The Three Sisters

"In every scene – short ones, long ones, any scene at all – every character should prepare and make a main gesture that articulates their attitude towards what is happening and uncovers or underscores the scene’s meaning to the viewer."

Konstantin Bronzit shares the guiding principle underpinning his animated films, which are regularly celebrated by the industry, culminating in a third Oscar nomination for his latest short The Three Sisters. He also talks to DN about creating this new film with the help of his trusted contemporaries, the inspiration for the delightfully entertaining story that sees the simple island life of three siblings thrown into chaos with the arrival of a burly sailor, as well as his decision to use a pseudonym when approaching the worldwide festival circuit, which led to some controversial reactions.

Butcher’s Stain

"This isn't an Arab or a Palestinian. This is Samir."

Still a student at Tel Aviv University’s Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, Meyer Levinson-Blount's short Butcher's Stain has earned an Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. We sat down with him to talk craft, close-ups, and the human story at the centre of this all too relatable scapegoating narrative.

Forevergreen

“This really is a love-letter to stop-motion for both of us.”

With many of the trademarks of previous winners in its category, Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears’ Forevergreen must be a favourite in the Best Animated Short Film category at this year’s Oscars. Eager to dive into their process, we were joined by the directorial duo to discuss how parenthood, nature and faith inspired their emotive storyline and how Spears’ woodcarvings were instrumental in their stop-motion styled 3D animation.

BBC Long Story Short

"As the industry becomes ever more competitive and risk-averse we feel it’s increasingly important to create funded, supported spaces where new voices can experiment, take creative risks, and build credits that genuinely move their careers forward."

Head of New Writing at BBC Writers, Jess Loveland and directors Theo James Krekis and Annabel Vine share their insights into the BBC initiative Long Story Short. A project which pairs fresh writing and directing voices with local production companies to create seven ambitious new short films - available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

All the Empty Rooms

"We just wanted versatility so that we could go in and fade into the woodwork."

A single zoom lens. No lights. A crew small enough to disappear. In Oscar nominated documentary All the Empty Rooms, director Joshua Seftel built his visual language around an ethical position as much as a cinematic one for his powerfully devastating collaboration with CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp inside the bedrooms of children killed in American school shootings.