Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant.

Letterboxd lists

Eligible live-action shorts – category analysis

Eligible animated shorts – category analysis

Eligible documentary shorts

The Rankings

1. TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA – trailer – info – full film*
2. MERCY – interview – info
3. JANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA – interview – info
4. JUST THE USUAL – trailer – info
5. THE PEARL COMB – trailer – info
6. PORELESS – trailer – info – full film*
7. THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS – trailer – info
8. DALY CITY – trailer – info – full film*
9. HURIKÁN – trailer – info
10. RETIREMENT PLAN– trailer – info – full film*
11. TRAPPED – review – info
12. GIGI – trailer – info – full film* (French or German subtitles only)
13. ONE LAST ROUND – trailer – info
14. KOVARTY – trailer – info – full film*
15. SCARS WE LOVE – trailer – info – full film* (French subtitles only)
16. EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING – VFX panel – info
17. THE SECOND TIME AROUND – trailer – info – full film* (UK only)
18. MARCIA AND THE SHARK – trailer – info – full film*
19. THE SINGERS – trailer – info
20. LES BÊTES – trailer – info – full film*
21. BEYOND SILENCE – trailer – info – full film* (Dutch subtitles only)
22. HOLY CURSE – trailer – info – full film*
23. MERCENAIRE – trailer – info
24. ONE DAY, THIS KID – trailer – info – on Kanopy & Criterion
25. PLAYING GOD – trailer – info
26. MUSHROOM DAD – review – info

*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner).

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