85th Academy Awards – 'Best Live Action Short’

Most people think the short film categories are a crap shoot… but I am 2 for 3 in this category… soooo… who the heck knows…

For a complete look at eligibility and voting procedures, please take a look at last year’s post:  84^th Academy Awards – Best Live Action Short.

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Nominations:

·         Asad

o   Bryan Buckley – 1^st nomination.

o   Mino Jarjoura – 1^st nomination.

Synopsis: A coming of age fable of a Somali boy as he struggles to survive in his war-torn land.

Buckley is known as the “King of the Super Bowl” having directed over 40 Super Bowl commercials. The topical narrative of this short and Buckley’s notoriety in the industry could push him to victory.

In addition, this short has already one the Austin Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival.

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi2136908569/

·         Buzkashi Boys

o    Sam French – 1^st nomination.

o    Ariel Nasr – 1^st nomination.

Synopsis: Set against the dramatic landscape of contemporary Afghanistan and the National sport of Buzkashi - a brutal game of horse polo played with a dead goat - Buzkashi Boys tells the coming of age story of two best friends, a charismatic street urchin and a defiant blacksmith's son, who struggle to realize their dreams as they make their way to manhood in one of the most war-torn countries on Earth. Shot on location in Kabul city by an alliance of Afghan and international film makers, Buzkashi Boys is a look at the life that continues beyond the headlines of war in Afghanistan.

So far, Buzkashi Boys has won the LA Short Festival (Best Drama), Raindance Film Festival, and Rhode Island International Film Festival (for Best Cinematography).

Trailer: http://www.buzkashiboys.com/

·         Curfew

o    Shawn Christensen – 1^st nomination.

Synopsis: At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister, asking him to look after his nine-year old niece, Sophia, for a few hours.

This is Christensen’s third short film… and it has been on fire. It has won 3 awards at the 24fps International Short Film Festival, 2nd place at the Athens Film and Video Festival, 2 awards as the Brussels Short Film Festival, won the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Cleveland international Film Festival, Granada International Festival for Young Filmmakers, Nashville Film Festival, Stockholm Film Festival, Toulouse Short Film Festival, and the Woodstock Film Festival.

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi3429212953/

·         Death of a Shadow

o   Tom Van Avermaet – 1^st nomination.

o   Ellen De Waele – 1^st nomination.

Synopsis: Soldier Nathan died during World War I. A strange collector imprisoned his shadow and gave him a new chance: a second life against 10000 captured shadows. It is love that guides him, as his purpose is to meet Sarah again, the woman he fell in love with before he died. But then he discovers that she's already in love with someone else, jealousy clouds his mind and pushes him towards a bitter decision, not without consequences.

Death of a Shadow won Best Short Film at the LA Shorts Festival.

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi2217714969/

·         Henry

o   Yan England - 1st nomination.

Synopsis: Henry, a great concert pianist, has his life thrown in turmoil the day the love of this life, Maria, disappears mysteriously. He'll then discover the inevitable verdict of life.

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Snubs:

Calculating snubs for this category is just not plausible or productive.

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Oscar Trends:

Who knows…

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Prediction: 

1.      Asad

2.     Curfew

3.     Buzkashi Boys

4.     Death of a Shadow

5.     Henry