Wow! How did a film from Kabul, Afghanistan, (“Buzhashi Boys”) a country ravished by decades of war and a film made in a worn torn fishing village in Somalia (“Asad”) with a cast of refugees, find their way to the Academy Awards in LA? The real surprises at the Oscars are here in the Foreign Film, Animated Shorts, Documentary and Live Action Short Film categories. These films have passionate, compelling backstories as remarkable as the ones they bring to the screen. There were 125 entries in the Live Action Short Films category and many entrants were associated with considerable star power.

Best Live Action Short Film Nominees 85th Academy Awards

“Asad” Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura (Somalia) “Buzkashi Boys” Sam French and Ariel Nasr (Afghanistan) “Curfew” Shawn Christensen (USA) “Death of a Shadow” Toma Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele (Belgium) “Henry” Yan England (Canada)

Buzhashi Boys, is a film filled with immense hope and love, two young boys dreaming aloud amidst the shattered ruins of a once proud city. The imaginative, ‘film noir’ style Flemish/Dutch fantasy film Death of a Shadow, is a most unusual love story. Matthias Schoenaerts is perfect for the role. He burst onto the international stage after his stunning performance in Bullhead, the 2012 Foreign Film Oscar nominee from Belgium. Matthias Schoenaerts won Best Actor at the Palm Spring International Film Festival 2012 for the role and stars beside Marion Cotillard in this year’s internationally acclaimed feature “Rust and Bone”. “Henry” is a personal film from a young French Canadian writer/director/producer who was simply trying to capture the essence of his 96-year old grandfather’s remarkable life. “Curfew” is a very touching story about a young man in state of dire personal crisis. These Live Action Short Films have only received widespread attention because of their Oscar nominations, which have catapulted them into the limelight. Below are short synopsis of each film, the trailer and selected Youtube comments. Buzhashi Boys is favored to win the Oscar.