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

OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – MONEY TALK$ — A Gritty, Original Short with Oscar-Worthy Potential

By Jane Fitzgerald In MONEY TALK$, director Tony Mucci delivers a gripping and uniquely structured short film that grips you from the first frame and doesn’t let go. Set in the gritty, chaotic heart of 1981 New York City, the most violent year in the city’s history, the film tells its story not through a single protagonist, but through the journey of a $100 bill. This … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING SERIES – MONEY TALK$ — A Gritty, Original Short with Oscar-Worthy Potential

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

Philippe Grenier’s MUSCAT – a painful story of self discovery

Philippe Grenier’s Muscat is a powerful and emotionally charged short film that delves into themes of incommunicability, sexual awakening, and the harsh realities of societal taboos. Set against the backdrop of Morocco, where the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals remains a poignant issue, the film follows 16-year-old Samir, a fisherman struggling with his emerging attraction to men. His world is turned upside down when he meets Louis, a … Continue reading Philippe Grenier’s MUSCAT – a painful story of self discovery

OSCAR SPOTLIGHT: The Delicate Sublime of SPIRIT OF PLACE directed by Jack Cooper Stimpson

Jack Cooper Stimpson’s Spirit of Place is a stunning short film that immerses its audience in a world where nature and identity collide, and where the natural world holds the power to unearth the deepest truths about ourselves. In this lyrical meditation on self-discovery, Spirit of Place gracefully examines the intimate relationship between humans and the environments they inhabit, and what happens when that connection is disrupted or altered. … Continue reading OSCAR SPOTLIGHT: The Delicate Sublime of SPIRIT OF PLACE directed by Jack Cooper Stimpson