As soon as the New Year festivities conclude, our focus at Short of the Week shifts to reflection as we start to consider which films from the past year merit recognition in our annual Short Awards. Each team member brings forth their favorites, passionately advocating for their inclusion, but with only six awards to bestow, the decision-making process becomes a challenging endeavor.

Chosen from the 204 short films featured on our website throughout 2023, our dedicated team of programmers individually curated their top 10 picks for the year. After rigorous debates, we distilled the selection into a 15-film shortlist, categorized into Animation, Documentary, and Live Action genres - each category featuring five titles. On Friday, February 16th, we will unveil the winners in these categories, including the prestigious Jury Award, determined by our carefully selected panel of jurors (details about the jury members can be found below).

VIEW ALL THE NOMINEES ON ✨SHORTVERSE

During this announcement, we will also declare the recipient of the Trailblazer award, a significant accolade that reflects our team's commitment to recognizing films that epitomize innovative storytelling within the short film domain. Simultaneously, we will unveil the winner of the Audience Choice Award, which provides our audience with the opportunity to vote for their personal favorite (by leaving review/rating on the film on Shortverse). Further information on how to cast your vote can be found later in this article.

So without any further ado, here are this year's nominees:

🏆 Animation Short of the Year

As is often the case, animation stands out as the most innovative category in our awards. With our nominees including a S/W world premiere, a Japanese stop-motion masterpiece, an inventive piece exploring artificial intelligence, a relatable tale of self-diagnosis and an unforgettable student short film, the competition for our favorite animated short of 2023 highlights the diversity the medium allows. These five selections illustrating the abundance of originality within the animated short genre.

	backflip by Nikita Diakur Inspired by “Youtube’s self-improvement culture”, Diakur’s 12-minute short features an avatar of the filmmaker attempting to teach itself the titular gymnastics move through machine learning – watching videos and learning from its mistakes. The result is repeatedly humorous and utterly fascinating. While it’s easy to get caught up in the entertainment value of the film (it really is satisfying watching Diakur’s digital form crumple over and over again), the film tackles some topical themes and has a meaningful message. [Read the Full Review]
	Hidari by Masashi Kawamura and Iku Ogawa Described as “Japanimation meets stop-motion” by its team, the short’s slick, action-packed visuals are one of its main selling points. Essentially one long fight sequence, the stop-motion footage and the edit had to be razor sharp to land its killer blow on its audience and it really doesn’t disappoint. Some of the most exciting stop-motion we’ve seen in a while, the kinetic camera movements and constant changes of pace are truly exhilarating. [Read the Full Review]
	Les Larmes de la Seine (The Seine's Tears) by Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer & Alice Letailleur With the nine-minute short largely presented through the camera lens of Kamel, the protester documenting the event, this specific point-of-view gives the film an intimate and immersive perspective, placing its viewers at the centre of the demonstration. It’s a clever move, as authenticity was key in the creation of the film, with the directors aiming to “stay as close as possible to the real events”, and the feel of the handheld camera is an important reminder that the incidents on screen actually happened. [Read the Full Review]
	The TOBOS by Tobias Rud If what you want out of a film review is to learn what a critic thinks about a work, I’m happy to clear that up top—I think The TOBOS is a masterpiece, the kind of conceptually brilliant, emotionally brave, and artistically assured work that exemplifies this site’s long time programming mission of “Head, Heart, and Hand” which graces our “submit a film” page. It’s rare to find a work that accomplishes each in equal measure and, as a random submission, the film invoked a giddiness in me upon first watch that all veteran programmers recognize when they sense a serendipitous but momentous discovery. [Read the Full Review]
	TRICHOTILLOMANIA! by Kelly Schiesswohl Created in her childhood bedroom during lockdown, on an old iMac donated by the college she studied at, the US based director’s first short film is a window (or rather multiple windows) into the spiralling human psyche during an online search. Confidently conceived, TRICHOTILLOMANIA! is a dazzling labour of love with every scene so overloaded with visual and auditory information that it might require a second or even a third watch to fully process and appreciate – not a bad thing considering how unique and disturbingly delightful the animation is. [Read the Full Review]

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🏆 Documentary Short of the Year

While animation frequently takes the lead in innovation, our chosen nominees for Documentary Short of the Year highlight the diverse emotional spectrum that the short doc format can evoke. From contemplative reflections on the environment to the heartwarming portrayal of the mother/~~son~~ squirrel bond, each of these five films left a lasting impression on our team in 2023.

