SPECIAL EVENT
Oscar®-Nominated
Film Shorts Weekend 2026
Experience the year's most spectacular short films on the big screen just before the Oscar winners are announced.
Each short film nominee is released in one of three feature-length compilations according to their category of nomination: Live Action, Animation, and Documentary.
Each collection will be shown separately over the course of the weekend with time in between for discussion and refreshments. Specific titles and category start times to be announced.
Tickets
Members: One Category $8 | Two Categories $12 | All Three $16
General Public: One Category $10 | Two Categories $14 | All Three $20
To purchase tickets at the student price, call 315-797-0055.
Schedule (Both Days)
Doors open at 10 a.m.
- 10:15 a.m. – Live Action Shorts
- noon – Break (25 min.)
- 12:25 p.m. – Animated Shorts
- 1:55 p.m. – Break (30 min.)
- 2:25 to 5 p.m – Documentary Shorts
Oscar® Nominated Short Films By Category
Best Live-Action Short
Butcher’s Stain directed by Meyer Levinson-Blount and Oron Caspi (26 min.)
A tense, morally thorny drama about a Palestinian butcher working in an Israeli supermarket who is suddenly accused of a politically charged workplace act—forcing him into a desperate struggle to prove his innocence and keep the job he cannot afford to lose.
A Friend of Dorothy directed by Lee Knight and James Dean (21 min.)
A bittersweet comedy-drama in which an elderly widow and her teenage neighbor form an unexpected bond, finding companionship and healing in shared loneliness—with humor, heart, and gentle surprise.
Jane Austen’s Period Drama directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder (13 min.)
A sharp, hilarious satire of Pride and Prejudice conventions: in 1813 England, a young woman’s long-awaited romantic proposal is derailed by an inconvenient biological reality, skewering “proper” society expectations with modern bite.
The Singers directed by Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt (18 min.)
In a rough pub full of downtrodden men, an impromptu singing duel becomes something far deeper—an unexpectedly moving tale of vulnerability, pride, and the strange grace of shared music.
Two People Exchanging Saliva directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata (36 min.)
Set in an uncanny dystopia where kissing is punishable by death, this hypnotic, provocative film blends romance, rebellion, and surreal satire into a darkly comic meditation on intimacy and control.
Best Animated Short Film
Butterfly directed by Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens (14 min.)
A gorgeously animated portrait of memory and endurance, following a man’s final swim as life flashes back through water-linked moments of joy, trauma, and resilience.
Forevergreen directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears (13 min.)
A tender (and sometimes darkly funny) fable about an orphaned bear cub who finds comfort in an evergreen “guardian”—until survival, hunger, and the lure of human waste complicate their bond.
The Girl Who Cried Pearls directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (17 min.)
A haunting stop-motion-style fairy tale about grief made literal: a sorrowful girl’s tears become pearls, triggering obsession and moral collapse in those around her—with devastating consequences.
Retirement Plan directed by John Kelly and Andrew Freedman (7 min.)
A quietly brilliant miniature about a man who postpones his dreams until retirement, turning the “someday” list into an existential countdown—funny, sad, and painfully relatable.
The Three Sisters directed by Konstantin Bronzit (14 min.)
A wry, beautifully timed animated piece that follows three sisters navigating the comedy and cruelty of everyday family life—minimal, human, and emotionally precise.
Best Documentary Short Film
All the Empty Rooms directed by Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones (33 min.)
A devastating memorial journey across America: a journalist and photographer document the preserved bedrooms of children killed in school shootings—quiet spaces that speak volumes about grief, love, and national trauma.
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud directed by Craig Renaud and Juan Arredondo (37 min.)
A powerful tribute to conflict journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud, using firsthand footage and personal reflection to honor his work—and the lethal cost of telling the truth.
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” directed by Hilla Medalia and Sheila Nevins (36 min.)
In Tel Aviv, activists hold silent vigils mourning children killed in Gaza, confronting hostility and indifference as they insist on visibility, grief, and moral witness.
The Devil Is Busy directed by Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir (31 min.)
A raw, observational look at one day inside an Atlanta abortion clinic under relentless protest—capturing the emotional toll, resilience, and moral complexity of care under siege.
Perfectly a Strangeness directed by Alison McAlpine (15 min.)
A mesmerizing, near-wordless documentary experience: three donkeys wander toward and into an abandoned astronomical observatory, turning curiosity into something cosmic, funny, and profound.
'OSCAR' and 'ACADEMY AWARDS' are registered trademarks of the ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES and used with permission. This is not an Academy Release.
Sponsors
In partnership with Film Utica
Sponsored by Honorine Wallack - Baird Wealth Management
