Oscar short film shortlists published

Three of these 45 films will win top awards

by Jennie Kermode

Oscar shortlistee A Crab In The Pool
Oscar shortlistee A Crab In The Pool

The shortlists for the 2025 Oscar short film selections were announced today. Each 15 films long, they form the basis for the nominations that will be announced in January. They have been selected by experts in the relevant areas from within the membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

“Having In The Shadow Of The Cypress acknowledged by the Academy is a dream come true," said Iranian writer/director team Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani. "We are incredibly proud of our team's passion and artistry. This recognition brings immense joy to our tired and oppressed nation.”

“I am incredibly honoured and grateful to the whole Academy for empathising with our story,” said Dani Feixas, director of Paris 70.

"I am incredibly proud and grateful for this amazing recognition," said The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent's writer/director Nebojsa Slijepcevic. "I’m very glad that the Academy's voters saw the universal nature of our story. The film is set in Bosnia in 1993, but at its heart, it’s about something we all might face: the question of what to do when we witness violence. In a world where armed conflicts are raging everywhere, I think it’s more important than ever to tell stories like this one, stories about real heroes who stood up against violence. They remind us that true humanity rises above nationality or religion.”

Best Live Action Short

Best Documentary Short

Best Animated Short

Share this with others on...
News

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

The hidden river Helen MacDonald and Philippa Lowthorpe on adapting H Is For Hawk

This wild channel David Shadrack Smith and Jake Fogelnest on the content creation revolution and Public Access

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Golden Eddies Nominations for editing brilliance announced

OFCS Awards One Battle After Another triumphs; Sinners dominates