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- Taika Waititi lends star power to Oscar-nominated shorts
- How Roadside Attractions is packaging the shorts for theaters
- What the distributor says and why it matters
- Animated Short Film nominees to be screened
- Documentary Short Film nominees included
- Live Action Short Film nominees on the bill
- Why seeing the shorts in theaters matters
- Distribution details and where to catch the programs
Roadside Attractions announced a theatrical run of the 98th Oscar-nominated short films, and Oscar winner Taika Waititi will introduce the programs. The screenings land in U.S. and Canadian cinemas on February 20, 2026, offering moviegoers a rare chance to see this year’s short-form nominees on the big screen.
Taika Waititi lends star power to Oscar-nominated shorts
Oscar-winning writer, director, and actor Taika Waititi will present the three-film programs. Waititi’s involvement brings renewed attention to short films and their global creators.
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Waititi, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit in 2020, first earned Academy recognition with a short. His early nod for the 2005 live action short Two Cars, One Night helped launch his career.
In a statement, Waititi praised the creative freedoms of short filmmaking and underscored how shorts allow artists to experiment and challenge norms.
How Roadside Attractions is packaging the shorts for theaters
The distributor will present three feature-length programs, each dedicated to one Oscar short-film category: Animated, Documentary, and Live Action. Audiences will see a curated block of shorts in each screening.
The theatrical date is February 20, 2026, with screenings across the U.S. and Canada. The event is timed ahead of the Academy Awards, giving viewers a preview of the contenders.
What the distributor says and why it matters
Roadside Attractions’ leadership emphasized the strength of this year’s nominees and the theatrical experience. The company framed the programs as a must-see opportunity for cinephiles during awards season.
The distributor is handling the release independently. While the Academy has licensed the Oscar trade name for use, the presentation is not produced, sponsored, or endorsed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Animated Short Film nominees to be screened
- Butterfly
- Forevergreen
- The Girl Who Cried Pearls
- Retirement Plan
- The Three Sisters
Documentary Short Film nominees included
- All the Empty Rooms
- Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
- Children No More: ‘Were and Are Gone’
- The Devil Is Busy
- Perfectly a Strangeness
Live Action Short Film nominees on the bill
- A Friend of Dorothy
- Butcher’s Stain
- Jane Austen’s Period Drama
- The Singers
- Two People Exchanging Saliva
Why seeing the shorts in theaters matters
Watching nominees in a theatrical setting changes the experience. Visual detail, sound design, and shared audience reactions often reveal layers missed at home.
For viewers tracking awards season, these screenings also provide early insight. Fans filling out Oscar pools can use what they see to refine predictions ahead of the March 15 ceremony.
Distribution details and where to catch the programs
Roadside Attractions will roll out the three programs to theaters across North America on February 20. Details on participating cinemas and showtimes will be announced by the distributor as the date approaches.
IndieWire obtained this information exclusively from Roadside Attractions ahead of the theatrical dates.
