Category: Live action short

Academy Awards, Awards Season, Film Review, Live action short

OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – THE PEARL COMB – An Evocative Folk-inspired Mystery

Set in 1893 Cornwall, The Pearl Comb unfolds the story of Betty Lutey (Beatie Edney), a fisherman’s wife whose miraculous gift to cure tuberculosis attracts the scrutiny of a skeptical doctor sent to investigate. What begins as the premise for a genteel period drama soon veers into the uncanny, as Betty recounts an extraordinary tale steeped in folklore and sea-born magic that carries the viewer into stranger, … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – THE PEARL COMB – An Evocative Folk-inspired Mystery

Unknown's avatarEditorLeave a comment
Awards Season, BAFTA, Film Business, Film Review, Films, Live action short, Short Film

OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES: Ross Syner’s BROTHERS grips with moral ferocity and emotional precision

By Sally Green Few short films possess the narrative control and moral weight of BROTHERS. Ross Syner’s latest work unfolds with the taut precision of a stage play and the emotional intimacy of a confession. A grandfather, two grandsons, and an unspoken secret, that is all the film needs to interrogate the meaning of loyalty and the price of conscience. From the first frame, Syner’s direction … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES: Ross Syner’s BROTHERS grips with moral ferocity and emotional precision

Unknown's avatarEditorLeave a comment
Academy Awards, Awards Season, Film Review, Live action short

OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – The Boy with White Skin – A Haunting Tale of Myth, Sacrifice, and Hope in West Africa’s Gold Mines

By Mary Salis Simon Panay’s OSCAR-qualified short film The Boy with White Skin is a rare work of cinema that feels both timeless and urgent. Set deep within the perilous gold mines of West Africa, the film straddles the boundary between documentary realism and mythic storytelling, inviting audiences into a world where ancient ritual collides with modern exploitation. At its core, the film follows the journey of … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – The Boy with White Skin – A Haunting Tale of Myth, Sacrifice, and Hope in West Africa’s Gold Mines

Unknown's avatarEditorLeave a comment
Awards Season, Film Review, Live action short, Short Film

OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – OLIVE – A Masterclass in Directing and Performance

By Mary Salis In OLIVE, director Tom Koch and legendary actress Lesley Ann Warren collaborate on a devastatingly intimate portrait of love, memory, and the slow, painful erosion of self through Alzheimer’s. Clocking in as a short film, but resonating with the emotional weight of a full-length feature, OLIVE is a stirring, nuanced piece that showcases the power of restrained direction and raw, immersive performance. Directing: Tom Koch’s … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – OLIVE – A Masterclass in Directing and Performance

Unknown's avatarEditorLeave a comment
Awards Season, Film Review, Live action short

OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – The Mourning Of: A Quiet Triumph of Grief and Grace

By Jane Fitzgerald The award-winning short film The Mourning Of has officially qualified for the 2026 Academy Awards®, marking a milestone in its remarkable journey through international film festivals. Written and directed by Mexican-American filmmaker Merced Elizondo, The Mourning Of tells the story of Maribel, a young woman mourning the tragic loss of her mother in an unusual way, by secretly attending the funerals of … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – The Mourning Of: A Quiet Triumph of Grief and Grace

Unknown's avatarEditorLeave a comment