(November 23, 2016 – Los Angeles, CA) The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the 10 semi-finalists in the Animated Short category and the 8-minute Canadian film Blind Vaysha from director Theodore Ushev is one of the films on the list. These 10 animated shorts will advance in the voting process for the 89th Academy Awards®. Sixty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category. Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December.
Based on the short story “Blind Vaysha” by Georgi Gospodinov, Vaysha is not like other young girls; she was born with one green eye and one brown eye. But her odd eyes aren’t the only thing that’s special about her gaze. Her left eye sees only the past. Her right, only the future. Like a terrible curse, Vaysha’s split vision prevents her from living in the present. Blinded by what was and tormented by what will be, she remains trapped between two irreconcilable temporalities. “Blind Vaysha,” they called her.
Following is the list of the 10 animated shorts announced today:
“Blind Vaysha,” Theodore Ushev, director (National Film Board of Canada)
“Borrowed Time,” Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj, directors (Quorum Films)
“Happy End,” Jan Saska, director (FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague)
“The Head Vanishes,” Franck Dion, director (Papy3D Productions, National Film Board of Canada and ARTE France Cinema Department)
“Inner Workings,” Leo Matsuda, director, and Sean Lurie, producer (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
“Once upon a Line,” Alicja Jasina, director (University of Southern California)
“Pear Cider and Cigarettes,” Robert Valley, director, and Cara Speller, producer (Massive Swerve Studios and Passion Pictures Animation)
“Pearl,” Patrick Osborne, director (Google Spotlight Stories/Evil Eye Pictures)
“Piper,” Alan Barillaro, director, and Marc Sondheimer, producer (Pixar Animation Studios)
“Sous Tes Doigts (Under Your Fingers),” Marie-Christine Courtès, director, and Ludivine Berthouloux, art director (Vivement Lundi! and Novanima)
The Academy also announced the 10 semi-finalists in the short live action category today.
Nominations for the 89th Oscars® will be announced on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. The 89th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.
