2022 AFI FEST announces Oscar-eligible Documentary, Animated and Live Action Short festival winners

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The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short from 2022 AFI FEST have been announced, making them all eligible for the 2023 Best Live Action Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short Academy Awards. The Jury was comprised of filmmaker Shaz Bennett, writer/director Johnson Cheng and film critic, journalist and filmmaker Tim Cogshell.

“AFI FEST is a proud symbol of the power of this art form to bring people together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “We are proud to create an experience that reminds us of the importance of being present and the joy of being alive.”

Here is the complete list of winners and jury statements.

Grand Jury Prize – Live Action Short

BIRDS (DIR Katherine Propper)

Jury Statement: “For masterfully weaving together a deeply authentic vérité ensemble film, immersing us in the lives of youth on a sizzling Texas summer. BIRDS is magical, tense, romantic and timeless.”

Grand Jury Prize – Documentary Short

HAULOUT (DIR Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev)

Jury Statement: “It’s a revelatory documentary about the devastating effects of climate change — told with stunning images like never seen before.”

Grand Jury Prize – Animated Short

SIERRA (DIR Sander Joon)

Jury Statement: “Simple in subject but deep in content, SIERRA is playful and poignant and sticks with you long after viewing.”

Special Mentions

Special Jury Mention for Ensemble Acting – Live Action Short

YOKELAN, 66 (DIR Yi Tang)

Jury Statement: “All the cast was delightful and so full of charm.”

Special Jury Mention for Screenwriting – Live Action Short

HOW TO BE A PERSON: HOW TO GET AN ABORTION (DIR Sindha Agha)

Jury Statement: “It’s not easy to take a hot button topic and make it funny and endearing and searingly truthful.”

Special Jury Mention for Lead Acting – Live Action Short

AN AVOCADO PIT (UM CAROÇO DE ABACATE) (DIR Ary Zara)

Jury Statement: “With her debut performance, Gaya de Medeiros brought so much of herself to this role, and all of it comes through on the screen.”

Special Jury Mention for Cinematography – Documentary Short

KYLIE (DIR Sterling Hampton)

Jury Statement: “With sumptuous cinematography, the director captures the subject Kylie with grace and magic.”

Special Jury Mention for Historical Relevance – Documentary Short

NOT EVEN FOR A MOMENT DO THINGS STAND STILL (DIR Jamie Meltzer)

Jury Statement: “This film is a time capsule that painfully captures the deep historical relevance of a group moment we all lived through.”

Special Jury Mention for Sound Design – Hybrid Documentary and Animated Short

THE SPIRAL (DIR María Silvia Esteve)

Jury Statement: “The exquisite sounds and layers take you into a tunnel of anxiety and pain in the most effective, beautiful way.”

Special Jury Mention for Editing – Hybrid Live Action and Animated Short

IT’S RAINING FROGS OUTSIDE (AMPANGABAGAT NIN TALAKBA HA LIKOL) (DIR Maria Estela Paiso)

Jury Statement: “The attention to detail and the skilled editing puts us right in the heart of Maya and her childhood memories.”