Cinephiles, the Race Is on! Here’s Where to Watch Oscar Nominees in Australia

February 14, 2024

Where to watch the Oscar nominees in Australia

It’s that time of year again, folks! Award season is here, and the Oscars death race is on, as cinephiles race to watch all the Oscar nominated films before the ceremony on March 11. But if you’re an Australian film lover, you’ll know it’s a task that’s often easier said than done. With different release dates and streaming platforms across the world, finding all the films can be difficult. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to compile a definitive list of where to watch the Oscar nominees in Australia.

This year, Oppenheimer is leading the Oscar nominations with 13 nods across the categories, including nods for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. and Best Supporting Actress for Emily Blunt. Meanwhile, Poor Things has picked up 11 nods, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Emma Stone, and Best Supporting Actor for Mark Ruffalo.

Barbie has snagged eight nominations, including Best Picture, as well as Supporting Actor nominations for Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera. Eight nominations is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but there has been some public outcry for some of the film’s more notable Oscar snubs. Greta Gerwig was shut out of the Best Director category, and Margot Robbie didn’t manage to secure a nod for Best Actress.

But what about the films beyond Barbenheimer? The documentaries, the international features, and the Oscar nominated shorts? Can we watch all of them in Australia? Read on to find out.

Where to Watch the Oscar Nominated Feature Films in Australia

American Fiction

Directed by: Cord Jefferson
Written by: Cord Jefferson, based on the novel by Percival Everett
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz
Synopsis: A novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jeffrey Wright), Best Supporting Actor (Sterling K. Brown), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video from February 27

A fresh, funny and biting satire, American Fiction is as insightful and poignant as it is laugh out loud funny.

Anatomy of a Fall

Directed by: Justine Triet
Written by: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
Starring: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner
Synopsis: A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas now

A gripping and tense courtroom drama, Anatomy of a Fall features star performances from its cast, from Best Actress nominee Sandra Hüller to the entire supporting cast — human or not. Surely if there was an Oscar for best animal performance, there’s no question it would go to Messi, the border collie who plays Snoop in the film.

Barbie

Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Written by: Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
Starring: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera
Synopsis: Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (America Ferrera), Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Original Song (“What Was I Made For”), Best Original Song (“I’m Just Ken”)
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video

What can be said about Barbie that hasn’t already been said? From the pitch perfect performances, to the script that will make you laugh and cry, to the costumes, production design and the unbeatable soundtrack, there’s a reason Barbie has become a blockbuster.

The film is a certified phenomenon, and despite Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s snubs in the Best Director and Best Actress categories, Barbie is a film that’s set to have a legacy long after this year’s Academy Awards are over and done with.

The Color Purple

Directed by: Blitz Bazawule
Written by: Marcus Gardley, based on the novel by Alice Walker and the musical stage play by Marsha Norman
Starring: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks
Synopsis: A decades-spanning tale of love and resilience and of one woman’s journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life, but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
Oscar nominations: Best Supporting Actress (Danielle Brooks)
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas now. Book tickets here.

One of the year’s secret musicals, The Color Purple is the film adaptation of the Broadway production of Alice Walker’s novel. While the film itself has been met with mixed reviews, critics have been unanimous in their praise for Best Supporting Actress nominee Danielle Brooks’ performance.

The Creator

Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Written by: Gareth Edwards and Chris Weitz
Starring: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan
Synopsis: Against the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with artificial intelligence, a former soldier finds the secret weapon, a robot in the form of a young child.
Oscar nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

Made on a USD$80 million budget — a fraction of the cost for many of the more recent Marvel and DCU films — The Creator boasts impressive visual effects and an original story that’s not connected to any pre-existing franchises. Could its recognition at the Oscars signal a changing tide in Hollywood, and the return of mid-budget blockbuster films?

El Conde

Directed by: Pablo Larraín
Written by: Guillermo Calderón and Pablo Larraín
Starring: Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro
Synopsis: After living 250 years in this world, Augusto Pinochet, who is not dead but an aged vampire, decides to die once and for all.
Oscar nominations: Best Cinematography
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

A dark, disturbing, and very fun film, El Conde is part political satire, part vampire gothic, and part Succession (or perhaps, Suck-session, under the circumstances?) family drama. It’s also gorgeous to look at, so it’s no surprise to see its nomination for Best Cinematography.

