit with their historical fiction, Julia Aks and Steve Pinder deliver a hilarious 13-minute satire titled Jane Austen’s Period Drama. This feminist comedy leans into every Regency-era trope to tell a story about a different kind of “period.” When the protagonist, Estrogenia, faces a sudden menstrual cycle during a marriage proposal, her suitor mistakes her biology for a fatal injury. The film is a clever, pun-heavy romp that uses the rigid etiquette of the 19th century to highlight the enduring taboos surrounding women’s health.
Melodic Vulnerability in The Singers
Directed by Sam A. Davis and written by Ivan Turgenev, The Singers is an atmospheric 18-minute glimpse into an all-male pub environment. In this dimly lit setting, a group of blue-collar men find an unexpected commonality through music. When one patron offers a song as payment for his drink, it triggers a chain reaction of vocal performances that are both somber and stirring. The film serves as a pensive character study, showcasing how art serves as a necessary bridge between the grind of the workday and the solitude of home.
Dystopian Chills in Two People Exchanging Saliva
Closing out the nominees is the avant-garde French sci-fi Two People Exchanging Saliva. Co-directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh craft a striking black-and-white world where intimacy is a criminal offense and physical slaps serve as currency. Luàna Bajrami stars as Malaise, a woman desperate for connection in a cold, isolated society. Narrated by Vicky Krieps, this 36-minute film is a bold, original critique of modern disconnection, exploring the consequences of a world that has outlawed human affection.
The 98th Oscar Nominated Live Action Short Films program is currently screening in select theaters.
