2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation
The Oscars awarded by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are one of the most prestigious awards in the world of cinema. Nominations are announced in several categories, including the Best short films. Shorts are usually shown in sets of several films, so one visit to the cinema is a spectrum of emotions and amazing, inspiring stories. Here are the best shorts of the season that are worth seeing on the big cinema screen.
Each story told with a different animated line is a journey through various experiences of human nature. In Letter to a Pig we will hear from a Holocaust survivor whose memories will encourage intergenerational reflection on identity and trauma. Ninety-Five Senses are the thoughts of a man who has little time left to enjoy life. Our Uniform will show the realities of an Iranian school in the memory of one of its students, and Pachyderme will tell a story of a seemingly carefree summer with grandparents in the countryside, where anxiety lurks around the corner. In an alternate reality of World War I, in WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko, two soldiers transmit messages to each other via carrier pigeon while playing chess, showing that there are no winners in war.
Letter to a Pig, dir. Tal Kantor, Israel, France,2022, 17’
A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream where she confronts questions of identity, collective trauma, and the extremes of human nature.
Ninety-Five Senses, dir. Jerusha Hess, Jared Hess, USA, 2023, 13’
An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them.
Our Uniform, dir. Yegane Moghaddam, Iran, 2023, 7’
An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the folds and fabrics of her old uniform.
Pachyderme, dir. Stéphanie Clement, France, 2022, 11’
As every summer, Louise is entrusted to her grand-parents for a few days of vacation in the country. The green grass of the garden, the swimming in the lake, the fishing with Grandpa, everything seems as sweet as Grandma’s strawberry pies. Yet this year, the snow will fall in summer and a monster will die.
WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko, dir. Dave Mullins, USA, 2023, 11’
Set in an alternate WWI reality where a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a joyful game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers' chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates. Neither soldier knows his opponent as the game and the war builds to its climatic final move. Whoever wins the game, one thing is for certain: there are no winners in war. A film inspired by the manifestos of one of the most famous musician couples in history - Jonn Lennon and Yoko Ono.
