About this episode
Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant.
Letterboxd lists
Eligible live-action shorts – category analysis
Eligible animated shorts – category analysis
The Rankings
- TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA – trailer – info – full film*
- MERCY – interview – info
- JANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA – interview – info
- JUST THE USUAL – trailer – info
- THE PEARL COMB – trailer – info
- PORELESS – trailer – info – full film*
- THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS – trailer – info
- DALY CITY – trailer – info – full film*
- HURIKÁN – trailer – info
- RETIREMENT PLAN– trailer – info – full film*
- TRAPPED – review – info
- GIGI – trailer – info – full film* (French or German subtitles only)
- ONE LAST ROUND – trailer – info
- KOVARTY – trailer – info – full film*
- SCARS WE LOVE – trailer – info – full film* (French subtitles only)
- EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING – VFX panel – info
- THE SECOND TIME AROUND – trailer – info – full film* (UK only)
- MARCIA AND THE SHARK – trailer – info – full film*
- THE SINGERS – trailer – info
- LES BÊTES – trailer – info – full film*
- BEYOND SILENCE – trailer – info – full film* (Dutch subtitles only)
- HOLY CURSE – trailer – info – full film*
- MERCENAIRE – trailer – info
- ONE DAY, THIS KID – trailer – info – on Kanopy & Criterion
- PLAYING GOD – trailer – info
- MUSHROOM DAD – review – info
*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner).
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