The Academy Awards are coming up in a few week, and all of the 2008 Oscar-nominated shorts have been compiled into one program that opens in theaters this week.

There are two categories for short films, live action and animation. Each category has five nominees and most of the selections are from countries other than the United States.

Among the live action shorts, my favorite entry is an film from Ireland called "New Boy." It's a nice little story with universal appeal about a young African immigrant who struggles to find a place for himself during his first day at an Irish school.

"Toyland," the entry from Germany, takes place during World War II, and concerns a mother who shelters her son from the harsh truth. She tells her child that her Jewish neighbors were taken away to a wondrous place filled with children's toys.

From Denmark comes "The Pig," which tells the story of an old man in a hospital who is awaiting a possibly-fatal diagnosis. He finds tremendous comfort in a painting of pig, until his roommate insists on its removal.

"Manon On The Asphalt," from France, is about what flashes before the eyes of a pretty young woman in the last moments of her life after she's in a deadly accident.

The animated selections are almost all whimsical in nature, with varied visual styles and almost no dialogue.

Among the highlights is "This Way Up from the UK," about two men who encounter all sorts of trouble trying to bury a casket.

"Lavatory Love Story" is from Russia, and looks at a lonely toilet attendant who attempts to uncover the identity of a secret admirer.

The entry from France, "Oktapodi," is about two octopi who are engaged in a comical fight for their lives as they try to escape through the streets of a small village.

Finally, Pixar and Disney presents "Presto," which deals with a turn-of-the-20th-century magician who runs into all sorts of problems with his rabbit when he neglects to feed him.

Some of these short films are better than others. A few fell flat and some are extraordinary. The good news is, if you don't like some of them, they only last a few minutes.

But viewers who check out this compilation will find the Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short categories much more interesting on Oscar Night.

Neil Rosen's Big Apple Rating: 3 Apples