Thompson on Hollywood

Meet Shawn Christensen, Writer-Director-Star of Oscar-Nominated Short 'Curfew'

Interviews

Leading the pack in the race for the best live-action short Oscar is Hollywood screenwriter Shawn Christensen's gritty 19-minute "Curfew," which stars the multi-hyphenate as suicidal New Yorker Richie who babysits for his nine-year-old neice Sophia. Safe to say we will be hearing from this actor-writer-filmmaker again: he's currently expanding "Curfew" into a full-length feature. (See the short on iTunes.)

By Maggie Lange
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February 15, 2013 3:11 PM
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Oscar Talk: Shorts and Documentary, BAFTAs and Scripters, Spielberg vs. Lee, Lawrence vs. Riva and More

Awards

On this week's Oscar Talk Podcast, Kris Tapley and I discuss live-action and documentary shorts as well as the documentary feature race. We look at the influence of last weekend's BAFTAs and USC Scripters Awards, and talk a few too-close-to-call categories: Steven Spielberg or Ang Lee for Best Director? Jennifer Lawrence or Emmanuelle Riva for Best Actress? Supporting actor, cinematography and production design are also in the mix.

By Anne Thompson
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February 15, 2013 12:00 PM
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Watch: David Lynch's Documentary Short on French Lithography House Idem Paris

Video

David Lynch's "Inland Empire" (2006) is the director's most recent feature film, and in the years since he's been focusing his efforts on online projects, transcendental meditation, visual art and short films in various genres, including documentary and music videos.

By Beth Hanna
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February 13, 2013 2:48 PM
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Watch: Oscar-Nominated Short 'Head Over Heels' a Poignant Love Story of a Couple on Different Planes

Video

Following the online debuts of the other four competing Oscar-nominated short animated films, stop-motion "Head Over Heels" is now available to watch until the day of the Oscars (February 24). Full video below.

By Beth Hanna
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February 11, 2013 12:40 PM
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WATCH 'Adam and Dog': Exclusive Animated Oscar Short

Video

Korean Minkyu Lee's Oscar-nominated animated short, "Adam and Dog," which won the Annie for best animated short last year, is available online.

By Bill Desowitz
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February 8, 2013 11:48 AM
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Immersed in Movies: Talking Disney Animated Short Oscar Nominee 'Paperman,' See Full Video

Reviews

Is Disney's hand-drawn animated legacy dead? Let's hope not. The new "Paperman" short may provide the answer for its survival. (See trailer below.) "Paperman," which just premiered at the Annecy Film Festival and debuts locally this week at the Los Angeles Film Fest (in 3-D), will play in theaters alongside Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" on November 2.

By Bill Desowitz
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January 30, 2013 3:56 PM
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Focus Forward Short Filmmaking Competition Announces $100K Grand Prize Winner, 'Cyborg Foundation' [WATCH]

News

The Focus Forward Filmmaker Competition has announced Rafel Duran Torrent from Barcelona, Spain, as their grand prize winner. Torrent has been awarded $100K for his short film "Cyborg Foundation." You can watch the winning film below.

By Beth Hanna
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January 24, 2013 1:36 PM
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Sundance Announces Jury Awards in Short Filmmaking

Festivals

The Sundance Film Festival has announced the jury prizes and honorable mentions in short filmmaking for the 2013 fest. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Park City. Full list below.

By Beth Hanna
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January 23, 2013 12:04 PM
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Watch All the Short Films Competing for an Oscar in Theaters February 1

News

ShortsHD and Magnolia Pictures will release all of the Oscar nominated shorts in over 260 theaters across the U.S., Canada and Europe on February 1. This will be the eighth year the Academy's selection of short films hit theaters.

By Beth Hanna and Sophia Savage
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January 16, 2013 2:18 PM
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Academy Makes Last-Minute Voting Rule Change

Awards

The Academy has decide to invite Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences voters to join the voting on three categories --Documentary Feature and Animated and Live Action Shorts--that used to be picked by members who attended and signed into special Academy screenings.