OKLAHOMA CITY — The 97th annual Academy Awards are quickly bearing down on us, and the film world is abuzz ahead of the March 2nd ceremony with speculations, hopes, and bets are all circulating wildly.
But while arguments and accusations fly about Best Picture politics and acting accolades, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is once again focusing on the little things by spotlighting the remarkable slate of Oscar-nominated short films before the festivities.
With separate programs screening the Live-Action, Animated, and Documentary short films being recognized at this year’s Oscars, OKC audiences can get a glimpse at some of the lesser-known – but no less creative or awe-inspiring – filmmakers and stories ahead of the winners being called.
Not only are these shorts programs a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of up-and-coming filmmaking forces, but they also represent a major goal post for OKC’s own deadCenter Film Festival.
Since 2021, deadCenter has been an Oscar-qualifying festival for both live-action and animated short films, and the organization announced just this month that that’s been expanded to now include documentary shorts as well, making our little homegrown film fest a qualifying venue for all of the Academy’s short film categories.
In fact, one of the standout short offerings from deadCenter 2024 – Dutch mystery/comedy “I’m Not a Robot” – is nominated for Best Live-Action Short at the Oscars this time around.
So without further ado, here’s the full rundown of Oscar-nominated shorts straight from OKCMOA themselves:
Live-Action Oscar Shorts – Screening February 22nd and March 1st
‘The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent’ – Nebojsa Slijepcevic, 13 min., Croatia (in Croatian)
1993, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A passenger train is stopped by paramilitary forces in an ethnic cleansing operation. As they haul off innocent civilians, only one man out of 500 passengers dares to stand up to them.
‘Anuja’ – Adam J. Graves, 22 min., USA (in Hindi)
Anuja tells the story of a gifted nine-year-old girl who, alongside her sister Palak, faces a life-changing opportunity that tests their bond and mirrors the struggles of girls worldwide.
‘I’m Not a Robot’ – Victoria Warmerdam, 22 min., Belgium/Netherlands (in Dutch)
After repeatedly failing Captcha tests, music producer Lara spirals into obsession, haunted by the disturbing question of whether she might actually be a robot.
‘A Lien’ – Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz, 15 min., USA (in English)
A young couple face up to and deal with a dangerous immigration process.
‘The Last Ranger’ – Cindy Lee, 28 min., South Africa (in Xhosa)
When young Litha is introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger, they are ambushed by poachers. In the ensuing battle to save the rhinos, Litha discovers a terrible secret.
Animated Oscar Shorts – Screening February 23rd, February 28th, and March 1st
‘Magic Candies’ – Daisuke Nishio, 21 min., Japan (in Japanese)
The other kids at the park never ask Dong-Dong to play. But he’s fine just playing marbles on his own. One day he goes out in search of new marbles, but ends up buying a bag of colorful, marble-shaped candies instead. But the first time he pops one of them into his mouth, he’s astonished to hear his old sofa start talking to him! For the next few minutes, until the candy melts away, he has the most unexpected and amazing conversation of his life. Realizing that these are no ordinary candies, Dong-Dong looks at the rest of colorful sweets. Who else will he be able to talk to, and what else will he learn, through these magic candies?
‘In the Shadow of the Cypress’ – Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, 20 min., Iran (no dialogue)
Living in a house by the sea with his daughter, a former captain who has post-traumatic stress disorder leads a tough and secluded life.
‘Yuck!’ – Loïc Espuche, 13 min., France (in French)
Yuck! Adults kiss each other on the mouth, and children find it disgusting! What’s more, you can see it from afar: when people are about to kiss, their lips become all pink and shiny. Little Léo makes jokes about it, as do the other kids at the summer camp. But he has a secret he won’t tell his friends: his own mouth has actually begun glistening. And, in reality, Léo desperately wants to give kissing a try.
Note: A brief message will appear before Wander to Wonder and Beautiful Men: “The following films include nudity, and may not be appropriate for audiences under 14 years old.”
‘Wander to Wonder’ – Nina Gantz, 13 min., Netherlands/Belgium/France/UK (in English)
Mary, Billybud, and Fumbleton are three tiny humans who star in a kids’ TV Series called “Wander to Wonder”. After the creator dies, they are left alone in the studio. Struggling to find enough to eat, they continue to make increasingly strange episodes for their fans.
‘Beautiful Men’ – Nicolas Keppens, 19 min., Belgium/France/Netherlands (in Flemish, Dutch, Turkish, and English)
Three balding brothers travel to Istanbul to get a hair transplant. Stuck with each other in a hotel far from home, their insecurities grow faster than their hair.
Documentary Oscar Shorts – Screening February 20th and March 1st
‘Instruments of a Beating Heart’ – Ema Ryan Yamazaki, 23 min., Japan (in Japanese)
A New York Times Op-Docs, first graders in a Tokyo public elementary school are presented with a challenge for the final semester: to form an orchestra and perform “Ode to Joy” at a school ceremony.
‘Incident’ – Bill Morrison, 30 min., USA (in English)
Through a montage of surveillance and police body-camera footage, a reconstruction of a deadly shooting by a Chicago police officer becomes an investigation into how a narratve begins to take shape in the aftermath.
‘I Am Ready, Warden’ – Smriti Mundhra, 37 min., USA (in English)
John Henry Ramirez is convicted of murder and sentenced to death in the state of Texas. During his incarceration, Ramirez tries to reach out to his victim’s son while also preparing to say goodbye to his family.
‘The Only Girl in the Orchestra’ – Molly O’Brien, 35 min., USA (in English)
Trailblazing double bassist Orin O’Brien was never one to seek the spotlight, but when Leonard Bernstein hired her in 1966 as the first female musician in the New York Philharmonic, she inevitably became the focus of media attention and, ultimately, one of the most renowned musicians of a generation.
‘Death by Numbers’ – Kim A. Snyder, 36 min., USA (in English)
Four years after being shot with an AR-15 in her high school, Samantha Fuentes reckons with existential questions of hatred and justice as she prepares to confront her shooter.
For times, tickets, and more information, visit okcmoa.com.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
