ShortStick

The short end of the stick. The inferior part, the worse side of an unequal deal.

When it comes to cinema and the Oscars, it always feels like short films are getting the short end of the stick. Lack of coverage, lack of predictions from experts and an afterthought in the conversation. With this site we hope to change that, highlighting shorts that stick with you, predictions, and news on what is happening in the world of shorts.

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Short Film Reviews
Predictions
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Feature Film Reviews

Interview with Lee Knight of A Friend of Dorothy

In his debut as a director, Lee Knight, a trained British actor, imprints the kindness of friendship between a young man named JJ played by Alistair Nwachukwu and an elderly lady played by the legendary Miriam Margolyes. In A Friend of Dorothy, Knight crafts a heartwarming story about artistry, friendship and companionship. Listen to the podcast above to hear Pedro's conversation with Lee Knight. A Friend of Dorothy, dir. Lee Knight A Friend of Dorothy is what I call a "comf

Jan 162 min read

Interview with John Kelly and Tara Lawall of Retirement Plan

In Retirement Plan, we follow the journey of Ray, a man with a detached attitude toward his own life. However, dreaming of his retirement days, Ray finds joy in the desire to discover the world. In the film by John Kelly, we watch a slice-of-life type of story questioning the human tendency to dream of the future, instead of living in the moment. Listen above as Pedro speaks to director John Kelly and Tara Lawall about the short. Retirement Plan, dir. John Kelly “I should exe

Jan 152 min read

Interview with Mimi Wilcox of Bad Hostage

Bad Hostage, directed by Mimi Wilcox, stands out as one of the most riveting documentary shorts on this years shortlist as it perfectly balances familial anecdotes and broader social commentary through remarkable filmmaking and engaging interviews. Throughout the exploration of a fascinating family history, which features both a traumatic and curious observation of a hostage situation, Mimi Wilcox takes us on a history lesson about Stockholm Syndrome, her family's kidnapping

Jan 151 min read

Interview with Aaron Blaise of Snow Bear

Aaron Blaise is a veteran in the animation industry. He worked as an animator on multiple films of the "Disney Animation Renaissance" such as Aladdin, Mulan and The Lion King, among others. Blaise directed the 2003 film Brother Bear, which although not a hit at the time, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and later acclaim as a classic by new generations. Listen to Pedro's conversation with Aaron as they discuss the story behind his latest mastercr

Jan 141 min read

Interview with Ali Cook of The Pearl Comb

Mixing horror genre tropes and the folk mythology of mermaids, Ali Cook crafts a fascinating melange of genres and references in The Pearl Comb. Narrating the appearance of a siren in the countryside of England, a man finds a miraculous cure in the pearl comb left by a mermaid. Throughout his background in comedy and the ability to create scenarios, Cook frames a period story about the folk backdrop and the myth of the creature. Listen to our full episode and read our review

Jan 142 min read

Interview with Julia Aks and Steve Pinder of Jane Austen's Period Drama

In 2024, the duo of Julia Aks and Steve Pinder premiered Jane Austen's Period Drama, an over-the-top adaptation of the work by one of the most quintessential female writers of our time. By naming their characters ridiculous names, such as Estrogenia (played by Aks herself), the film makes a timeless commentary on the male inability to understand periods and femininity. Throughout their humorous tale, the film crafts a clever construction of comedy on period film-making. Liste

Jan 131 min read

Interview with Simon Panay of The Boy with White Skin

In The Boy with White Skin, Simon Panay discusses the rituals and beliefs of miners in the most productive gold mine in Senegal. In their culture, the albino skin attracts the gold, and the direction, who has documented their culture in documentary films before, decides to re-enact it in a fictional work. We interview the director about filming in Senegal, the casting process of the lead child and his history with the gold mine.

Jan 131 min read

Interview with Marnie Blok of Beyond Silence

Our series of interviews continues with Marnie Blok, a well-known Dutch screenwriter, who debuts her directing career with Beyond Silence, a gut-wrenching film about speaking out. Using sign language as a metaphor for breaking the silence, the film is a confrontation against the system that oppresses women and blames them for the violence. We spoke with the director about her personal experiences, directing a deaf debutant actor, and the acclaimed journey of the film. Beyond

Jan 122 min read

Interview with Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh of Two People Exchanging Saliva

Two People Exchanging Saliva immerses us in a world where kissing is punishable by death and everything is paid for by slaps. We follow the tale of two women, a bourgeois consumer played by Zar Amir Ebrahimi , and a saleswoman played by Luàna Bajrami. Directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh accomplish an incredible feat of doing an erotic thriller about a desire that must not be consummated. Shot in brilliant black and white cinematography to showcase the bleakness of

Dec 13, 20251 min read

Interview with Alexander Molochnikov of Extremist

In Extremist, Alexander Molochnikov discusses the imprisonment of Sasha Skochilenko, a young Russian artist, in jail for swapping product labels for anti-war protests. The short follows the tough trial of the artist for speaking the truth and opposing the Putin administration. Listen as Pedro and Alexander discuss the story and making of the film. The short is distributed by The New Yorker and can be viewed here: https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/extremist

Dec 12, 20251 min read

Interview with Alexander Farah of One Day This Kid

Narrating the wounds and pains of being a first-generation in a new country, Alexander Farah crafts a heartbreaking and emotionally charged piece in One Day This Kid. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, the short is beautifully shot on 35mm film. There is an inherent poetry in this coming-of-age piece of life about sexuality, identity,, and connection with one's parents. Listen to our conversation about artistry, shooting on film, and the next ste

Dec 12, 20251 min read