Flamin’ Hot

Directed by: Eva Longoria
Written by: Screenplay by Lewis Colick and Linda Yvette Chávez, based on the life story of Richard Montañez and Judy Montañez, and the book A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive by Richard Montañez
Starring: Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Emilio Rivera
Synopsis: This is the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez who, as a Frito Lay janitor, disrupted the food industry by channeling his Mexican heritage to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon.
Oscar nominations: Best Original Song, “The Fire Inside”
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

The first of two Oscar-nominated biopics that are based on questionable (or even disproven) stories, Flamin’ Hot is a feel-good business film that delivers exactly what you expect from it.

Godzilla Minus One

Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
Written by: Ishirô Honda, Takeo Murata, Takashi Yamazaki
Starring: Minami Hamabe, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Sakura Ando
Synopsis: Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptised in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
Oscar nominations: Best Visual Effects
Where to watch: In cinemas now

On the surface, Godzilla Minus One might seem like your standard fare popcorn blockbuster. What it actually delivers is a film that’s much more layered and complex, with real emotional stakes and social commentary on the state of today’s society and the beasts that threaten us.

Golda

Directed by: Guy Nattiv
Written by: Nicholas Martin
Starring: Helen Mirren, Zed Josef, Henry Goodman
Synopsis: Focuses on the intensely dramatic and high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Israel,’ faced during the Yom Kippur War.
Oscar nominations: Best Hair and Makeup
Where to watch: TBC

Remember when the New York Post went viral for saying that Leonardo DiCaprio looked “unrecognisable” in an image from Killers of the Flower Moon? Perhaps if they’d been talking about Helen Mirren in Golda, they wouldn’t have been roasted so hard, because this is a film that’s really earned its Hair and Makeup nomination!

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

Directed by: James Gunn
Written by: Screenplay by James Gunn, with characters created by Jim Starlin, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Steve Englehart, Don Heck, Roger Stern, John Buscema, Sal Buscema, Bill Mantlo, Keith Giffen and Steve Gan
Starring: Chris Pratt, Chukwudi Iwuji, Bradley Cooper (voice)
Synopsis: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own — a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.
Oscar nominations: Best Visual Effects
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

As emotional as it is entertaining, the third entry into the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is a fun, funny, and heartwarming journey. The dazzling action sequences, visual effects and killer soundtrack all add to the story to create a film that, at its core, is just a really fun way to spend an evening.

The Holdovers

Directed by: Alexander Payne
Written by: David Hemingson
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
Synopsis: A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Supporting Actress (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas now, or available to rent from February 12

It’s been two decades since Paul Giamatti was snubbed for an Oscar nomination for his work in Sideways, Alexander Payne’s 2004 comedy that single-handedly tanked the entire merlot industry.

Now, Payne and Giamatti are back with The Holdovers, and the Academy has the chance to atone for their sins. Not only is The Holdovers just a great, feel-good dramedy, it’s already on the path to Oscars glory. At the 2024 Golden Globes, Giamatti was awarded Best Male Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his role, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph also won Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Will they be able to repeat the wins this March?

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Directed by: James Mangold
Written by: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp
Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas
Synopsis: Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artefact that can change the course of history.
Oscar nominations: Best Original Score
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

For fans of the Indiana Jones franchise, Dial of Destiny delivers everything one could ask for. Harrison Ford works his indisputable star power on the big screen with ease, and the film delivers a classic, old-school feeling action blockbuster. It’s escapist fun dialled up to a 10, and who doesn’t enjoy that?

Io Capitano

Directed by: Matteo Garrone
Written by: Matteo Garrone, Massimo Ceccherini, Massimo Gaudioso and Andrea Tagliaferri, in collaboration with Amara Fofana, Mamadou Kouassi Pli Adama, Arnaud Zohin, Brhane Tareka, Siaka Doumbia, Chiara Leonardi, Nicola Di Robilant
Starring: Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall, Issaka Sawadogo
Synopsis: A Homeric fairy tale that tells the adventurous journey of two young boys, Seydou and Moussa, who leave Dakar to reach Europe.
Oscar nominations: Best International Feature, Italy
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas March 28

A film that combines the mythical with true-to-life realism, Io Capitano is an expertly crafted exploration of the immigration experience that will resonate deeply.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on the book by David Grann
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone
Synopsis: Members of the Osage tribe in the United States are murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Actress (Lily Gladstone), Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Original Song (“Wahzhazhe [A Song For My People]”), Best Original Score
Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+

Martin Scorsese is back with Killers of the Flower Moon, a film of epic proportions in every sense of the word. Along for the ride are Scorsese’s two most frequent collaborators, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, who deliver stellar performances along with relative newcomer Lily Gladstone, who scored a nod for Best Actress in a Leading Role, despite her limited screen time.

