2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Live Action & Animated

Live Action Program:

Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)

Borja Cobeaga, Spain, 16m
When his wife leaves him, JoaquÌn turns to his son to help him bring his mother-in-law out of a home to do the housework.

Binta and the Great Idea

Javier Fesser, Spain, 30m
Binta is a 7 year old girl who lives in a small charming village on the Casamance river in southern Senegal. She goes to school. Her cousin Soda does not have the same good fortune. She is not allowed to learn about the things of the world.Binta admires her father, a humble fisherman who, concerned about the developement of mankind, is determined to carry out an idea that has ocurred to him.

The Saviour

Peter Templeman, Australia, 19m
Malcolm, a door-to-door Mormon evangelist is in love with a married woman.

Helmer and Son

Søren Pilmark, Denmark, 12m
A son is called to the rest home, where his father has recently been admitted.

West Bank Story

Ari Sandel, USA, 21m
A musical comedy set in the fast-paced, fast-food world of competing falafel stands on the West Bank.

Animated Shorts Program:

No Time for Nuts

Chris Renaud, USA, 7m
Scrat comes across a time machine and is transported to various times all in pursuit of his beloved acorn.

The Danish Poet

Torill Kove, Norway & Canada, 15m
Is it possible to trace the chain of events that led to our own birth? Is our existence just coincidence? Do little things matter? In The Danish Poet the narrator ponders these question as we embark on a holiday to Norway with Kaspar, a poet whose creative well has run dry. As the story of Kaspar's quest for inspiration unfolds, it appears that a spell of bad weather, angry dogs, cows that slip form barn planks, careless postmen, hungry goats and other seemingly unrelated factors might play important roles in the big scheme of things after all.

Maestro

Geza Toth, Norway, 5m
Five minutes before the Big Performance, behind the curtains Maestro is getting ready for the execution. Time is slowly ticking away?

The Little Matchgirl

Roger Allers, USA, 7m
An animated short based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale about a poor young girl with a burning desire to find comfort and happiness in her life. Desperate to keep warm, the girl lights the matches she sells, and envisions a very different life for herself in the fiery flames filled with images of loving relatives, bountiful food, and a place to call home.

The following shorts will also play during the animated program:

A Gentleman's Duel

Guide Dog

One Rat Short

The Passenger

Wrath of Cobble Hill

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Links

Chicago Tribune review
Time Out Chicago review
Official website