Oscar-Nominated Shorts 2023 – Review by Susan Granger

A short film is typically considered to be a movie that is less than 30 minutes in length. Although many of them don’t acknowledge it in their biographies, several top filmmakers began their careers making short films. If you can make a successful short film, it proves that you’re a good storyteller who can work within a budget and create your own cinematic identity. Short films are less expensive than feature-length films, and their purpose is often to showcase new talent and experimental techniques. Which is why they’re important.

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Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts – MiniViews by Diane Carson

Oscar Shorts – Animation Selections inspire and delight. The Oscar nominated shorts programs are always a mixed bag, but never more than this year. The five candidates include two based on actual experiences and three of fanciful animation. The most surprising true story, The Flying Sailor, imagines in both two dimensional, drawn animation and computer generated images a seaman’s life flashing before his eyes.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Janet Yang elected president of AMPAS, making history – Brandy McDonnell reports

Producer Janet Yang has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organization’s Board of Governors. Yang, who is of Chinese descent, is the first Asian person ever selected as president of the Academy. She’s also just the fourth woman to become the Academy’s president, following Cheryl Boone Isaacs (2013-2017), Fay Kanin (1979-1983) and Bette Davis (two months in 1941).

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Fennell and Zhao make AMPAS history – Brandy McDonnell reports

Nomadland‘s Chloe Zhao and Promising Young Woman‘s Emerald Fennell are now part of Academy Awards history. For the first time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has nominated two women in the directing category, with Zhao and Fennell picking up nods in the coveted category.

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20 Femme-Helmers in the 2020 Oscars Pipeline – Susan Wloszczyna reports

One upside to this topsy-turvy season is the release of superb femme-centric, femme-helmed titles that are solid Oscars contenders that could easily make the Best Picture and Best Director cut. There are at least five actresses making their directing debuts, a pop star going behind the camera, old-school directors, new-school directors, blockbuster overseers and at least two former competitors in the category. Here is what might be the best of an encouragingly large batch.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: AMPAS ’20 Invitees are 45% Women – Brandy McDonnell reports

The 2020 class of invited Academy members is 45% women, and includes Zazie Beetz, Awkwafina and Olivia Wilde. among others. Additionally, 36% if the invitees are from underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 49% are international artists and industry executives from 68 countries.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: AMPAS 2019 Invitations = Gender Parity -Brandy McDonnell reports

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has invited 842 members from 59 countries to the Oscars organization and, for the first time, reached gender parity in its new class of inductees. Half of the new invitees to the film academy are women. In 10 of the 17 branches — including the directing, writing and producing branches — more women than men were invited.

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THE WEEK IN WOMAN: 90th Oscar Noms Mark Milestones for Women and Diversity — Brandy McDonnell reports

In the wake of #OscarsSoWhite, #MeToo and a cavalcade of sexual misconduct scandals brought to light after explosive investigative reports

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