See the Oscar-nominated Live-Action Short Films before the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2! This annual pre-Oscars feature—produced by ShortsTV for the past 20 years and the largest commercial release of short films on the planet—showcases Oscar-nominated short films in three categories on the big screen. This year’s Live-Action films tackle modern-day struggles in a variety of genres in multiple languages.
The 2025 nominees are:
A Lien – Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz, USA, in English
On the day of their green card interview, a young couple confronts a dangerous immigration process.
Anuja – Adam J. Graves, USA, in Hindi
Backed by producers Priyanka Chopra and Mindy Kaling, this American-made short in Hindi tells the captivating tale of two Indian girls struggling to make ends meet.
I’m Not a Robot – Victoria Warmerdam, Belgium/Netherlands, in Dutch
In Victoria Warmerdam’s surrealist dramedy, a series of failed Captcha tests plunges a woman into a strange new reality.
The Last Ranger – Cindy Lee, South Africa, in Xhosa
When young Litha is introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger, they are ambushed by poachers.
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent – Nebojsa Slijepcevic, Croatia, in Croatian
Dramatizing the Štrpci massacre of 1993, when 18 Muslims and 1 Croat were pulled off a train by the Serbian White Eagles paramilitary group and massacred, this short centers on Tomo Buzov (Dragan Mićanović), the sole non-Bosniak passenger on the train who tried to stand up against the attackers.
Image from The Last Ranger
The Crandell Theatre is a not-for-profit community theater that aims to promote and develop an appreciation of film and filmmaking that enriches the social, cultural, and educational experience of the community, family life, and individuals. The Crandell operates and maintains a 1926 historic movie house on Chatham’s Main Street—the oldest and largest single-screen movie theater in Columbia County—and showcases a mix of mainstream and independent films.
FilmColumbia, the nationally-recognized annual film series hosted by the Crandell, screens the very best upcoming American and international films for ten days in late October.
In November 2024, the theatre temporarily closed to begin its much anticipated renovation and restoration project.
As two Chatham arts nonprofits with community-minded missions, PS21 and the Crandell Theater are proud to be in partnership. PS21 is thrilled to host this series of events, helping the Crandell continue its programming during their renovation.
