# Beautiful Men

Beautiful Men is a 2023 animated short film written and directed by Nicolas Keppens. On January 23, 2025, the film was nominated to the 97th Academy Awards in the Best Animated Short Film category.

## Plot

Three brothers -- depressive Steven, standoffish Bart, and kindhearted Koen -- are in various stages of hair loss and travel to Turkey for hair transplantations. However, Steven mistakenly booked only one surgery, and is too nervous to admit to his brothers that they will not be able to proceed as planned.
As their journey unfolds, Bart and Steven's insecurities grow: Bart worries over a possible lump in his testicles (even urging Steven to check it for him), admits being scared of the surgery to his wife back home, and stays in a room apart from his brothers, reluctant to spend more time with them. Steven struggles with his mistake and is unable to voice his feelings or stand up for himself. Koen seems to be the only satisfied one of them, treating both brothers with kindness and understanding.
On a foggy afternoon, Steven and Koen attempt to go on a walk together to explore Istanbul while Bart stays behind to use the sauna. Briefly separated due to the heavy fog, Steven panics and eventually reveals to Koen, upon reuniting, that he only made one appointment by mistake. Since Koen has no hair at all, Steven urges him to take the appointment so that he can feel beautiful. However, Bart, having heard their voices, wandered out of the sauna and into the street (while naked), and overhears the conversation. Angered, he confronts the brothers back at the hotel and demands the surgery for himself.
Before the argument can progress, however, fog enters the hotel and accidentally sets off the fire alarm. The brothers flee, with Bart leading them to an emergency exit. It is revealed in a voiceover that a few men in the hotel were sent to the hospital over minor injuries sustained in the chaos, coincidentally freeing up hair transplant surgeries for all three brothers at the same time. They eventually leave Turkey, with Koen reflecting on their journey in Istanbul. An epilogue shows Steven and Koen happening upon Bart, who is at the barber, with all three men enjoying full heads of hair.

## Release

Since its release, the film has been selected in various festivals around the world:
| Year | Festivals | Award/Category | Status |
| 2024 | Annecy International Animation Film Festival | Alexeïeff – Parker Award | Won |
| 2024 | Ottawa International Animation Festival | Best Narrative Short | Won |
| 2024 | Aspen ShortsFest | Best Animation | Won |
| 2024 | Animation Is Film Festival | Award Winning Short Films | Nominated |
| 2024 | Hamptons International Film Festival | Best Narrative Short Film Special Mention | Won |
| 2024 | Anima Brussels Festival | National Short Film Competition | Nominated |
| 2025 | Animation First Festival | Best Francophone Short | Won |
| 2025 | 97th Academy Awards | Best Animated Short Film | Nominated |

## Accolades

The 19-minutes animated film about brotherhood and insecurities has been showcased and rewarded in various international film festivals, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival and Animation Is Film Festival in Los Angeles. It was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film category at the 97th Academy Awards.