HeliumBy Anders Walter won the Best Short Oscar in 2014, proving that your chances of Oscar success are significantly improved if you have a dying child in your film. Regardless of this exploitation, it is a touching and beautifully made short film about a terminally ill boy, Alfred, who is not particularly enamoured with the prospect of Heaven. The new janitor invents an alternative place called Helium, which is more to Alfred's liking, and forms a relationshi..
The Shore by Terry George (2011) (UK) (29m)
Terry George had been nominated for an Oscar in 2005 for his feature film Hotel Rwanda, so it is perhaps no surprise that the Academy awarded him the Best Short Film Oscar for The Shore. It is a gentle drama about a man returning to Northern Ireland with his grown daughter after 25 years in America. He feels he needs to track down an old friend and apologise for deserting him after he was shot during The Troubles. However, this is not a political film by any means.
Wish 143 by Ian Barnes (2009) (UK) (23m)
Wish 143 by British filmmaker Ian Barnes was nominated for the Best Short Film Oscar in 2011. A black comedy written by Simon Bigwell, it follows the efforts of a young cancer patient, David, trying to fulfil his final wish: which is to lose his virginity. The charity offers him Gary Neville (the soccer player) instead and his friendly priest tries to deter him but David he is determined to pop his cherry before he pops his clogs.
