Oscars alert: 10 short films that could make the shortlists

Short films — whether it be live-action, animated, or documentary — are becoming increasingly popular as more notable filmmakers begin to tell stories via this medium. Wes Anderson has four short films on Netflix, each adapted from a Roald Dahl book with “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” the most popular of the bunch. Pedro Almodóvar made “Strange Way of Life” with Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke. And Disney has the animated centenary celebration “Once Upon a Studio.”

These high-profile projects face fierce competition from some of the most up-and-coming filmmakers. Here are 10 other short films you should try and watch if you can. We think they’ll deservedly be serious Oscar contenders.

More from GoldDerby

• 2024 Australian International Academy Awards nominations: 'Oppenheimer' leads films, 'Succession' leads TV

• 'Only Murders in the Building': Is 3rd time the charm for cast to win at SAG Awards?

• 2024 Grammy race for Best Musical Theater Album: Can another Sondheim album upset the reigning Tony champ?

“In Too Deep” — Chris Overton
Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2018 for “The Silent Child” and they return here with another searing short that packs a wallop. “In Too Deep” follows a grieving father who turns to the dark use of AI in an attempt to recreate memories of his recently deceased daughter. Shenton features as the mother and gives another great performance. The film begins with sadness, yes, but the setting of a local town with a farmers market-type food store gives it a familiar, almost comforting quality. What has happened to these people is tragic but there is something warm there nevertheless. However that feeling is snatched away, however, towards the end of the film and replaced with a sinister, dark, terrifying, coldness. It makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck like a good horror film does, it’s that effective. The film’s subject matter — the use of AI — will undoubtedly catch the attention of awards voters. Part of the reason writers and actors were on strike was because they were concerned about the use of AI. They will want to catch this short, then, that, yes, is timely and important, but it’s also a story that never forgets to be entertaining, gripping, and just a wonderfully dark, tragic short film. Top-tier short filmmaking once again from Overton and Shenton. This one is up for a BAFTA this year rather than an Oscar.

“The After” — Misan Harriman
Misan Harriman made his name as a photographer and pictured many celebrities including Steve McQueen and Liam Neeson. Now, he’s turned in his debut film — the thoughtful, profound “The After,” which follows David Oyelowo as a man trying to get on with his life in the aftermath of a horrific, brutal attack in London. The way Harriman captures that attack is unrelenting and powerful — the screening I was in featured an audible, collective intake of breath — but what follows is a wonderfully meditative, knowing examination of the role grief and tragedy play in our lives. Harriman has spoken about the impact mental health has had on him and on this film and you can see that on screen and in Oyelowo’s masterful performance. Watch out for this one come Oscar nominations — it has got a lot of high-profile fans. A screening was recently moderated by Meghan Markle.

“The Stupid Boy” — Phil Dunn
One of the sweeter entries on this list, though not without its own exploration of darkness. This one follows a neurodiverse student in London who tries to make sense of the world while white, Christian suicide bombers carry out attacks in the UK capital. The film has a classic thesis — love wins — but it’s no less powerful and effective here. This one feels like it could easily become a feature film —the villain’s backstory, in particular, could fill out an entire film — but this short is worth watching for its terrific central performance from Joshua Griffin, who creates one of the most likable and lovable lead characters I’ve seen not just in short films this year but in cinema in general. The climax at the end feels justified and earned thanks to Phil Dunn‘s clear love of this character and belief in his thesis as well as Griffin’s committed performance.

“The Golden West” — Tom Berkeley and Ross White
Tom Berkeley and Ross White won Best Live Action Short Film earlier this year for “An Irish Goodbye” and return to Ireland. Truthfully, this one does not feel like a short film at all. It’s a western set in Ireland in 1849, following two sisters who try to make their fortunes in the gold rush. However, as winter approaches and no gold is in sight, the sisters’ age-old feud begins to consume them. There are a lot of feature filmmakers who would give both hands and feet for a slither of the cinematic prowess and power found on screen here. The dialogue is exquisite, hinting at shades of the Coen brothers, the vistas are sweeping, the costumes stunningly realized, and the performances from Eileen Walsh and Aoife Duffin are just magnificent. Berkeley and White have stepped up their game here. Could they win back-to-back Oscars for Best Live Action Short Film? We’ll see.

