The 2026 Oscars shortlist was revealed Tuesday, and the Live Action Shorts and Animated Short categories showcase a taste for the fantastical, the existential, and the courage it takes to face great fear. Each short uniquely highlights the endurance of the human spirit when confronted with prejudice, trauma, or supernatural elements beyond themselves.
### Notable Shorts on the 2026 Oscars Shortlist
Among the 15 dedicated shortlist slots, several standout films have made their mark.
#### A Friend of Dorothy
Lee Knight’s *A Friend of Dorothy* centers on an unlikely duo: JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu), a queer high schooler with a hidden talent for theater, and Dorothy (Miriam Margolyes), an older woman seeking companionship as she faces illness. Together, they strike up an endearing and mutually beneficial friendship. Produced by Stephen Daldry and Sonia Friedman, the short has garnered multiple awards at various festivals, including Indie Shorts Awards Cannes, HollyShorts London and Los Angeles, and OUTshine Film Festival.
#### The Quinta’s Ghost
A dose of existential storytelling arrives from Spain and Ireland in James A. Castillo’s *The Quinta’s Ghost*. This gothic-inspired animation offers a haunting glimpse into the final years of Spanish painter Francisco de Goya, tormented by demons from his past that he tries to exorcise through dark paintings on his villa’s walls. The film has won two Méliès d’Argent awards at the Sitges Film Festival and Best Art Direction at the Almería International Film Festival.
#### Retirement Plan
Director John Kelly’s *Retirement Plan* blends humor with reflections on mortality. The seven-minute short follows Ray (Domhnall Gleeson), a man approaching retirement who daydreams about the things he wants to accomplish—cleaning off his desktop, attending an orgy, and catching up on a decade’s worth of unread books. The film has earned the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at SXSW, along with prizes from the Palm Springs International ShortFest, Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and Newport Beach Film Festival.
#### Éiru, The Girl Who Cried Pearls & The Pearl Comb
Bringing mysticism and folklore to the shortlist are several animated shorts:
– *Éiru* by Giovanna Ferrari is a uniquely 2D animated tale inspired by ancient Celtic folklore. It follows a brave young female warrior on a quest to save her village from drought.
– *The Girl Who Cried Pearls* by Maciek Szczerbowski and Chris Lavis is a morality fable questioning whether even the purest hearts remain safe from corruption in the pursuit of love and social standing.
– *The Pearl Comb* by Ali Cook tells the story of a humble medicine woman in late 1800s Cornwall. When her divine powers attract suspicion, the mysterious source of her healing is at risk of exposure.
### Realism, Humor, and Social Commentary
The shortlist also features shorts grounded in varying degrees of reality, exploring natural human rhythms, the passion of desire, and the effects of untreated mental health crises.
#### Jane Austen’s Period Drama
Praised by Dame Emma Thompson, *Jane Austen’s Period Drama*, directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder, is a laugh-out-loud Regency-era comedy. The film follows Ms. Estrogenia (Aks) who unexpectedly gets her period during a marriage proposal. Her suitor, Mr. Dickley (Ta’imua), mistakes the blood for a grievous wound, leading to a series of comical—yet meaningful—moments that challenge the stigma around menstruation. Thompson, who serves as the film’s Executive Menstrual Advisor, called it a “bravely, revolutionarily funny thing to do” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The short has won awards at HollyShorts Comedy Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest, and Indy Shorts International Film Festival.
#### Two People Exchanging Saliva
Set in a dystopian black-and-white world crafted by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, *Two People Exchanging Saliva* imagines a society where people pay for goods with bodily harm, and kissing is punishable by death. Two women (Zar Amir and Luàna Bajrami) navigate their mutual attraction while avoiding an oppressive regime. It won Best Drama Short at Out on Film in Atlanta, as well as the Canal+ and Audience Awards at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival.
#### Ado
Sam Henderson’s *Ado* addresses escalating gun violence through the lens of an overworked, underpaid teacher (Jennifer Lewis). While rehearsing *Much Ado About Nothing* with her young class, a disgruntled former student bursts in with a gun. The emotionally stirring short won awards at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival Atlanta, and Cleveland International Film Festival.
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These films represent just a few highlights from this year’s well-deserved shortlist contenders.
### What’s Next?
– **Nomination voting** opens January 12 and closes January 16.
– The final five nominees in both the Live Action Shorts and Animated Shorts categories will be announced during the Oscars nominations telecast on January 22.
– The **98th Academy Awards ceremony** will air on March 15, 2026.
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### Full List of 2026 Oscars Shortlist Nominees
**Animated Shorts:**
– Autokar
– Butterfly
– Cardboard
– Éiru
– Forevergreen
– The Girl Who Cried Pearls
– Hurikán
– I Died in Irpin
– The Night Boots
– Playing God
– The Quinta’s Ghost
– Retirement Plan
– The Shyness of Trees
– Snow Bear
– The Three Sisters
**Live Action Shorts:**
– Ado
– Amarela
– Beyond Silence
– The Boy with White Skin
– Butcher’s Stain
– Butterfly on a Wheel
– Dad’s Not Home
– Extremist
– A Friend of Dorothy
– Jane Austen’s Period Drama
– Pantyhose
– The Pearl Comb
– Rock, Paper, Scissors
– The Singers
– Two People Exchanging Saliva
Stay tuned as these incredible stories vie for one of cinema’s most prestigious honors.
https://deadline.com/2025/12/oscar-short-films-shortlists-live-action-short-animated-short-1236650376/