2026 Oscars Short Film Contenders: ‘Inkwo For When The Starving Return’ Director Amanda Strong
Strong’s haunting stop-motion short unspools in the near future, where the fate of the world rests on Dove, a mysterious warrior who can shift gender.
Strong’s haunting stop-motion short unspools in the near future, where the fate of the world rests on Dove, a mysterious warrior who can shift gender.
Abdel Dnewar’s hybrid-animated short examines twinhood, subjective memory, and loss, honoring the life and artistry of his late brother and co-director, Saad.
An elderly widow in WWII London finds healing through an unlikely bond with a sparrow, whose song brings hope to children sheltering from the bombs.
The SCAD thesis short blends real family recordings with a rabbit’s cosmic journey, brought to life through Maurice Noble–inspired animation.
Ushev’s 'The Wolf' is a stark, painterly short that delves into the primal tension between man and nature in a frozen, impressionistic wilderness.
Based on Dean Atta's poem, this stop-motion story explores love, vulnerability, and self-acceptance across two very different worlds.
Nominees include 'Arco,' 'Dog of God,' 'Little Amélie,' 'Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake,' and 'Tales From the Magic Garden.'
Staring nature's most popular and largest rodent, 'Capybaras' blends personal history, warm 2D animation, and powerful themes of empathy and collaboration.
Renowned animator Bill Plympton brings his signature hand-drawn style to 'Whale 52,' elevating this tender, magically real tale of connection.
'Pow!' blends three animation styles: 16-bit pixel art, hand-drawn 2D digital watercolor, and a unique sequence inspired by Plains ledger art.
Pixar, DreamWorks, Sony vet Frank Abney’s 'Black Man, Black Man' transforms a personal poem into a powerful visual meditation on identity and healing.
Canadian filmmaker Andrea Dorfman’s 'Hairy Legs' turns a teen’s choice not to shave into a bold, artful, and very funny story of identity and self-acceptance.
The hauntingly beautiful stop-motion short follows a poor boy who discovers a mysterious girl whose tears transform into luminous pearls.
DOK Leipzig winner 'On Weary Wings Go By' is a 16mm stop-motion poem about the Nordic winter, where porcelain beings wander through fading light.
The Animation Showcase spotlights 2025’s top award-contending animated shorts, now streaming for free for industry professionals worldwide.
Annecy Cristal winner 'The Night Boots' features expressive monochromatic pinscreen animation that makes it one of the year’s most unforgettable shorts.
'Wednesdays with Gramps,' is a vibrant DreamWorks short that celebrates gaming, family bonds, and finding connection across generations.
ESMA’s sharp CG short 'Trash' follows a rat and pigeon through a decaying city, blending dystopian tension with striking artistry and sometimes hopeful beauty.
A nursing home resident finds himself suddenly transforming into a bird. Although he is still accepted, he feels it may be time to join a new flock.
Szkiłądź’s 'Autokar' turns a child’s unaccompanied 1990s migration by bus from Poland to Belgium into a magical-realist journey of self-discovery.