Shorts International will distribute this year's Oscar nominated live-action and animated short films in the US on February 6 before the 81st Academy Awards ceremony on February 22.

This year's release will be supported in part by Magnolia Pictures. The Oscar Shorts programme will open in select theatres and expand to 60 cities throughout the country over the following weeks.

Nominated short films will also be released on iTunes on February 17.

The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 22.