2023 Oscar Nominations for Best Documentary Short Film

My favorite: The Elephant Whisperers

Oscar prediction: The Martha Mitchell Effect

The Elephant Whisperers (2022) Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga - 8/10

Should win. Tender and soulful, encapsulating personal journeys of the people and the animals while positing them in a larger cultural placement.

Haulout (2022) Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev - 7/10

Stripped down and spartan but bellows boldly when it makes its presence known. A ‘show not tell’ vision of climate changes’ consequences.

The Martha Mitchell Effect (2022) Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison - 7/10

My prediction to win walking out of the theater. Fascinating expose of a character I did not know of during an important national incident. Influential not only in that moment but in a cultural shift for what a political wife might be. A fine historical/political doc that is engaging and insightful.

How Do You Measure a Year? (2021) Jay Rosenblatt - 6/10

Cute and charming. An enjoyable watch but it can’t push past its endearing delight for anything more.

Stranger at the Gate (2022) Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones - 5/10

A distinct bait and switch which felt very manipulative. If any of these were to be “prime time middle America tv doc show” this would be it - it’s kind of set up like that. Fine and message worthy but can’t help but leave feeling split with it.