The Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2011: Animation

DAY & NIGHT USA/6 MIN
Director/Writer: Teddy Newton
Producer: Kevin Reher

When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they discover each other's unique qualities - and come to realize that each of them offers a different window onto the same world - the friendship helps both to gain a new perspective.

LET’S POLLUTE USA/6 MIN
Director: Geefwee Boedoe
Writers: Geefwee Boedoe, Tim Crawfurd, Teddy Newton
Producer: Geefwee Boedoe

In the spirit of 50's & 60's educational films, 'Let's Pollute' is a modern satire on how pollution is our heritage and keeps our economy growing strong, while instructing us how to be better polluters for a better blighted tomorrow.

THE LOST THING Australia, UK/15 MIN
Directors/Writers: Andrew Ruhemann, Shaun Tan
Producer: Sophie Byrne

A boy discovers a bizarre looking creature while out collecting bottle tops at the beach. Realizing it is lost, he tries to find out who owns it or where it belongs, but is met with indifference from everyone else, who barely notice its presence, each unwilling to entertain this uninvited interruption to their day to day lives. For reasons he does not explain, the boy empathizes with the creature, and sets out to find a ‘place’ for it.

MADAGASCAR, CARNET DE VOYAGE France/11 MIN
Director: Bastien Dubois
Writer: Bastien Dubois
Producer: Ron Dyens, Aurélia Prévieu

A visual travel journal demonstrating the importance of dance, death, and traditional customs present and vibrant in the Malagasy society.

THE GRUFFALO UK, Germany/27 MIN
Directors: Max Lang, Jakob Schuh

Writers: Julia Donaldson, Max Lang, Jakob Schuh
Producers: Martin Pope, Michael Rose

Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, James Corden, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, Rob Brydon, Robbie
Coltrane

The magical tale of a mouse who takes a walk through the woods in search of a nut. Encountering three predators who all wish to eat him - a fox, an owl and a snake - the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive, creating an imaginary monster who then turns out to be all too real.

“Gone are the days of "selected shorts" on movie bills, but thank the gods of cinema for this annual release of Oscar nominees.” (Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle)