18th WINTER SHORTS FEST: SHORTCUTS TO THE OSCARS

Always with English Subtitles!

Screening followed by Q&A with Le Professeur Kevin Elstob.

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PROGRAM
Runtime: 1h30min

The Sacramento French Film Festival has always enjoyed showcasing a diverse selection of short films. While feature films dominate the industry, shorts allow artists to build a portfolio to attract funding, gain experience with lower costs and commitments, refine their craft, experiment with storytelling techniques, and express their artistic vision. For many renowned French directors, "le court-métrage" has been a stepping-stone to feature-length success.

In Shortcuts to the Oscars, we highlight early short films by French directors who later earned Oscar nominations and, a few times, awards, including Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie, 2001), Jacques Tati (Mon Oncle, 1958), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance, 2024), Ladj Ly (Les Misérables, 2019), Patrice Leconte (Ridicule, 1996), and Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall, 2023).

WHAT I LIKE, WHAT I DON'T LIKE
(FOUTAISES)
Jean-Pierre Jeunet

1989 - Agence du Court Métrage - 9 minutes
LIVE-ACTION
Please enter the crazy universe of Jean-Pierre Jeunet...

AMÉLIE was nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category in 2001.

THE SCHOOL FOR POSTMAN
(L'ÉCOLE DES FACTEURS)
Jacques Tati

1946 - Agence du Court Métrage - 15 minutes
LIVE-ACTION
In order to speed up his delivery rounds, a postman invents a new means of distribution, unique to each address.

MON ONCLE was nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category in 1958.

THE TELEGRAM
(LE TÉLÉGRAMME)
Coralie Fargeat
2003 - Agence du Court Métrage - 12 minutes
LIVE-ACTION
During WWI, in a small secluded village, two women anxiously await the mailman every day, afraid that he may bring bad news from the front where their sons are fighting.

THE SUBSTANCE received five Oscar nominations this year (Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Actress for Demi Moore).

LES MISÉRABLES
Ladj Ly

2017 - Agence du Court Métrage - 15 minutes
LIVE-ACTION
Pento has just joined the anti-crime brigade of Seine-Saint-Denis, in the suburbs of Paris. On his first day on the job, cruising the streets of the projects with his team, he will come face to face with his own demons.

LES MISÉRABLES was nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category in 2019.

THE BOLERO DRUMMER
(LE BATTEUR DU BOLÉRO)
Patrice Leconte
1992 - Agence du Court Métrage - 8 minutes
LIVE-ACTION
Just what can the orchestra drummer be thinking about throughout Ravel’s “Boléro” as he gives the same repetitive beat of the drum?

RIDICULE was nominated was nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category in 1996.

TWO SHIPS
(VILAINE FILLE, MAUVAIS GARÇON)
Justine Triet
2012 - Agence du Court Métrage - 30 minutes
LIVE-ACTION
Laetitia and Thomas hook up at a house party. Together, they will navigate the night, alternating between lightness and drama.

ANATOMY OF A FALL was nominated for five Oscars in 2024 (Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Film Editing). Justine Triet and her co-writer/partner Arthur Harari won for Best Original Screenplay.