FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

The Palm Springs International Film Festival has always occupied a singular space in the awards season calendar. It serves as a sophisticated precursor to the Academy Awards, often highlighting the intersection of global stardom and genuine cinematic craft. This year, the festival has announced that Miley Cyrus will be the recipient of the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 2026 ceremony.

The 98th Oscars shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film is a testament to the global nature of modern filmmaking. From the visceral and gritty to the whimsical and satirical, these films challenge the viewer to engage with complex themes in a condensed timeframe.

In the landscape of contemporary short-form cinema, few films have carried as much weight or resonated as deeply as Rock, Paper, Scissors. Following its triumphant BAFTA victory, the announcement that Franz Böhm’s powerful drama has been shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2026 Academy Awards feels less like a surprise and more like a necessary recognition of a vital piece of art.