Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures have struck a deal to offer this year's five live action shorts Oscar nominees for paid download at the iTunes Music Store. Also, Shorts International and Magnolia are working with UK exhibitor Picturehouse Cinemas to release a program of the Oscar-nominated shorts to 14 cinemas across the UK before the Oscarsceremony on Sunday.

The shorts programme of the live action and animatedshorts nominees started rolling out on Friday (February 24) in the US, and will kick off in the UK starting March 4.

Following the cinema release, the films will be madeavailable on other UK platforms including the ShortsTVchannel for mobile phones. "In the past, only insiders and Academy voters gotto see this powerful, short form cinema," said Shorts International CEO Carter Pilcher, "Now, for the first time, they're available totheatre-goers and will reach the audience they deserve."

Thisyear's shorts nominees include three UK works: Six Shooter byMartin McDonagh, Cashback by Sean Ellis, and Badgered by Sharon Colman.