Maestro

Directed by: Bradley Cooper
Written by: Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer
Synopsis: This love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Carey Mulligan), Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Sound
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

Maestro is a film that takes some big swings artistically, but Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan’s performances are strong enough to anchor the film throughout. It’s a visual delight and (as one would expect) the music is fabulous, making this a whirlwind that’s worth your time.

May December

Directed by: Todd Haynes
Written by: Alex Mechanik and Samy Burch
Starring: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Synopsis: Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past.
Oscar nominations: Best Original Screenplay
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas now

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are firing on all cylinders in this film that’s so high-camp it’s close to diabolical. Where the topic is serious and often deeply unsettling, Haynes keeps the crowd hooked with expertly placed jokes, and the result is a multi-layered film that will be on your mind for days.

Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Written by: Bruce Geller, Erik Jendresen, Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames
Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.
Oscar nominations: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects
Where to watch: Streaming now on Prime Video

Following the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick last year, Tom Cruise proved once again that he’s the king of the action box office with Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One this year. The film delivers everything you expect from Cruise and his longtime director, Christopher McQuarrie — meticulously planned action sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat for far longer than you’d expect, punctuated with jaw-dropping stunts that will make you gasp.

Napoleon

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: David Scarpa
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim
Synopsis: An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
Oscar nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design
Where to watch: Available to rent on Apple TV, coming to Apple TV+ soon

Fans of Ridley Scott will surely know what to expect from Napoleon already — think epic battle scenes, lots of world building, and breathtaking production design.

Nyad

Directed by: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Written by: Julia Cox, based on the book Find a Way by Diana Nyad
Starring: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Anne Marie Kempf
Synopsis: The remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad who, at the age of 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach, commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.
Oscar nominations: Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster)
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

The second of the two Oscar-nominated biopics based on a questionable version of events, Nyad doesn’t exactly portray its protagonist as a liar, but it certainly doesn’t make her look great. Regardless, Annette Bening and Jodie Foster deliver powerhouse performances that elevate this sporting biopic beyond the material they’re working with.

Oppenheimer

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Christopher Nolan, Kai Bird, Martin Sherwin
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon
Synopsis: The story of American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Sound, Best Production Design, Best Original Score
Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video

Part two of the Barbenheimer bonanza, Oppenheimer is leading the charge for the the 2024 Academy Awards, and for good reason. The three-hour epic is a technically stunning, gripping drama with Cillian Murphy’s haunted performance as its centrepiece. It’s Christopher Nolan at his best, and if the odds are anything to go by, it’s likely the Academy will reward his work this year.

Past Lives

Directed by: Celine Song
Written by: Celine Song
Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
Synopsis: Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay
Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on Apple TV

A minimalistic, slow burn romance that’s simultaneously gorgeous and stunning, Past Lives is a stellar debut from writer/director Celine Song. After getting rave reviews out of the Sundance Film Festival back in January 2023, momentum for this meticulously curated romantic drama remained steady over the year, and has culminated in nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

Perfect Days

Directed by: Wim Wenders
Written by: Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki
Starring: Koji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano
Synopsis: A janitor in Japan drives between jobs listening to rock music.
Oscar nominations: Best International Feature, Japan
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas March 28, 2024

Perfect Days is a moving character study that turns a simple slice-of-life tale into an exquisite exploration of happiness, beauty, and life itself. It’s the kind of film that invites the viewer to pause and reflect on life’s simple pleasures, and to seek joy and peace in even the most mundane tasks.

Poor Things

Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Written by: Tony McNamara, based on the novel by Alasdair Gray
Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe
Synopsis: The incredible tale about the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Makeup, Best Production Design, Best Original Score
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas now

A dazzling mix of laugh-loud-loud moments, gasp-inducing body horror, and poignant drama, Poor Things truly has it all. When you add the impeccable costumes and otherworldly production design into the mix, it’s an unmissable masterpiece that deserves to be seen on the big screen.

Rustin

Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Written by: Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black
Starring: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman
Synopsis: Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.
Oscar nominations: Best Actor (Colman Domingo)
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

Colman Domingo delivers a commanding performance as Bayard Rustin, a previously overlooked leader of the Civil Rights movement in the US.

