Predictions for this year’s winners are popping up from reviewers everywhere and the folks over at Variety have cast their votes. Their choice for the Best Animated short goes to “Letter to a Pig,” about a Holocaust survivor who reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life, and a young schoolgirl who 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. For their Live Action selection, the favorite is “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” from filmmaking favorite, Wes Anderson.  Based on the story by Roald Dahl, and with an outstanding cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley and Dev Patel, this short film 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. And finally, their pick for winner amongst the Documentary Shorts is “The Last Repair Shop,” the story of four unassuming heroes who ensure no student is deprived of the joy of music, and a reminder of how music can be the best medicine, stress reliever and even an escape from poverty.

 

A total of 17 films will be presented between all three programs and certainly there will be something for everyone included in the mix. While there are no ratings for each film, Shorts HD and Magnolia Pictures are recommending that an R rating be applied to the Animated and Live Action shorts due to content and themes not suitable for young children. The Documentary shorts are recommended at PG-13.

 

Grab your friends, neighbors, and Oscar ballots, and head on down to Lincoln Theater for some of the most highly acclaimed films of the year.  Showtimes: Presented in partnership with The Carpenter’s Boat Shop, the Live Action shorts will be showing Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.; and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Wednesday, Feb. 21. Animated shorts screen at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 and Wednesday Feb. 21; Thursday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. The Documentary Shorts play for one screening only Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m.

 

Tickets are available in advance through the Lincoln Theater box office at www.LincolnTheater.net or at the door beginning 30 minutes before showtime. Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater St., Damariscotta. This year’s Academy Awards show will be broadcast on ABC, Sunday, March 10.