Oscar Shorts: Best Live-Action

Like short stories, short films are sometimes overlooked. But they often display all of the scope, power, insight and resonance of feature length films.  If these films were rated, we’re guessing that four of them would fall somewhere between PG and PG-13. The 5th, Watu Woke, would probably be rated R for violence.  Having said that, all five of them are intended for adult audiences. 97 minutes

DeKalb Elementary  A young man, Steven, enters an elementary school with a semi-automatic rifle and orders the school receptionist, Cassandra, to have the school evacuated. But he keeps Cassandra hostage and instructs her to call 911. With Cassandra as his go-between, Steven tries to navigate the troubled waters he has entered. Inspired by a real-life 911 call.  20 min

The Eleven O’Clock  A psychiatrist earnestly tries to help his delusional patient in this deliciously provocative comedy. 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. 20 min

My Nephew Emmett  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.  20 min

The Silent Child  Libby, a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl, who lives a silent life until a social worker, played by Rachel, teaches her how to communicate through sign language. The film features an amazing performance by profoundly deaf, six-year-old, first-time actor Maisie Sly as Libby. 13 min

Watu Woke/All Of Us  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 terrorist group Al-Shabaab, whose members demand that the Muslims identify the Christian passengers.  22 min