2010 Academy Award-Nominated Animated Short Films
Friday, February 19 - Saturday, April 10, 2010
The five films nominated for this year’s Academy Award for Best Animated Short, plus three additional films named to the Academy’s shortlist. Note: the first seven films in this program are suitable all ages; the final short, LOGORAMA, contains strong language.
The program includes the following short films, in order of screening:
FRENCH ROAST – In a fancy Parisian Café, an uptight businessman is about to pay the check when he finds out that he has lost his wallet. To save time he decides to order more coffee. (France, 8 min., Director: Fabrice O. Joubert)
THE LADY AND THE REAPER (La Dama y la muerte) – A sweet old lady lives alone on her farm, waiting for death so that she can see her beloved husband once again. One night, she is invited to enter death’s domain, but someone will ruin it for her. (Spain, 8 min., Director: Javier Recio Gracia)
A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH – Wallace & Gromit have started a new bread baking business, ‘Top Bun’ and converted 62 West Wallaby Street into a granary with ovens, robotic kneading arms and an old-fashioned windmill on the roof. The transformation is perfect. Although business is booming, Gromit is concerned by the news that a dozen local bakers have ‘disappeared’ this year – but Wallace isn’t worried. He’s too distracted and ‘dough-eyed’ in love with former beauty and bread enthusiast, Piella Bakewell. While they enjoy being the ‘Toast of the Town’, Gromit soon realises his master’s life is in jeopardy, and turns sleuth to solve the escalating murder mystery – in what quickly becomes ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death.’ (UK, 30 min., Director: Nick Park)
GRANNY O’GRIMM’S SLEEPING BEAUTY – Granny O’Grimm, a seemingly sweet old lady, loses the plot as she tells her version of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ to her terrified granddaughter. (Ireland, 6 min., Director: Nicky Phelan)
PARTLY CLOUDY – Everyone knows that the stork delivers babies, but where do the storks get the babies from? The answer lies up in the stratosphere, where cloud people sculpt babies from clouds and bring them to life. Gus, a lonely and insecure grey cloud, is a master at creating “dangerous” babies. Crocodiles, porcupines, rams and more – Gus’s beloved creations are works of art, but more than a handful for his loyal delivery stork partner, Peck. As Gus’s creations become more and more rambunctious, Peck’s job gets harder and harder. How will Peck manage to handle both his hazardous cargo and his friend’s fiery temperament? (USA, 6 min., Director: Peter Sohn – additional shortlisted film)
RUNAWAY – Happy passengers are having a great time on a crowded train, oblivious to the unknown fate that awaits them around the bend. The ensuing crisis leads to a class struggle that is as amusing as it is merciless. Naturally there are victims, but in the end everyone is equal. (Canada, 9 min., Director: Cordell Barker – additional shortlisted film)
THE KINEMATOGRAPH – Francis is an inventor. His invention is supposed to change the world but he forgot about one thing — dreams have a price. (Poland, 12 min., Director: Tomek Baginski – additional shortlisted film)
LOGORAMA – Spectacular car chases, an intense hostage crisis, wild animals rampaging through the city and even more in Logorama! (France, 16min., Directed by H5: Franςois Alaux, Hervé de Crécy, Ludovic Houplain)
Also see our page on this year’s Live-Action Short Films.
IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.