I think it’s important to get to know the little films that get nominated for Oscars but nobody ever sees. It’ll give you an edge in your pools and these tends to be some very compelling works to boot.

To start it off, here are trailers for 4 out of the 8 films shortlisted for the Best Documentary Short Subject at the upcoming  Academy Awards. More to come as information begins to surface.

First the one that looks like an early favorite:

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement – Dir. Robin Fryday + Gail Dolgin

The rest after the cut:

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom – Dir. Lucy Walker (Nominated last year for Wasteland)

Pipe Dreams – Dir. Leslie Iwerks

Incident in New Baghdad – Dir. James Spione