Welcome to L.A. Weekly's Movie Picks, your look at the hottest films in Los Angeles theaters this week ? from indie art-house gems and classics to popcorn-perfect blockbusters and new movies garnering buzz. Check here every week before you make your big-screen plans.

Friday, Feb. 22

The Oscar-nominated shorts categories ? live-action and animated ? contain some of the least seen and most underappreciated films at the Academy Awards. Which is why Laemmle's program, co-presented with Shorts HD and Magnolia Pictures, is such a treat. On Friday, Laemmle will present back-to-back programs featuring all 10 of the Oscar-nominated shorts in these two brackets at five different locations across town.

The nominated animated shorts are:

Animal Behaviour, Alison Snowden, David Fine

Bao, Domee Shi

Late Afternoon, Louise Bagnall

One Small Step, Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas

Weekends, Trevor Jimenez

The nominated live-action shorts are:

Detainment, Vincent Lambe

Fauve, Jeremy Comte

Marguerite, Marianne Farley

Mother, Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Skin, Guy Nattiv

Laemmle's Monica Film Center, 1332 Second St., Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica; thru Thu., Feb. 28 (also playing at the Playhouse 7, Claremont 5, NoHo 7, and Glendale); $9-$12. (310) 478-3836, laemmle.com.

Also opening Friday, Feb. 22: 1st Summoning; The Changeover; How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World; The Iron Orchard; It's a Hard Truth, Ain't It; Run the Race; Styx; Total Dhamaal

L.A. Weekly also recommends (still in theaters): Glass; The Boy Who Would Be King; Jihadists; The Favourite; If Beale Street Could Talk; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Vice; Roma; Bohemian Rhapsody; Ralph Breaks the Internet; Mary Poppins Returns; Green Book; A Star Is Born