BBC HD to air Oscar-nominated short film

The BBC has announced that a selection of short films, including the Oscar-nominated Wish 143 and BAFTA-nominated Turning, will air on the BBC HD channel this month.

On February 12 and February 19, the network will air thirteen short films showcasing emerging talent, such as Alfie Allen in Cherries, and Being Human's Russell Tovey in In Passing. All the shorts are also available on the BBC Film Network, the BBC's online showcase for new British filmmaking.

Headlining February 12 will be Turning, the BAFTA-nominated story of a boy's childhood experience receiving three beautiful broken birds on his sixth birthday.

The Oscar-nominated Wish 143 will air on February 19, depicting a teenager's desperate attempt to come of age before his time runs out.

"These impressive short films, written and directed by new British talent, demonstrate just how exciting a medium HD is for budding filmmakers, and show the current creativity of UK filmmaking," said Danielle Nagler, the head of BBC HD and 3D.

"I'm thrilled to be able to host the TV premiere of these thirteen new shorts on the BBC HD channel and help to share these films with a wider audience."

Gerard O'Malley, the BBC's executive producer of drama multiplatform, added: "It's gratifying that these films are going to be shown in their full glory on HD and that BBC Film Network is seen as a real stepping stone for new filmmaking talent."

The BBC HD channel previously aired a series of short films in late 2009 as part of efforts to better support new British filmmaking.