AWARDS RULES AND CAMPAIGN PROMOTIONAL REGULATIONS APPROVED FOR 99TH OSCARS®

The Academy’s Board of Governors has approved awards rules, inclusion standards and campaign promotional regulations for the 99th Academy Awards®. For Academy Awards consideration, a feature film must have a qualifying theatrical release between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Substantive awards rules changes include:  Awards submission deadlines and additional key dates are as follows: Thursday, August 13, 2026: First submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary … Continue reading AWARDS RULES AND CAMPAIGN PROMOTIONAL REGULATIONS APPROVED FOR 99TH OSCARS®

Oscar-Nominated The Singers: Sam Davis on Underdogs, Improvisation and Finding Beauty in Ordinary Rooms

By Rebecca Ford Now streaming globally on Netflix, The Singers is an Oscar-nominated, genre-bending short from two-time Academy Award® nominee Sam A. Davis. Inspired by a nineteenth-century story from Ivan Turgenev, the film reimagines classic literature as a contemporary meditation on connection, artistry and the overlooked voices hiding in plain sight. Set inside a down-at-heel pub filled with downtrodden men, The Singers unfolds around an impromptu sing-off that gradually dissolves emotional barriers. … Continue reading Oscar-Nominated The Singers: Sam Davis on Underdogs, Improvisation and Finding Beauty in Ordinary Rooms

Oscar Nominated: Tears That Turn to Treasure The Dark Fairytale Beauty of The Girl Who Cried Pearls

The Girl Who Cried Pearls is a darkly lyrical animated short that unfolds like a cautionary fairy tale passed down through generations, its beauty inseparable from its cruelty. Directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, the film tells a haunting story of grief and devotion, centred on a young girl whose overwhelming sorrow manifests in an extraordinary and unsettling way. Each tear she sheds becomes … Continue reading Oscar Nominated: Tears That Turn to Treasure The Dark Fairytale Beauty of The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Three British Films with an Eye on Oscar Glory

British cinema has long punched above its weight at the Academy Awards, particularly in the short film categories where originality, emotional clarity and confident filmmaking shine. This year, A Friend of Dorothy, The Pearl Comb, and Rock, Paper, Scissors stand out as strong contenders, each supported by distinctive casts and accomplished creative teams. A Friend of Dorothy Written and directed by Lee Knight, A Friend of Dorothy weaves laughter, friendship, sadness … Continue reading Three British Films with an Eye on Oscar Glory

FILM BUSINESS MAGAZINE – Predicting the Live Action Short Film Nominees

The Live Action Short Film category has long been one of the Academy Awards’ most quietly adventurous races. Free from box office pressures and studio mandates, these films often tackle bold themes with emotional immediacy, relying on performance, concept, and craft rather than scale. This year’s shortlist points to a particularly strong and varied field, and five titles stand out as the most likely nominees: A … Continue reading FILM BUSINESS MAGAZINE – Predicting the Live Action Short Film Nominees