Woody Harrelson Executive Produces Short Film Mary the Widow
Harrelson joins the 14-minute live-action short from writer-director Ryan Noufer as an executive producer, with Switchboard handling distribution and an Oscar campaign.
Woody Harrelson has joined the short film Mary the Widow as an executive producer, marking his first time serving as an EP on a short, according to Deadline. The 14-minute live-action film is written and directed by Ryan Noufer.
Julie Ariola stars as Mary, with Stephen Tobolowsky playing Ed. The cast also includes Jean Villepique as Penny, Arianna Ortiz, Robert Lee Barry and Celia Aniskovich, who is the founder of Switchboard Magazine and a producer on the film.
Switchboard will distribute Mary the Widow and is campaigning it for the 99th Academy Awards as part of its 2026-27 shorts slate. Harrelson is joined as executive producer by Jack Piatt, Kevin McCormick and Sarge Anderson.
Noufer wrote the film for his late grandmother Mary, whose dementia shaped the story.
Quick answers
What is Mary the Widow about?
The film is a 14-minute live-action short written and directed by Ryan Noufer, who wrote it for his late grandmother Mary, whose dementia shaped the story.
Who stars in Mary the Widow?
Julie Ariola plays Mary and Stephen Tobolowsky plays Ed, with Jean Villepique, Arianna Ortiz, Robert Lee Barry and Celia Aniskovich also in the cast.
Is Mary the Widow being campaigned for the Oscars?
Yes. Switchboard is distributing the film and campaigning it for the 99th Academy Awards as part of its 2026-27 shorts slate.