Society of the Snow

Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Written by: J.A. Bayona, Bernat Vilaplana, Jaime Marques-Olarreaga and Nicolás Casariego, based on the book by Pablo Vierci
Starring: Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt
Synopsis: The flight of a rugby team crashes on a glacier in the Andes. The few passengers who survive the crash find themselves in one of the world’s toughest environments to survive.
Oscar nominations: Best International Feature, Spain, Best Hair and Makeup
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

A harrowing retelling of the plane crash of Flight 571 and everything the survivors had to endure and overcome in order to survive the following 72 days. With one of the most visceral, terrifying plane crash scenes you’ll see, Society of the Snow isn’t for the faint of heart, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The Teachers’ Lounge

Directed by: lker Çatak
Written by: Johannes Duncker, Ilker Çatak
Starring: Leonie Benesch, Anne-Kathrin Gummich, Rafael Stachowiak
Synopsis: When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.
Oscar nominations: Best International Feature, Germany
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas April 25, 2024

An anxiety-inducing drama that often plays like a thriller, The Teachers’ Lounge is a smart, timely film that will grab your attention and hold on tight until the end as it explores the issues of today through the lens of the education system.

The Zone of Interest

Directed by: Jonathan Glazer
Written by: Jonathan Glazer, based on the book by Martin Amis
Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus
Synopsis: Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp.
Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Glazer), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best International Feature (United Kingdom), Best Sound
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas February 22, 2024

A challenging, disturbing film, The Zone of Interest is the kind of film that will play on your mind as you go to sleep, and haunt you for days, weeks, and months after you’ve watched it. It’s a must-see, and a gargantuan cinematic achievement.

Where to Watch the Oscar Nominated Documentary Features in Australia

20 Days in Mariupol

Directed by: Mstyslav Chernov
Written by: Mstyslav Chernov
Synopsis: As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war’s atrocities.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Feature
Where to watch: In selected cinemas now

American Symphony

Directed by: Matthew Heineman
Synopsis: In this deeply intimate documentary, musician Jon Batiste attempts to compose a symphony as his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, undergoes cancer treatment.
Oscar nominations: Best Original Song (“It Never Went Away”)
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

Bobi Wine: The People’s President

Directed by: Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp
Synopsis: Follows Ugandan opposition leader, activist and musical star Bobi Wine. He used his music to fight the regime led by Yoweri Museveni, the person who led the country for 35 years.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Feature
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

The Eternal Memory

Directed by: Maite Alberdi
Written by: Maite Alberdi
Synopsis: Augusto and Paulina have been together for 25 years. Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Both fear the day he no longer recognises her.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Feature
Where to watch: TBC

Four Daughters

Directed by: Kaouther Ben Hania
Written by: Kaouther Ben Hania
Synopsis: Between light and darkness stands Olfa, a Tunisian woman and the mother of four daughters. One day, her two older daughters disappear. Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania invites professional actresses to fill in their absence.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Feature
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas February 29, 2024

To Kill a Tiger

Directed by: Nisha Pahuja
Written by: Nisha Pahuja
Synopsis: Ranjit, a farmer in India, takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the victim of a brutal gang rape. His decision to support his daughter is virtually unheard of, and his journey unprecedented.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Feature
Where to watch: TBC

Where to Watch the Oscar Nominated Animated Features in Australia

The Boy and the Heron

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Written by: Hayao Miyazaki
Voices of: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Kô Shibasaki
Synopsis: A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Feature
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas now

Elemental

Directed by: Peter Sohn
Written by: Screenplay by John Hoberg, Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh. Story by Peter Sohn, John Hoberg, Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh
Voices of: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie Del Carmen
Synopsis: Follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, earth- and air-residents live together.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Feature
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

Nimona

Directed by: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Written by: Screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, with story by Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor, Pamela Ribon, Marc Haimes, Nick Bruno, Troy Quane and Keith Bunin, and with additional screenplay material by Nate Stevenson and Pamela Ribon. Based on the graphic novel by Nate Stevenson
Voices of: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang
Synopsis: When a knight in a futuristic medieval world is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona — a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he’s sworn to destroy.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Feature
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

Robot Dreams

Directed by: Pablo Berger
Written by: Pablo Berger, based on the graphic novel by Sara Varon
Voices of: Ivan Labanda, Albert Trifol Segarra, Rafa Calvo
Synopsis: The adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in New York City during the 1980s.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Feature
Where to watch: In Australian cinemas April 11, 2024

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson
Written by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham
Voices of: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry
Synopsis: Miles Morales catapults across the multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Feature
Where to watch: Streaming on Prime Video

