MUMBAI: The Oscar nominated shorts films of 2010 crossed the $1 million mark at the box office. Released annually by Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures, the program was created five years ago to give audiences a chance to see all 10 animated and live action Oscar Nominated Shorts in theaters nationally prior to the Academy Awards.

"The short film has gone from the occasional feature film accessory, to the main theatrical event. Audiences for the Oscar nominated shorts jumped by 52% in the short space of a year and more than 1000% in 5 years…and this is just the beginning.  For the first time ever these films are also currently available on cable systems through Movies On Demand," said Shorts International CEO Carter Pilcher.

"It’s an incredible achievement on so many levels. On average, less than 50 specialized films a year cross the $1 million mark, so to see our little program blossom into a big contender is a testament to the quality of these films.  It’s even more astounding considering that the marketing budget for the program has been the exact same year in and year out," said Magnolia senior vice president Tom Quinn.

"I’m thrilled that so many people have discovered these fantastic short films, and seeing them with an audience on the big screen surpasses any other viewing experience," said Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Short Film and Feature Animation Branch governor and chair Bill Kroyer.