Audiences invited to judge finalists of MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival at PCPL

Filmgoers in Greencastle will unite with audiences in more than 400 cities spanning six continents to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world when the 22nd Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at the Putnam County Public Library on Friday, Oct. 4 from 6-8 p.m.

This program is presented by the Putnam County Public Library, along with DePauw Film Studies and Ashley Square Cinema.

MANHATTAN SHORT is the only event of its kind. The Final Ten 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 seven countries, with films from France, Iran, Canada, Finland and Germany alongside two films from the United States and a record three from the United Kingdom.

These Final Ten films represent the best short films from among 1,250 submissions from 70 countries received by MANHATTAN SHORT for 2019, testimony to the enduring vibrancy and creativity of short films worldwide.

MANHATTAN SHORT continues to be a premier showcase for female directors with five of the Final Ten films directed by women, including one from Iran. This year’s Final Ten represent an extraordinary range of film genres that includes intimate dramas, spine-tingling suspense and hilarious comedies, as well as genre surprises like a pair of science fiction films and one that focuses on tennis.

“A narrative short film on sports is as rare as a centaur sighting,” notes Pia Andell, director of “The Match.”

The MANHATTAN SHORT Final Ten are “Nefta Football Club” (France), “Debris” (USA), “Driving Lessons” (Iran), “Tipped” (Canada), “Sylvia” (UK), “The Match” (Finland), “This Time Away” (UK), “Malou” (Germany), “A Family Affair” (UK) and “At The End of the World” (USA).

All Final Ten short films become Oscar-qualified, meaning they will be automatically eligible for an Academy Award nomination by screening for a week at the Los Feliz 3 Cinemas in the county of Los Angeles in Hollywood from Sept. 20-26.

You Be the Judge!

Which of these Final Ten short films is the best? That’s up to a worldwide audience to decide. Cinemagoers 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. Votes will be sent through to MANHATTAN SHORT HQ with the winner announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m.