OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Tom Koch on OLIVE “In the edit, through Lesley Ann Warren’s performance, I realized something even more powerful”

The awards season is heating up, and among the standout contenders is a deeply affecting short film that has quietly become a festival favorite. With its poignant narrative, elegant direction, and a powerhouse performance from the legendary Lesley Ann Warren, OLIVE is more than just a film, it’s a meditation on love, memory, and the human spirit. At the heart of OLIVE is filmmaker Tom Koch, a rising … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Tom Koch on OLIVE “In the edit, through Lesley Ann Warren’s performance, I realized something even more powerful”

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

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

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?”