Per the Academy’s press release:

15 films will advance in the Documentary Short Film category for the 96th Academy Awards. 114 films qualified in the category. Members of the Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

Each shortlist is determined by members of that corresponding branch, except for International Feature Film and Live Action Short Film. (Members from all branches are invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must meet a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.)

The nominations for the 96th Oscars will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, while the Oscars ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

WHY I CHOSE THOSE FIVE?

When I predict documentary shorts that will get nominations, I usually look at whether they have timely subject matter, have exceptional imagery, are touching, or if a more prominent company like Disney or Netflix backs them.

“The Last Repair Shop” feels like a lock on the shortlist. It’s backed by Searchlight Pictures, often represented at the Oscars, and is now a Walt Disney-backed company. It also won Best Short Documentary at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards and was nominated by the Black Reel and Astra Film Awards for Best Short Film, so it’s already garnering some attention.

In the timely category, “The ABCs of Book Banning” and “Camp Courage” feel like strong contenders. “ABCS” is produced by MTV Documentary Films, while “Camp Courage” is produced by Netflix, both known to populate this category in any given year. They’re about young kids facing adversity, either in the library or climbing the Alps. “Oasis” is another kid-based short with touching subject matter and brilliant cinematography.

Lastly, “Wings Of Dust” also has some exceptional visuals and is focused on a small community dealing with the after-effects of mining. It is a frontline type of reporting that often feels unique and important, with the filmmakers putting their lives on the line to get the footage. It also won Gold in the Academy’s Student Awards, so I feel their eyes will already be on this to push it forward.

A few alternates would include “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó” because of its nature, focusing on two unique individuals while having been purchased by Disney. The “Island In Between” images have piqued my interest, so I’m curious to see if the short is as good as they are. “How We Get Free” (backed by HBO) and “Black Girls Play” (produced by ESPN) both feel important. And “Between Earth & Sky” also appears to be a personal story with some impressive camerawork.