	Ball People by Scott Lazer A documentary that provides focus on those you’re supposed to ignore, the unsung heroes of all tennis tournaments. From the application process to the tournament itself, Lazer follows the ball person journey, capturing it with sensitivity, humor, and lightheartedness, subverting the tropes of the conventional sports doc along the way. [Read the Full Review]
	Coming Home by Naim Naif & Margot Bowman In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York City, there’s a collective of Palestinian-American performers, who connect with their culture and folklore through a Levantine dance. Known as the Freedom Dabka Group, its members are looking to strengthening their ties with their local communities, and with their homeland, through this shared tradition. In this powerful short documentary, Coming Home, directing duo Margot Bowman and Naim Naif join forces to profile the group, honoring both Palestinian identity and the art form of Dabka. [Read the Full Review]
	Holy Cowboys by Varun Chopra In a monumental work of short filmmaking, returning artist Varun Chopra (Lyrically Bleating Horns) has found the fulcrum upon which his country’s future rests and determines that it is based on a “potent irony”. A story of politics at the micro-level, Holy Cowboys is a dispatch from rural India at a momentous time for the country as the world’s largest democracy threatens to slide into an authoritarian-lead religious nationalism. Ignoring the power of its subject matter it is also simply one of the most beautiful and innovatively constructed short films of the year [Read the Full Review]
	My Duduś by Tom Krawczyk Away, studying photography in Poland, director/cinematographer Tom Krawczyk was quite surprised when his mother introduced him to a new family member upon his return. Wishing to sharpen his cinematography skills, and being immediately struck by the connection that had developed between the squirrel and his mother, he explained that “my intuition told me to pick up a camera. I knew something special was happening”. It’s easy to relate to the feeling of being left alone when the kids leave, so picturing the joy that Duduś would bring to Czesława doesn’t require much from the audience, but still, Krawczyk portrays the beauty and genuine love of their bond with a delicate touch. [Read the Full Review]
	*Puffling by Jessica Bishopp* Birta and Selma, two teenagers living in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, have a unique pastime. Instead of going out to parties, or playing video games, at night they drive around their town on a mission to locate lost pufflings (puffin chicks) and rescue them, guiding them back to the ocean. In awards contender Puffling, director Jessica Bishopp follows the inspiring conservation efforts of these young women, while also crafting a compelling and multilayered coming-of-age narrative between the girls, the young birds and their island. [Read the Full Review]

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🏆 Live-Action Short of the Year

With the 'Live-Action' title covering a range of storytelling approaches, it's no real surprise that this category delivers a lot of variety this year. As genre hits mix with indie comedies and festival favorites, the five titles in line for this award will make you laugh, cringe, cry.

With the 'Live-Action' title encompassing a broad spectrum of storytelling approaches, this year's lineup reflects that freedom by offering a lot of variety in their narratives. From genre hits to indie comedies and festival favorites, the five contenders for this award promise to elicit laughter, cringes, tears, and a host of other emotional experiences.

