What could be better in this world full of short attention spans, big budgets, and endless possibilities? After anxiously awaiting the release of the Academy’s Short Film Nominees, the day has finally come! This year’s nominees represent quite a large range of films, all the better for our viewing pleasure. From a thriller following a battered woman and her children’s escape from her abuser, a violent look at child soldiers in war-ridden Africa, an amusing snapshot of a family’s humorously catastrophic day, a trip through the imagination of a terminally ill child, and an examination of the lunatic patient and psychiatrist relationship on the path to diagnosis. Endlessly searching the internet for these featurettes? Well, good luck. If these films want to keep their chance at gold, there are strict rules to follow. The short film may not be exhibited publicly anywhere in ANY nontheatrical form until the theatrical release date January 31st, YouTube included. The Academy doesn’t play around. If you were lucky enough to catch these films for yourself on the big screen this weekend, which would be your vote? We’ll certainly be sitting on the edge of our seats here at milk* for those famous words: “and the Oscar goes to…”