SPIKE Collection - Oscar Nominated Shorts 2007

Maestro

In this clip, a singing bird sits in front of a dressing room mirror as a mechanical arm prepares him for his grand and mysterious performance.

First-time Academy Awards Nominee Mr. Geza M. Toth is a Hungarian artist, working as an animation film maker and lecturer of the Animation Department of the Hungarian University of Art and Design (MIE). As a Research Fellow and Guest Tutor he worked in London (Royal College of Art), also the Film Academy of Tallinn (Estonia), Ahmedabad (India), and Baden-Württemberg (Germany).
In the past 5-6 years he has created approx. 120 animation signals, commercials and short films. His productions were successfully screened more than 50 different festivals. At this moment he is working on the film adaptation of Bela Bartok's BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE.

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec

The Danish Poet

Kasper, a young poet in search of inspiration, travels to Norway to meet the celebrated writer, Sigrid Undset.
In this clip, he proposes to a girl he met and fell in love with during his visit, only to find out that she's already engaged to someone else.

This is the second Academy Award nomination for Torill Kove. She was previously nominated for: MY GRANDMOTHER IRONED THE KING'S SHIRTS (MIN BESTEMOR STROK KONGENS SKJORTER) (1999) -- Nominee, Short Film (Animated).
After a short film Bobbie Peers' "SNIFFER" last year scored the first Golden Palm ever at Cannes for Norway, Norwegian director Torill Kove's DEN DANSKE DIKTEREN (THE DANISH POET) has entered the race for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Film. THE DANISH POET which is narrated by Norwegian actress-director Liv Ullmann has so far screened at 29 festivals, and returned with seven prizes. Produced by Lise Fearnley and Marcy Page for Norway's Mikrofilm and the National Film Board of Canada. Torill Kove (b. May 25 1958 in Hamar) has worked with animation in various capacities at the National Film Board of Canada. In addition, she works as a designer, illustrator, animator and scriptwriter. Her filmography includes THE DANISH POET (2005) and MY GRANDMOTHER IRONED THE KING'S SHIRTS (1999).

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec

West Bank Story

This is a clip from a musical comedy set in the fast-paced, fast-food world of competing falafel stands on the West Bank.

First-time Academy Award Nominee Ari Sandel's career in the entertainment industry includes television, film, and music videos. Previously, Ari created and hosted the comedic TV segment, THE TRAVELER, for the FX Channel's, THE X SHOW . Ari wrote, directed, and hosted the segment for two seasons as he traveled the globe, offering a tongue-in-cheek view of the world's unknown hot spots for the young and hip.
His most recent project, VINCE VAUGHN'S WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW: 30 DAYS & 30 NIGHTS - HOLLYWOOD TO THE HEARTLAND (2006), was his feature documentary directorial debut and premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec

The Saviour

Malcolm, a door-to-door Mormon evangelist, is in love with a married woman.
In this clip he returns to his lover with hopes of converting her faith.

These are the first Academy Award nominations for Peter Templeman and Stuart Parkyn.

Peter Templeman and Stuart Parkyn's short film THE SAVIOUR, produced by the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film. The film screened in competition at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Short Film at the Slamdance Film Festival in the US, making it eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award. The film tells the story of a gentle, effective door-to-door evangelist who is in love with a married woman.

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec

Helmer And Son

A busy son is called to the rest home where his father has locked himself inside an armoire.
In this clip, the son is trying to convince his father to get out of the closet.

This is the first Academy Award nomination for Soren Pilmark.
This is the fourth Academy Award nomination for Kim Magnusson. He was previously nominated for: ELECTION NIGHT (VALGAFTEN) (1998) -- Winner, Short Film (Live Action) WOLFGANG (1997) -- Nominee, Short Film (Live Action) ERNST & LYSET (1996) -- Nominee, Short Film (Live Action)

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec

Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)

When his wife leaves him, Joaquín and his son turn to her mother for help with the cooking and cleaning.
In this clip, the father suspects that his mother-in-law caught on their true motivation in bringing her home.

First-time Academy Award Nominee Borja Cobeaga was born in San Sebastian, Spain in 1977. Ever since a very young age he has been making homemade movies that have participated in video festivals. A graduate in Audiovisual Communication from the University of the Basque Country, EHU/UPV, he has worked in television as a producer (GRAN HERMANO, CONFIANZA CIEGA), screenwriter (SPLUNGE, AGITACION, + IVA) and director (VAYA SEMANITA).In 2001 he wrote and directed LA PRIMEZA VEZ, nominated for a Goya and winner of 35 awards at national and international festivals. ERAMOS POCOS won the project competition at the Medina del Compo Film Festival in 2004.

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec

Binta And The Great Idea

Binta, a 7-year-old girl, sets out to change the life of her young cousin.
In this clip, a mother tries to convince her husband to allow their daughter to go to school.

First-time Academy Award nominee Director Javier Fesser has a degree in Mass Media Communication from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He set up Linea Films in 1986, a production company that specializes in publicity. BINTA Y LA GRAN IDEA, was shot in Senegal in collaboration with UNICEF to increase awareness of third world children. He is one of the founders of NOTODOFILMFEST, an on-line short film festival. His filmography includesCANDIDA (2006 - screenwriter), BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA (2004 director and screenwriter), LA GRAN AVENTURA DE MORTADELO Y FILEMON (2003 - director and screenwriter), EL MILAGRO DE P TINTO (1998 - director and screenwriter)

This short film has been made in collaboration with UNICEF in order to increase solidarity for the children in the third world. All of the profits will forever go to UNICEF programs for children.

Oscar Nominated Short Films are being released theatrically nationwide on February 16, 2007 by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International.
The playdate schedule is on the Mag Pictures site.

Runtime: 00 hrs 01 min 00 sec