Death of a Shadow directed by Tom Van Avermaet of Belgium was awarded the top prize, Best of the Fest at the 2012 LA Shorts Fest. The film tells the offbeat story of a deceased World War I soldier stuck in a limbo between life and death and has to collect shadows to regain a second chance at life and love.  Because the festival is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the winning films are eligible for Oscar nominations.

The complete list of winners include:

BEST OF THE FEST
Death Of A Shadow
Drama / Belgium / 20 min.
Stuck in a limbo between life and death, a deceased World War I soldier has to collect shadows to regain a second chance at life and love. With two shadows left to collect, he discovers something that shakes his world completely.
Director: Tom Van Avermaet
Producer: Ellen De Waele, Isabelle Mathy
Writer: Tom Van Avermaet
Cast: Matthias Schoenaerts, Laura Verlinden

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Amores Passageiros (Love Drain)
Drama / Brazil / 23 min.
During a routine sewer inspection a lonely worker has an encounter that marks the beginning of a perplexing relationship.
Director: Augusto Canani
Producer: Luciana Tomasi
Writer: Augusto Canani, Lucas Gonzaga
Cast: Osmar Prado, Nadinne Oliveira

BEST DRAMA
Buzkashi Boys
Drama / Afghanistan / 27 min.
In the old city slums of Kabul, a blacksmith’s son and a street urchin dream of a better life against the backdrop of the national sport, Buzkashi. A glimpse of Afghanistan through the eyes of its youngest sons, making their way into manhood in the most war-torn country on Earth.
Director: Sam French
Producer: Ariel Nasr, Martin Roe
Writer: Sam French, Martin Roe
Cast: Fawad Mohammadi, Jawanmard Paiz

BEST COMEDY
Paulie
Comedy / USA / 11 min.
Paulie is a nine year old in the seventh grade. Used to being the smartest kid in the room, Paulie aces every test, wins every spelling bee and science fair, and does not lose. So when school bully Tony beats him one day at an essay contest, Paulie refuses to let it go.
Director: Andrew Nackman
Producer: David Haskell, Chris Abernathy
Writer: David Lee
Cast: Ethan Dizon, Hardy Gatlin

BEST ANIMATION
Fear of Flying
Animation / Ireland / 9 min.
A small bird with a fear of flying tries to avoid heading South for the winter.
Director: Conor Finnegan
Producer: Brunella Cocchiglia
Writer: Conor Finnegan
Cast: Mark Doherty, Aoife Duffin

BEST EXPERIMENTAL
KARA
Animation / France / 7 min.
KARA is being built in an android factory. While conducting tests on “her”, the plant operator finds a bug: KARA thinks! He starts disassembling her, but she begs him to keep her alive.
Director: David Cage
Producer: Guillaume de Fondaumiere
Writer: David Cage
Cast: Valorie Curry, Tercelin Kirtley

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Jujitsuing Reality
Documentary / USA / 17 min.
Despite living with ALS, screenwriter Scott Lew maintains his voice in the world through his scripts, giving added meaning to the expression “living to write.”
Director: Chetin Chabuk
Producer: Diane Becker
Writer: Chetin Chabuk

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Rudimental: Feel The Love
Music Video / USA / 4 min.
The video takes a look at the lives of a downtown youth group in Fletcher Street, Philadelphia featuring unreal scenes of horse- riding through the tough, urban neighborhood.
Director: Bob Harlow
Producer: Sarah Tognazzi, Gaetan Rousseau, Tash Tan
Writer: Bob Harlow, Augusto Sola