While unrated, please note that the documentary shorts program should be treated as an R-rated presentation for adult themes, violence, and language.

Audible – dir. MATT OGENS, US, 38 minutes, 2020

This coming-of-age documentary follows Maryland School for the Deaf high school athlete Amaree McKenstry and his close friends as they face the pressures of senior year, an unprecedented winning streak on the football field, and the realities of venturing off into the hearing world.

Lead Me Home – dir. PEDRO KOS, JON SHENK, US, 39 minutes, 2020

This immersive, cinematic film personalizes the overwhelming issue of homelessness in America by telling the real-life stories of those with lived experience. Taking a first step toward challenging uninformed attitudes and outmoded policies, Lead Me Home gives the audience a rare, in-depth look at the scale, scope, and diversity of unsheltered America today.

The Queen of Basketball – dir. BEN PROUDFOOT, US, 22 minutes, 2021

She is one of the greatest living women’s basketball players. 3 national trophies. Scored the first basket in women’s Olympic basketball at the ‘76 Olympics. Drafted to the NBA. But have you ever heard of Lucy Harris?

Three Songs for Benazir – dir. GULISTAN MIRZAEI, ELIZABETH MIRZAEI, AFGHANISTAN, 22 minutes, 2021

The story of Shaista, a young man who—newly married to Benazir and living in a displacement camp in Kabul—struggles to balance his dreams of being the first from his tribe to join the Afghan National Army with the responsibilities of starting a family.

When We Were Bullies – dir. JAY ROSENBLATT, GERMANY/USA, 36 minutes, 2021

A mind-boggling coincidence leads the filmmaker to track down his fifth grade class and teacher to examine their memory of and complicity in a bullying incident 50 years ago.

Showtimes are also available for Oscar Shorts: Animated and Oscar Shorts: Live Action.