“One Note Man” — George Siougas
George Siougas has created a beautiful little world in this silent short film. “The Crown” alum Jason Watkins plays a bassoonist who only has a single note to play in the orchestra he performs in. He leads a solitary, silent life but his set routine is soon disrupted by a violinist who captures his attention. It’s a charming short film with ties to Alfred Hitchcock. It’s also a Christmas film — the days leading up to Christmas play a key part in the one-note man’s quest for love. Stephen Warbeck‘s score is another character in and of itself and the musical master is one of many ingredients that make this short as sweet and sumptuous as the confectionary depicted within the film.

“Good Boy” — Tom Stuart
Ben Whishaw is worth watching in anything he is in. Whether it’s voicing Paddington Bear, winning an Emmy for “A Very English Scandal,” or breaking the fourth wall in “This is Going to Hurt,” Whishaw is always first-rate. That proves to be the case again here with Tom Stuart‘s debut short film “Good Boy.” This one follows Whishaw as a down-on-his-luck son who tries to turn his life around but his anarchic mother and the reappearance of past figures derail that mission. This is an effective, moving story for anyone who has ever dealt with the loss of a loved one, and the exploration of such a subject is done in Stuart’s own, charming, quintessentially British way.

“The Shepherd” — Iain Softley
Based on Frederick Forsyth‘s pocket-sized novella, “The Shepherd” follows a young fighter pilot who gets lost mid-flight over water while making his way back to England for Christmas. He needs a miracle to land safely and that’s where John Travolta comes in. We won’t touch on any more plot details to avoid spoilers but Travolta brings a warmth, gravitas, and treasured screen presence that reminds us of his cinematic heritage. He’s the glue that makes the film work and he was also the reason the short was ever made — he optioned the book many years ago only to relinquish the rights after he never got to make it. Now, he executive produces it as well as stars in it while Iain Softley directs. It has the hallmarks of a great, Christmas ghost story akin to “A Christmas Carol.” For that reason (as well as to watch Travolta because why would you not want to watch Travolta?), viewers should seek this one out on Disney+ over the holiday period. It’s delightful.

“The Old Young Crow” — Liam LoPinto
This animated film could well be nominated for Best Animated Short Film, although it is actually a blend of both animation and live action. The story follows an Iranian boy who befriends an old Japanese woman while at a graveyard in Tokyo. Liam LoPinto proves to be an ambitious filmmaker here by wielding both live action and animation but he makes both mediums work with aplomb, demonstrating wonderful storytelling capabilities. The design of the film is truly something to behold while previous Oscar winners have expressed their admiration for the short with 2006 Best Animated Short Film winner John Canemaker (for “The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation,” shared with Peggy Stern) calling it a “beautiful” and “deep” work.

“The Last Repair Shop” — Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot
This already has some awards credentials as it won Best Short Documentary at this year’s Critics Choice Documentary Awards. That pedigree could help it on the way to an Oscar nomination in the same category for directors Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot. The documentary tells the story of four everyday heroes who love music and attempt to share that joy with students. The film explores the power of music and its vitality in our everyday lives, from using music as medicine, to relieving stress, and improving our wellbeing in every way possible. This is a thoughtful, intriguing documentary made with clear passion.

“Troy” — Mike Donahue
Mike Donahue‘s debut short film screened at both the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. That is a testament to the film’s quality. It tells the darkly comedic tale of neighbors living in New York and explores how the lives of strangers can become entangled and interwoven in ways we can’t imagine despite not knowing each other. The short also touches on the consequences of unasked-for intimacy. Donahue, a theatre director, proves that he is just as good as a filmmaker here with a short that boasts an impressive visual language packed full of plenty of sight gags and visual cues.

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions

Best of GoldDerby

• Annie Gonzalez ('Flamin' Hot'): 'It was one of the few accurate portrayals of the community I come from' [Exclusive Video Interview]

• Fantasia Barrino ('The Color Purple') on why she had to play Celie: 'I never gave up and I never gave in' [Exclusive Video Interview]

• Claire Foy ('All of Us Strangers'): This story of love and loss 'was like a real stab in the heart' [Exclusive Video Interview]

Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.