Short of the Week
Having followed the race for the short film Oscars so closely this year, we’ve felt truly invested in the outcome and eager to see this year’s winners. We followed the progress from shortlists to nominations, provided our own voter’s guide, explored the trends and made predictions, we even had time to catch up with a couple of previous winners for an insightful discussion on their Oscars experience.
However, now all the waiting is at an end…so without further ado…here at the winners of the Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, and Best Live-Action Short Film categories at the 95th Academy Awards:
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BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
WINNER: THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE BY PETER BAYNTON & CHARLIE MACKESY
Thanks to the beloved book it is based on, starry celebrity involvement, and huge institutional support from the BBC and Apple+, this was probably the biggest shoo-in of the night. While the animation category was the strongest of the three short film lineups, the other films (like our personal favorite My Year of Dicks) didn’t stand a chance. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse can be cloyingly sentimental, especially considering its lengthy runtime, but it is also quite sweet, and the animation does a great job of adapting Charlie Mackesy’s distinctive style into motion. It seems destined to become a perennial holiday classic.
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BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
WINNER: THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS BY KARTIKI GONSALVES
Netflix continues its dominance of the category with its 3rd win in the past 7 years. While The Elephant Whisperers was not our favorite in the category, we do admire it—it just felt very much like “TV” rather than a short film. Still, a touching story that center indigenous experience and calls for conservation and empathy towards our animal brethren will not draw complaint from us.
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BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
WINNER: AN IRISH GOODBYE BY ROSS WHITE & TOM BERKELEY
Having won the BAFTA, we had to concede that Ross White & Tom Berkeley’s An Irish Goodbye was a leading contender alongside our pick, La Pupille. A tale of fraternal bonding in the wake of their Mother’s death, we found the film overstuffed and underbaked. So, while it is not a surprise, we do find ourselves somewhat puzzled by its win. Kudos to the filmmakers for a memorable acceptance, however!