2026 Oscar Picks Deep Dive: Documentary Short Film
A powerful pack of 5 films under 40 minutes each!
I watched all 15 short films nominated for an Academy Award this year. In 2025, I watched them all back to back at the amazing Row House Cinemas in Pittsburgh, PA, and enjoyed the Live Action Short Film nominees with James Patrick of the Cinema Shame podcast. This year, I caught the Live Action Short Films and the Documentary Short Films solo and the Animated Short Films with our kids, splitting up viewings on three days at two local theaters, the lovely Mann Edina 4 and The Main Cinema in Minneapolis.
I’ll cross-post with deep dives on all three. But right now, let’s get to the Documentary Short Film nominees in my ranked order, fifth to first:
And the Best Documentary Short Film nominees are…
Perfectly a Strangeness | Alison McAlpine, 15 min. Canada, No Dialogue
Visually stunning. And very short. That’s about all I’ve got. Maybe this is weird, but if this is supposed to be a documentary, there were several moments in this brief film when I wondered whether the donkeys actually did what they did or if there was an animal wrangler directing them to do what they did. If that happened, is it still a documentary? That’s the trick, isn’t it? Can any documentary truly be objective?
How to Watch: Watch it on The Criterion Channel.
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The Devil Is Busy | Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton, 31 min. USA, English
A candid look at the day-to-day work at an abortion clinic in the Atlanta, GA area. The subject was handled with a mixture of grace, nuance, and practicality that some refuse to afford it, especially those who would outright ban abortion. Just like some women are forced to review media before having an abortion, maybe abortion protestors should be forced to watch this film before they spend another Saturday trying to shame people on potentially one of the most complex days of their life. Great film.
How to Watch: HBO
Children No More: Were and Are Gone | Hilla Medalia, 36 min. USA, UK, Israel, Hebrew
Having just spent several weeks in my city as a peaceful protestor at a variety of demonstrations calling out the federal government and ICE for their illegal, inhumane, and immoral tactics - including one morning when I was teargassed with a canister I bought with my tax dollars - I was struck by the raw honesty of these protests. More than that, I was struck by the silence. Demonstrations have not been silent against ICE here in Minneapolis. But the silence these Israeli protestors use as they hold up signs of Palestinian children killed lets the photos speak for themselves. Lots to think about in this film.
How to Watch: Nowhere I see, as of this writing. Wish it were otherwise, Dear Reader.
All the Empty Rooms | Joshua Seftel, 34 min. USA, English
The last two films were my favorite, and they were documentaries about documentaries. Reporter Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp memorialize the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. As someone who experienced the tragic Annunciation School Church shooting blocks from my home and work, it was harrowing. As a parent, it was haunting. As a human, it was peaceful. These photos won’t bring these children back. But it does make their legacy something that will outlast any murderous act. And it reminds the world that the lives of these children are more important than the right to own a gun.
How to Watch: Netflix
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brett Renaud | Brent Renaud and Craig Renaud, 37 min. USA, English
This film is an emotional rollercoaster. The Renaud brothers’ footage from war zones across the years and across the world is a cacophony of tragedy. Brett’s death is awful. His work is powerful. What Craig has done here is not just honor his brother, but honor all of those whose lives he has documented. You may need a strong stomach to watch this, but if you can watch it, I highly recommend it.
How to Watch: HBO
Will and Should Win: Armed Only with a Camera
Hollywood loves movies about making movies. I wonder if that will be the case for a documentary about documentaries. As for me, the two with that type of storytelling were the most compelling to me, and I think Armed Only with a Camera really nails it. All of these are beautiful films and all are worth your time.
Your turn!
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Glad you’re here today, Dear Reader. God’s peace and good movies to you!