"Thank the gods of cinema for this annual release of Oscar nominees." -San Francisco Chronicle

 "Short films remain a great way to discover new talent in its infancy. Past short film winners have included John Lasseter, Peter Capaldi, Jim Henson, Don Siegel, Taylor Hackford and Steven Wright." -RogerEbert.com 

FilmScene is pleased to continue our popular annual tradition of screening the Oscar-nominated short films. A perennial hit with audiences around the country (and now the world), don?t miss this year's selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 4--join us for our Blue Carpet Bash!

All three programs featuring every Academy Award nominee in the Animated, Live Action, and Documentary categories. Shorts programs will screen multiple times thru February with individual ticketing for each program.

2018 OSCAR-NOMINATED LIVE ACTION SHORTS

Parental Rating and Format Note: The Live Action Shorts program is rated "R" and recommended as suitable for ages 17 and up. The program includes violence and some language.

DEKALB ELEMENTARY
Dir. Reed Van Dyk, USA, 20 min

Steven, a mentally unstable twentysomething, enters an elementary school with a semi-automatic rifle. After he orders the school receptionist, Cassandra, to have the building evacuated, he holds her hostage and instructs her to call 911. With Cassandra as his go-between, Steven tries to navigate the troubled waters he has entered.

THE SILENT CHILD
Dirs. Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton, UK, 20 min

Libby, a profoundly deaf four-year-old, is the youngest in a family who are all hearing. Unable to communicate but about to start school, Libby is assigned a social worker who teaches her sign language. Libby's skeptical parents are reluctant to be involved, however, and post a potential block to Libby's education.

MY NEPHEW EMMETT
Dir. Kevin Wilson, Jr., USA, 20 min

In 1955, two white men invade the home of Mose Wright, an African-American preacher in Mississippi, to abduct his 14-year-old nephew, Emmett Till, who is visiting from Chicago. Emmett has been accused of whistling at a white woman, and Mose knows that his fate will be sealed if the men succeed in taking him.

THE ELEVEN O'CLOCK
Dirs. Derin Seale and Josh Lawson, Australia, 13 min

A psychiatrist earnestly tries to help his delusional patient, but his efforts are complicated by the fact that the patient believes himself to be the doctor. With each trying to out-analyze the other, their session spirals out of control.

WATU WOTE / ALL OF US
Dirs. Katja Benrath and Tobias Rosen, Germany, 22 min

Jua, a Christian living in Kenya, boards a chartered bus to visit a relative and is uncomfortable being surrounded by Muslim passengers. The bus is stopped by the violent terrorist group Al-Shabaab, whose members demand that the Muslims identify the Christian passengers.