Short Films go a long way...

When you hear talk about the Oscars, it's easy to hear debate Best Feature, actors, or even sound or art. But when it comes to the short films, this category is somewhat a mystery. After all, how often does the average moviegoer have a chance to see the films?

The majority of the short films that were nominated for the Oscars have been favorites on the festival circuit. If you're in Miami, you can check out The Danish Poet, winner of Best Animated Short Film, at the Miami Film Festival on March 8th or got on iFilm.

If you're in the Midwest, head over to the True/False Festival in Columbia, MO, which screens documentary shorts and feature films. On Thursday, March 1st, you'll be about see Ruby Yang's award-winning short doc, The Blood of Yingzhou District, along with nominees, Recycled Life (directed by Leslie Iwerks, who will be in attendance), Rehearsing a Dream by Karen Goodman & Kirk Simon, and Susan Rose Behr's Two Hands, the story of pianist Leon Fleisher, who lost his ability to play with his right hand at the height of his career.

If you can't make it to a festival, check out iFilm.com or youtube.com. They are playing many of the shorts so if you put Oscar shorts into the keywords, you should get some hits. Some of the shorts are also playing at art-house theaters, so keep an eye out in your city for the chance to see some great little films.

Long live indie film,
Michelle