The 2017 Oscar-Nominated Shorts: Documentary

Extremis – dir. Dan Krauss, USA, 24 minutes
4.1 Miles – dir. Daphne Matziaraki, USA, 22 minutes
Joe’s Violin – dir. Kahane Cooperman, USA, 24 minutes
Watani: My Homeland – dir. Marcel Mettelsiefen, 39 minutes
The White Helmets – dir. Orlando von Einsiedel, 41 minutes

For the 12th consecutive year, Shorts HD and Magnolia Pictures present the Oscar-Nominated Short Films, opening on Feb. 10th. With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners (and have the edge in your Oscar pool)! A perennial hit with audiences around the country (and now the world), don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, Feb. 26th.

Joe’s Violin – dir. Kahane Cooperman, USA, 24 minutes
Synopsis: During a drive to donate musical instruments to public schools, 91-year-old Holocaust survivor Joseph Feingold offers his beloved violin, which he has played for more than 70 years. The instrument goes to the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls, where young musician Brianna Perez is inspired to become friends with her benefactor.

Extremis – dir. Dan Krauss, USA, 24 minutes
Synopsis: At the Intensive Care Unit at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, palliative care specialist Dr. Jessica Zitter treats terminally ill patients. As she and her team provide the best possible care, they try to help the patients and their loved ones make critical, often heartbreaking decisions.

4.1 Miles – dir. Daphne Matziaraki, USA, 22 minutes
Synopsis: Kyriakos Papadopoulos, a captain in the Greek Coast Guard, is caught in the struggle of refugees fleeing the Middle East and traveling the short distance from the coast of Turkey to the island of Lesbos. Despite having limited resources, the captain and his crew attempt to save lives during the immense humanitarian crisis.

Watani: My Homeland – dir. Marcel Mettelsiefen, UK, 39 minutes
Synopsis: Four young children live with their mother and father, a Free Syrian Commander, in a warzone in Aleppo, Syria. After their father is captured by ISIS, the children flee with their mother to Goslar, Germany, in a years-long journey that will test them all as they try to find a safe home in a foreign country.

The White Helmets – dir. Orlando von Einsiedel, UK, 41 minutes
Synopsis: In the chaos of war-torn Syria, unarmed and neutral civilian volunteers known as "the white helmets" comb through the rubble after bombings to rescue survivors. Although they have already saved more than 60,000 lives since 2013, these brave first responders continue to place themselves in danger every day.