Manhattan Short Film Festival

You Be The Judge! Film lovers will unite to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world when the 24th Annual Short Film Festival, a worldwide event taking place in over 400 venues across six continents between September 23 and October 3, 2021. MANHATTAN SHORT is the only event of its kind. The Final Ten films screen simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue. By virtue of their selection by MANHATTAN SHORT, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified.

The Final Ten MANHATTAN SHORT finalists hail from eight countries with films from U.K, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Norway, Italy and Canada, alongside two films each from France and USA. These Final Ten Films represent the best short films from among 970 submissions from 70 countries received by MANHATTAN SHORT for 2021, testimony to the enduring vibrancy and creativity of short films worldwide.

MANHATTAN SHORT continues to be a showcase for new voices and perspectives. Death By Handshake director Hudson Flynn, for example, was just 16 years old when he created his wry nod to New York City living during the Covid-19 pandemic. Humor also pervades films like Rough from Northern Ireland, France’s Archibald’s Syndrome and Monsieur Cashemire of Canada. Out of Time and the animated Aurora are close studies by a pair of woman directors of life at different stages of our existence from French and American perspectives. Short films tackling big topics include Norway’s The Kicksled Choir, which offers a refreshing look at conflict resolution, while Bad Omen examines how a woman copes with stark circumstances in Afghanistan. Closed To The Light reaches back in time to focus on a riveting moment in World War II Italy while the UK’s Ganef examines that war’s trickle-down effect on subsequent generations. 

You Be the Judge!

Which of these Final Ten short films is the best? That’s up to a worldwide audience to decide. Cinema-goers across the United States and around the globe will become instant film critics as they are handed a ballot upon entry that allows them to vote for the Best Film and Best Actor. MANHATTAN SHORT is the ultimate audience award that salutes the creative talents of both directors behind the camera and actors in front of it. Your votes will be sent to MANHATTAN SHORT HQ with the winner announced on Monday, Oct 4.