Where to Watch the Oscar Nominated Short Films in Australia

The ABCs of Book Banning

Directed by: Trish Adlesic, Nazenet Habtezghi, Sheila Nevins
Synopsis: Reveals the voices of the impacted parties of books banned from school districts, inspiring hope for the future through the profound insights of inquisitive youthful minds.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Short
Where to watch: Streaming on Paramount+

The After

Directed by: Misan Harriman
Written by: John Julius Schwabach, with story by Misan Harriman
Starring: David Oyelowo, Jessica Plummer, Amelie Dokubo
Synopsis: In this intense short film, a grieving rideshare driver picks up a passenger who helps him confront the past.
Oscar nominations: Best Live Action Short
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

The Barber of Little Rock

Directed by: John Hoffman and Christine Turner
Synopsis: The Barber of Little Rock explores America’s widening racial wealth gap through the story of Arlo Washington, a local barber whose visionary approach to a just economy can be found in the mission of People Trust, the nonprofit community bank he founded.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Short
Where to watch: On YouTube (above)

Invincible

Directed by: Vincent René-Lortie
Written by: Vincent René-Lortie
Starring: Léokim Beaumier-Lépine, Élia St-Pierre, Isabelle Blais
Synopsis: Inspired by a true story, Invincible recounts the last 48 hours in the life of Marc-Antoine Bernier, a 14-year-old boy on a desperate quest for freedom.
Oscar nominations: Best Live Action Short
Where to watch: TBC

Island in Between

Directed by: S. Leo Chiang
Written by: S. Leo Chiang and David Teague
Synopsis: S. Leo Chiang reflects on his relationship with Taiwan, the United States and China from the islands of Kinmen, just a few miles from mainland China.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Short
Where to watch: On YouTube above

Knight of Fortune

Directed by: Lasse Lyskjær Noer
Written by: Lasse Lyskjær Noer
Starring: Leif Andrée, Jens Jørn Spottag, Jesper Lohmann
Synopsis: The loss of a loved one, the grief, the risk of yellow skin, and a coffin, that is too much for Karl to face.
Oscar nominations: Best Live Action Short
Where to watch: TBC

The Last Repair Shop

Directed by: Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot
Synopsis: Tells the story of four unassuming heroes who ensure no student is deprived of the joy of music. It is also a reminder of how music can be the best medicine, stress reliever and even an escape from poverty.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Short
Where to watch: On YouTube above

Letter to a Pig

Directed by: Tal Kantor
Written by: Tal Kantor
Voices of: Moriyah Meerson, Alexander Peleg, Ayelet Margalit
Synopsis: A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream where she confronts questions of identity, collective trauma, and the extremes of human nature.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Short
Where to watch: TBC

Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó

Directed by: Sean Wang
Synopsis: A personal love letter from director Sean Wang to his Nai Nai and Wài Pó, a grandma super team that dances, stretches, and farts their sorrows away.
Oscar nominations: Best Documentary Short
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+

Ninety-Five Senses

Directed by: Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess
Written by: Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer
Voice of: Tim Blake Nelson
Synopsis: An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Short
Where to watch: TBC

Our Uniform

Directed by: Yegane Moghaddam
Synopsis: An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Short
Where to watch: TBC

Pachyderme

Directed by: Stéphanie Clément
Written by: Marc Rius
Voices of: Michelle Brubach and Christa Théret
Synopsis: Like every summer, Louise stays at her grandparents’ in the countryside for a few days during the holidays. It will snow at the height of summer and a monster is going to die.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Short
Where to watch: TBC

Red, White and Blue

Directed by: Nazrin Choudhury
Written by: Nazrin Choudhury
Starring: Brittany Snow, Juliet Donenfeld, Redding Munsell
Synopsis: Rachel is a single parent living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected pregnancy threatens to unravel her already precarious position, she’s forced to cross state lines in search of an abortion.
Oscar nominations: Best Live Action Short
Where to watch: TBC

War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko

Directed by: Dave Mullins
Written by: Dave Mullins, with story by Dave Mullins and Sean Lennon
Synopsis: Set in an alternate WWI reality where a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a joyful game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers’ chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates. Neither soldier knows his opponent as the game and the war builds to its climatic final move.
Oscar nominations: Best Animated Short
Where to watch: TBC

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Directed by: Wes Anderson
Written by: Wes Anderson, based on the story by Roald Dahl
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel
Synopsis: Chronicles a variety of stories, but the main one follows Henry Sugar, who is able to see through objects and predict the future with the help of a book he stole.
Oscar nominations: Best Live Action Short
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix

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