As awards season wrapped up with the Oscars on March 3, you’ve probably heard more than enough about the films nominated for Best Picture and the biggest winners of the night. Timothée Chalomet has been practically everywhere for A Complete Unknown (2024). Anora (2024) and The Brutalist (2024) competed for the top spot— with Anora bringing home the top gold. And everyone loved seeing the stars of Wicked (2024), Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, perform at the ceremony.
But beyond the headliners and box office hits, more and more turned to those films nominated for the Documentary categories to see what they’re about. Every year, the short and feature-length documentary films bring diversity to the awards that are constantly criticized for a blatant lack of diversity. 2025’s nominees range in topics from war in Ukraine and the Middle East to the death penalty, and Canada’s dark history with residential schools to the first female full-time member of the New York Phillharmonic.
If you want to watch a few more features now that the Best Picture has been decided, here’s a round-up of the nominees for Best Documentary Short Films, all under an hour. You can learn a little something while you bask in the masterpieces that were recognized.
Death By Numbers
Sam Fuentes, the screenwriter, survived the 2018 school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. This short documentary follows Fuentes through the shooter’s sentencing hearing, using poetry and narrative. Through Death By Numbers (2024), she hopes to encourage more survivors to come forward and share their stories.
Although unfortunately not available for screening at this time, there may be screenings in your area. Check here for more details.
I Am Ready, Warden
I Am Ready, Warden (2024) watches John Henry Ramirez prepare himself to be executed by the death penalty for murdering a man in 2008. As he gets closer to his execution date, he seeks redemption from the victim’s son. It’s a story of change and of taking responsibility.
You can watch the short on Paramount+.
Incident
Incident (2023) is an innovative short, recreating the events of and following a 2018 police shooting in Chicago. At times, the footage can be hard to watch, but the rebuilt story is deeply effecting.
You can watch the short here, on the New Yorker’s YouTube channel, viewer discretion advised.
Instruments of a Beating Heart
This is one of this year’s lighter shorts. A first grade class in Japan is challenged to perform, “Ode to Joy,” for the incoming first grade class. Instruments of a Beating Heart (2024) is the sweet story of one of those first graders staying determined to perform her part to her highest ability.
You can watch this from the New York Times.
The Only Girl in the Orchestra — Winner of the Short Documentary Oscar
Orin O’brien was the first female full-time musician in the New York Phillharmonic, performing the double-bass for decades, alongside teaching the instrument. The Only Girl in the Orchestra (2023) celebrates the trailblazer’s career.
You can watch this on Netflix.
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