Category: Awards Season

Awards Season, Live action short, Short Film

OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Daniel Persitz on the True Story Behind KEY OF GENIUS

Daniel Persitz paints a powerful portrait of virtuoso pianist Derek Paravicini in Key of Genius. Blind and autistic since birth, Derek communicates through music with astonishing fluency, and the film, based on Adam Ockelford’s memoir In the Key of Genius, captures not only his extraordinary gift but also the transformative mentorship that shaped it. Oscar-qualified after screenings at Cleveland, HollyShorts, Raindance, and the Los Angeles Diversity … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Daniel Persitz on the True Story Behind KEY OF GENIUS

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Awards Season, Live action short, Short Film

OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Iain Forbes on AFTER DARK “How far would I go to help a stranger?”

Scottish-Norwegian filmmaker Iain Forbes has quickly emerged as one of Scandinavia’s most compelling new voices, blending taut storytelling with a sharp eye for human complexity. His latest short, After Dark, pushes these instincts to the forefront, unfolding as a tense nocturnal encounter that asks: how far can empathy stretch when shadowed by fear and doubt? Oscar-qualified after its Best International Short Film win at the Foyle Film Festival, After Dark has … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Iain Forbes on AFTER DARK “How far would I go to help a stranger?”

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Awards Season, Live action short, Short Film

OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – The Mourning Of’s Merced Elizondo “I underestimated the power of grief”

Fresh off its Oscar® qualification, The Mourning Of has emerged as one of the most powerful short films of the season, a deeply intimate exploration of grief, healing, and the unspoken rituals that bind families across generations. Written and directed by Mexican-American filmmaker Merced Elizondo, the award-winning film has captivated audiences worldwide with its quiet emotional resonance and cultural specificity, while breaking ground as a rare Latino-led, independently … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – The Mourning Of’s Merced Elizondo “I underestimated the power of grief”

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Awards Season, BAFTA, Film Review, Films, Live action short, Short Film, TIFF

OSCAR CONTENDER SERIES – Dust to Dreams: Idris Elba and Mo Abudu Redefine African Storytelling at TIFF

By Jane Fitzgerald When Idris Elba steps behind the camera, audiences expect artistry that resonates as deeply as his performances. With Dust to Dreams, his latest directorial venture in collaboration with Nigerian superproducer Mo Abudu, Elba delivers a tender, musical meditation on love, legacy, and reconciliation, set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos. Selected for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Short Cuts program, the film underscores … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDER SERIES – Dust to Dreams: Idris Elba and Mo Abudu Redefine African Storytelling at TIFF

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Awards Season, BAFTA, Film Review, Films, Live action short, Oscars, Short Film

FILM BUSINESS 2026 OSCAR CONTENDER SERIES – Jack Howard’s The Second Time Around: An Oscar-Qualified Short That Lingers Long After It Ends

By Jane Fitzgerald With The Second Time Around, filmmaker Jack Howard makes a strikingly confident leap from comedy into dramatic territory, crafting a short that feels both intimate and cinematic in scope. Already Oscar and BAFTA qualified, and a recent Best Sci-Fi winner at HollyShorts, the film arrives with real awards momentum, and deservedly so. Set on a rain-drenched London night, the story pairs rising British star Hannah … Continue reading FILM BUSINESS 2026 OSCAR CONTENDER SERIES – Jack Howard’s The Second Time Around: An Oscar-Qualified Short That Lingers Long After It Ends

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