Night Ride Is the Oscar-Nominated LGBTQ+ Short Film More People Need to Know About

Night Ride begins with an accidental tram hijacking and ends with a stirring message of trans acceptance.

This 14-minute Norwegian short made waves following its New York premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. It went on to earn a nomination for the Best Short Film (Live Action) category at the 2023 Oscars. This makes it the only LGBTQ+ film to be nominated this year across both short categories.

Night Ride follows Ebba, an unassuming woman who accidentally commandeers a tram one night. She picks up a number of passengers as she travels across Norway, one of whom is a trans woman named Ariel. When two men on the tram begin to accost Ariel, things take an unexpected turn.

Speaking of the film's nomination, director Eirik Tveiten shared, "I'm so happy that our film — and the subject it raises — receives this recognition! Our film tells a story about the challenges of being different."

"Individuals all over the world fall victim to prejudices and harassment," he continued in his statement. "Sometimes it seems easier to mind our business and look the other way. I hope our film can inspire people to find the courage to speak up and act."

Tveiten worked as an actor and stage writer before writing and directing his first short film, Friendly People, in 2010. To date, he has made 14 short films spanning different genres.

If Night Ride wins for its category, it will be the first LGBTQ+ short film to do so since Trevor in 1995.

In addition to Night Ride, a number of other queer films, actors, and filmmakers — from Everything Everywhere All at Once to Women Talking — have the chance to make cinema history when the Oscars air this Sunday at 8pm EST/5pm EST.

Watch the trailer for "Night Ride" below.

Night Ride - Trailer