By Michael O’Sullivan, The Washington Post The plight of the immigrant casts a long shadow over this year’s Oscar-nominated short films. Five of the 15 nominees — two in the live-action category and three in documentary — grapple with such of-the-moment themes as refugees, “extreme vetting” and the humanitarian crisis in Syria, making for an acutely timely selection of stories. Live-action The most compelling of the immigration-themed films is “Silent Nights,” a Danish short that has emerged as a heavy favorite in the live-action category.