Okay, so some have written in asking how to see the pesky shorts before putting in predictions. Let’s see if there are any ways of seeing them – or what we know about them.

LIVE ACTION (summaries from this site)

THE DOOR – Short Film from Octagon Films on Vimeo.

“The Door” (Ireland; in Russian, subtitled; 17 minutes): A man steals the door to his former home in Chernobyl. His ailing daughter’s radiation sickness is charted through poignant glances; the significance of the stolen door hits like a jab to the heart. A clip

“Instead of Abracadabra” (Sweden; 22 minutes): At 25, Thomas still lives with his parents and dreams of a career as a magician. When his gorgeous new neighbor invites him to perform at her son’s birthday, he unveils his high-risk blend of “gothic death and mystery.”

“Miracle Fish” (Australia; 17 minutes): A bullied schoolboy just wishes to be left alone on his eighth birthday. After falling asleep in the infirmary, he finds the hallways and classrooms eerily silent. As he learns why, the mood shifts from moody fantasy to stark drama.
Watch the full film here — before it gets taken down.

“The New Tenants” (United States/Denmark; 20 minutes): A bickering gay couple move into a new apartment where every knock at the door brings a jealous husband brandishing a tire iron, a drug dealer waving a shotgun and other greeters from the UnWelcome Wagon.

Kavi

Best Animated Short

French Roast

Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty

The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)

Logorama (my favorite)

A Matter of Loaf and Death – doesn’t seem to be online but you know, the usual Nick Park stuff.

Best Documentary Short

China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
– on YouTube, whole movie
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
–Story on the real guy
–Clip
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
–HBO preview (only thing online)
Music by Prudence
-not online but here is a director profile
Rabbit a la Berlin
–Trailer

So, for the animated shorts – I love Logorama the most, even with the homophobic character of Mr. Clean. The Lady and the Reaper is really great too. I think it might have a pretty good chance of winning.