Review: The Oscar Shorts Program returns to theaters and are not to be missed in 2025

"Magic Candies," Toei Animation, Ikki Films, part of the Oscar Shorts Program for 2025.

After a rare, underwhelming year in 2024, The Oscar-Nominated Short Films are back in a big way in 2025.

As they have been for the past 20 years now, SHORTS is bringing ALL of these short films to a theater near you (To find showtimes in your area for the Oscar Shorts, click here). Beginning February 14th and through Oscar Sunday, March 2nd, you can experience these amazing films on the big-screen...and in fact, that's the only place you'll find them leading up to the big awards show.

The Live-Action and Animated programs - 10 short films in all - are being presented as one matinee, with an intermission between the categories. You can then buy a separate ticket to watch all of the Oscar-nominated Documentary Short films.

Not only will this help you feel out a more accurate Oscar ballot, but these short films are among the best films - of ANY length - that you'll see all year.

Animated Shorts

Overall Program Grade: A

A tremendous mix of animation style and story-telling, this year's batch of Animated Shorts are the best they've been in years. "Magic Candies" tells the story of a shy young boy and his old dog, who come across some candies that, when ingested, make fantastic things happen. It starts charming (the first candy brings the boy's couch to life), but it quickly becomes more poignant than you would ever expect.

There are not one, but TWO films featuring stop-motion penises this year...the first, "Wander to Wonder" is one of the most bizarre films you'll ever see, bordering on horror. The second is the gentle but hilarious, "Beautiful Men," about three friends on a trip to get hair implants.

"Yuck!" is so simple and charming (it comes from the same studio that made the first entry, "Magic Candies") that it may just be the front-runner. A group of children on a camping trip are grossed out when they watch an older couple kiss. The conceit being that whenever a kiss is about to occur, their lips light up bright pink (and some pitch-perfect techno music starts playing). 

Then there is "In the Shadow of the Cypress," for sure the deepest and most complex entry this year, about a sea captain suffering from PTSD, and his caring daughter.

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Live-Action Shorts

Overall Program Grade: B+

"The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent" has been heavily lauded thus far, and for good reason. Like all of the Live-Action entries this year, it has something to say and doesn't shy away from political hot topics. In this film, it tells the true story of a massacre during the Bosnian War in 1993, and a man who stood up against its injustices.  "A Lien" is also powerful, sad and surprising, and fits right into the 2025 political landscape. "The Last Ranger" hones in on the killing of rhinos in South Africa, and "Anuja" chronicles the lives of two poor children trying to get by on the streets of India.

Thank goodness then, for the tonal shift in "I'm Not a Robot," a Dutch film that is hilarious and relatable, about a corporate worker who continuously has to answer that Captcha test where you have to click "I am not a robot" (we've all experienced having to click on motorcycles and traffic lights to prove our humanity). 

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Documentary Shorts

Overall Program Grade: A-

Three of the five Documentary Shorts this year involve violent crime and law enforcement: "Incident" may very well be the best of the group but they are all uniquely powerful and deeply unforgettable. Also in this grouping is "Death by Numbers" about the Parkland school shooting in 2018 and "I Am Ready, Warden," about a former US marine on death row in Texas.

"Instruments of a Beating Heart" is a tough watch, as Japanese children are treated terribly. "Whiplash" style, as they are meant to learn musical instruments from a young age.  "The Only Girl in the Orchestra" is at the opposite end of the tonal spectrum, featuring an uplifting story about Orin O'Brien, the first female musician of the New York Philharmonic, who at 87-years young, is still inspiring us all. 

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The Oscar Shorts Program - presented by SHORTS - is in theaters beginning February 14th, and is the ONLY way to see all of the nominated Short Films nominated for this year's Oscars.

(To find showtimes in your area for the Oscar Shorts, click here).

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