Oscars 2017: Predicting The Winners

Will Win: Timecode Should Win: Timecode Surprise Win: Sing (Mindenki)

The short category is more than likely to imitate the results of the feature category this year, as the Academy seems to be in the mood for fun song and dance films. Juanjo Giménez's Timecode is full of unexpected changes of mood, and a few surprises the viewer doesn't expect.

It manages to be whimsical and grounded all at once, and such an expert mix of the two creates a unique short film that absolutely deserves the golden statue, and would end up winning it regardless of what was the frontrunner to win Best Picture.

Like any good short film, Timecode tells a tight and focused story whilst delighting the viewer in a short space of time with something that cannot be translated into a longer form without losing some magic. It is an excellent example of what makes a short film more effective than many feature films.

It is a strong category where anyone could potentially overturn Timecode's comfortable win, but Hungarian feel-good short Sing (or Mindenki) stands the best chance, especially since it treads similar ground. This could be a race similar to Production Design, where two films with similar subject matter face off.

Sing is a far more relatable and immediately enjoyable short, which could very easily give Timecode a run for its money because it is a warmer, more conventional short that grabs the viewer's attention from the start, rather than asking them to be patient for the kind of twists that arrive later in Timecode's running time..