	Don't Go Where I Can't Find You by Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair Grief stricken, and haunted by the memory of her deceased lover, composer Margaret desperately attempts to communicate with her through music. In Don’t Go Where I Can’t Find You, writer/director Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair immerses us in her main character’s pain and chaos with a distinct and elegant visual flair and astounding sound design. There are films we like a lot, then there are films we love…this is one we fell in love with! [Read the Full Review]
	Freelancer by Rosco5 A mixed-media film in which live-action segments will seamlessly segue into animated sequences based on Ganjei’s comic art style, the 8min is not just funny, but visually fresh. Art Director Ellen Amann Johns makes the most out of very little and, in the hands of Rosco 5, the visuals often are able to perfectly enhance punchlines or create comedy all by themselves. [Read the Full Review]
	FROM.BEYOND by Fredrik S. Hana Whether or not you believe that aliens exist, Fredrik S. Hana’s FROM.BEYOND presents an uncanny representation of how mankind might take in such a world-altering revelation. No stranger to exploring and critiquing people’s dark obsessions with the unknown or the perverse nature of what it means to be human – who could forget his ‘nunsploitation’ film Sister Hell – Hana’s unsettling experimental sci-fi/horror doesn’t feel like a work of fiction. Utilizing old school film techniques, stunning practical effects, and an unorthodox approach to screenwriting, FROM.BEYOND is as disturbing as it is beautiful. [Read the Full Review]
	I Have No Legs, And I Must Run by Yue Li As a talented short-distance runner struggles with the fact that his body is failing him, he quickly has to come to terms with the possibility that his best days might already be behind him. In I Have No Legs, and I Must Run, writer/director Yue Li crafts a gripping psychological thriller that captures an intersection of universal themes with a remarkable attention to detail, making the film both utterly compelling and emotionally relatable. [Read the Full Review]
	Pussybaby by Derek Milton Pussybaby humorously grapples with some big questions—society’s expectations for masculinity, online pile-ons, and the deleterious effect that sudden notoriety can have on “normal” people in a social media age. It would be wrong though to imply that Pussybaby is motivated by any grand point to be made regarding manhood, the struggling creative class, or even culture at large. The script proceeds loosely, even playfully, like an exercise in where the premise will lead, and there is a lot of pleasure in following the twists and ramifications that Milton is able to spin out of Shaliek’s viral humiliation. This is paired with a masterful production, however, with great design, cinematography, and performances. [Read the Full Review]

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⚖️ Meet the Jury

With four of our six awards (excluding the Trailblazer and Audience Award) picked by our jury, let's meet the trio of talented individuals we've tasked with choosing our award winners this year.

Tomisin Adepeju

Tomisin Adepeju is a Nigerian-British film-maker based in London. His award winning shorts has screened at over 150 film festivals, these include, Sundance, BFI Film Festival and London Short Film Festival. He has also written about film for MUBI and several other platforms. He is the founder of the screening and event series DAILIES where he curates shorts and feature films.

Website | Instagram

Kyle Thrash

Born in Philly, Kyle Thrash grew up in Lehigh County PA in a small town called Germansville. Lots of unsupervised time as a kid meant getting into trouble with his two brothers, often filming skate videos on his Hi8 video camera and screening them at his school for friends and teachers. He used filmmaking as a way to experience, learn, and grow; to celebrate characters and stories that make life worth it. His work very quickly gravitated toward capturing the underbelly of America, the interesting characters and oddballs that are rich with environment and sense of place. His Music Videos have been shortlisted for 4 UKMVA’s, nominated for Best Music Video at SXSW multiple times and received a host of Vimeo Staff Picks.

Website | Instagram

Katie White

Katie White is an Emmy award-winning producer. Her fiction work includes Best Summer Ever (SXSW 2021/Hulu), a musical feature hailed as a ‘Critics Pick’ by The New York Times, praised widely for its groundbreaking inclusivity; and the Emmy-nominated queer comedy Bridesman, executive produced by Grindr, which received a 2022 Tribeca X nomination for outstanding episodic achievement. She is developing her second feature documentary with TIME Studios. Katie is a 2022 Sundance Catalyst Fellow and 2021 Sundance Producing Fellow, a member-at-large of the Producers Union, and served as co-chair of the Documentary Producers Alliance’s Membership Committee.

Website | Instagram

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🗳️ Audience Choice Award Vote

Pick your favorite from the 15 shortlisted films above. This year we'll be running our votes on Shortverse, so head over to our platform, select a film and leave a rating. It's as simple as that, we'll do the rest.

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