Catch all of this year’s Oscar nominated short films before the 88th Annual Academy Awards telecast on Sunday, February 28, 2016!
And the winners are?… Once again, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society is proud to present this nationally-touring program highlighting all of the Live Action, Animated, and Documentary Short Films that received Academy Award nominations this past year. The Oscar Nominated Short Films programs offers viewers the rare opportunity to experience the year’s best short films from across the globe, collected together in this special cinematic showcase courtesy of Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures.
ANIMATED SHORTS (Running Time: 86 minutes)
Approximate rating: PG for all films except PROLOGUE, which is not suitable for children
Sanjay’s Super Team – dir. Sanjay Patel, USA, 7 minutes Synopsis: In SANJAY’S SUPER TEAM, the new short film from Pixar Animation Studios, accomplished artist Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop-culture comes into conflict with his father’s traditions. Sanjay is absorbed in the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. Tedium and reluctance quickly turn into an awe-inspiring adventure as the boy embarks on a journey he never imagined, returning with a new perspective that they can both embrace.
World of Tomorrow – dir. Don Hertzfeldt, USA, 17 minutes Synopsis: A little girl named Emily is taken on a fantastical tour of her distant future by a surprising visitor who reveals unnerving secrets about humanity’s fate.
Bear Story – dir. Gabriel Osorio, Chile, 11 minutes Synopsis: Every day, a melancholy old bear takes a mechanical diorama that he has created out to his street corner. For a coin, passersby can look into the peephole of his invention, which tells the story of a circus bear who longs to escape and return to the family from which he was taken.
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos – dir. Konstantin Bronzit, Russia, 16 minutes Synopsis: Two best friends have dreamed since childhood of becoming cosmonauts, and together they endure the rigors of training and public scrutiny, and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve their shared goal.
Prologue – dir. Richard Williams, UK, 6 minutes Synopsis: Clocking in at six minutes, PROLOGUE describes an incident in the Spartan-Athenian wars of 2,400 years ago. In it, a small girl bears witness as warriors battle to death. The dialog-free project utilizes natural sounds to complement the intense animation (entirely animated by Richard Williams himself). Williams – who is best known for his work as animation director on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, his unfinished feature “The Thief and the Cobbler” and Academy Award-winning “A Christmas Carol “adaptation – has worked on PROLOGUE for many years in between other projects. It was finally completed this year at the Aardman Studios in Bristol, U.K.
***PROLOGUE, which is not suitable for children*** is shown last in program
Additional short animated films added to lengthen the program.
If I Was God (additional film)
Taking Flight (additional film)
The Short Story of a Fox and a Mouse (additional film)
The Loneliest Spotlight (additional film)
Catch It (additional film)
***PROLOGUE, which is not suitable for children*** is shown last in program
“Thank the gods of cinema for this annual release of Oscar nominees.” – Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
