For our fifth Rundown article, we look at two categories that may be short in length, but can be mighty in impact. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Animated Short Film and Best Live-Action Short Film as well as general commentary about the race. Thursday, we’ll cover one of the categories with the biggest surprise omission this year.

Best Animated Short Film

Winner Predictions

• The Bigger Picture (PP O)
• Dam Keeper (TB R) [New]
• Feast (WL O)
• Me and My Moulton (TL R) [New]
• A Single Life

Runner-Up Predictions

• The Bigger Picture (WL O)
• The Dam Keeper (PP O)
• Feast (TL R) [New]
• Me and My Moulton (TB O)

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Wesley Lovell: I had hoped to get out to the theater to watch all ten nominees in these categories, but issues with my site kept me in front of the computer. I hope to catch them before A) the leave or B) the Oscars. Anyway, these two categories are going to be a bit confusing this year because the Academy is sending screeners of all nominees to the entire membership. So, instead of having to see the films at special screenings, members can watch in the privacy of their own homes. That means more mainstream efforts are likely to triumph. In this case, Feast seems like the one to beat. The Disney short that preceded Big Hero 6 was a darling effort that mixed laughter and tears in equal measure, which is just what the Academy loves. As for what could beat it? I’m not sure. I don’t know enough about any of them to guess, so right now, my prediction is The Bigger Picture, though it could be any of them.
Peter J. Patrick: I never know how this category will go so as usual I’m taking a shot in the dark on this one.
Tripp Burton: I haven’t seen these yet, so this is just a bit of a guess. Me and My Moulton is by a former winner, and Feast has the Disney push behind it (and is the most seen of all of these), but my gut says the well-reviewed Dam Keeper will take it.
Thomas La Tourrette: A Single Life was a charming and complete work at just two minutes in length, but I think that will prove too short to win. The Academy will nominate really short films, but they have yet to win. The Bigger Picture had an interesting mix of both animation and stop-motion technology used in its creation, but I think the slightly downbeat tone of the film will keep it out of the winner’s circle. The Dam Keeper was cute and had a nice watercolor feel, but felt too long for what it was trying to say. I think it will come down to either the bittersweet, but very funny, memory work of Me and My Moulton or the Disney romp Feast about the growing up of a dog and its owner. Feast was fun and involving and used much more animation than the simpler-drawn Moulton, but Disney has not had a great track record in this category lately. A Disney film has won only once in their last five nominations, which is not a good sign for them. So I think Me and My Moulton will squeak through to a victory, a second win for this director.

Best Live-Action Short Film

Winner Predictions

• Aya
• Boogaloo and Graham
• Butter Lamp (PP R) [New]
• Parvaneh (TL R) [New]
• The Phone Call (WL O) (TB O)

Runner-Up Predictions

• Aya (WL O)(TL O)
• Parvaneh (TB R) [New]
• The Phone Call (PP O)

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Wesley Lovell: For this category, I’m going with the feature that has the most familiar faces in it. The Phone Call stars Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent and Prunella Scales (not a name familiar to many, but anyone who loves British comedy will know her instantly). The film is also supposed to be quite poignant, which may give it a leg up. Any of the others could win at this point. I’ll know more once I see them.
Peter J. Patrick: Once again, this one’s a shot in the dark.
Tripp Burton: I haven’t seen these yet, so this is a bit of a guess. The big stars behind The Phone Call should push it to the win, but don’t count out the exotic child tale of Parvaneh.
Thomas La Tourrette: Often the longest film wins here, which would be Aya, about two strangers sharing an uncomfortable car ride in Israel. However, it felt too contrived to pull the heartstrings that it would need win. Boogaloo and Graham had a few serious moments, but it is a comedy, and those rarely win in this category. The Phone Call benefitted from the strong casting of Sally Hawkins and the voice of Jim Broadbent, but it may feel too claustrophobic to win. Butter Lamp had some big laughs, but the limited viewpoint, one camera in front of various backdrops for a photographer in Tibet/China, may prove too limiting to win. That leaves Parveneh, a European-set film that deals with an unlikely friendship that develops between two young women. Like Aya, it moved a bit slowly, but I think it may have just enough heart to win over the voters.

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