In anticipation of the 81^st annual Academy Awards ® the Vancity Theatre is thrilled to present the ten nominees in the best animated and live action short film categories.

If the feature film nominees tend towards worthiness, the short film format encourages innovation and -– why not? – a certain stylistic exuberance. Live action shorts are a proving ground for film school grads out to show what they can do… Plenty, as it happens. The subjects investigated here include race, love, violence and death. On the other hand, the animated shorts are more often the work of experienced professionals, and they’re not shy about just having some fun. (This year’s animated favourite is Pixar’s Presto, about a magician’s rabbit with some tricks of his own, which you may have seen in tandem with WALLE.)

An eclectic, truly international selection, including films from Japan, Russia, the UK, France, Denmark and Germany, this exclusive presentation gives you the scoop for the office Oscar sweepstakes – and goes to show that sometimes, ten minutes is all it takes.

ANIMATED SHORT FILMS
Wednesday 18 February, 6:00; Thursday 19 February, 7:50
95 min // DVD

Lavatory, Love Story
Russia // Konstantin Bronzit // 10 min
A lonely toilet attendant attempts to discover the identity of her secret admirer.

Oktapodi
France // Emud Mokhberi, Thierry Marchand, Julien Bocabeille, François-Xavier Chanious, Olivier Delabarre, and Quentin Marmier // 3 min
Two Octopi fight for their lives to escape through a Greek village.

La Maison en petits cubes (Pieces of Love, Vol 1)
Japan // Kunio Kato // 12 min
An old man battles to save his house against the rising tide.

Presto
USA // Doug Sweetland // 5 min
A famous conjurer foolishly neglects the carrot and consequently feels the stick from his unimpressed rabbit.

This Way Up
UK // Smith & Foulkes // 9 min
A pair of undertakers have their work cut out for them getting a little old lady to her final resting place.

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILMS
Screening Weds 18 February, 7.50; Thursday 19 February, 6.00
99 min // DVD

Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Germany/Switzerland // Reto Caffi // 30 min
A department store security guard develops a crush on a book store clerk, but makes a fatal decision when he fails to intervene in a rival is set upon by thugs.

Grisen (The Pig)
Denmark // Dorte Hogh // 22 min
Suffering from cancer, an elderly patient finds comfort in a humorous painting of a pig. But the art work disappears after a Muslim patient is admitted into the ward.

Manon Sur le bitumen (Manon on the Asphalt)
France // Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont // 15 min
Struck by a car, Manon lies on the road and wonders how her friends will react to her death.

New Boy
Ireland // Steph Green // 11 min
A young African student has a rough first day at school in his new home in Ireland. Based on a story by Roddy Doyle.

Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Denmark // Jochen Alexander Freydank // 22 min
Germany, 1942. A mother convinces her son that the Jewish neighbours are going on a trip to “Toyland” – but he wants to go along too.