Doc Program A: Oscar- Nominated Shorts 2026

Opens Friday, February 20, 2026

SHOWTIMES AT IFC CENTER

PERFECTLY A STRANGENESS  – (Alison McAlpine, 15 min., Canada) In the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert, three donkeys discover an abandoned astronomical observatory and the universe.  A sensorial, cinematic exploration of what a story can be.

THE DEVIL IS BUSY – (Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir, 31 min., USA) The film chronicles a day on the frontlines in the battle for reproductive rights at a women’s healthcare clinic.

ALL THE EMPTY ROOMS – (Dir. Joshua Seftel, 33 min., USA) In this moving short documentary, a journalist and a photographer set out to memorialize the bedrooms left behind by children killed in school shootings.

Screening as part of the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Shorts

  • Running Time 79 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Roadside Attractions
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.