Stills from Passarinho (Mexico)

Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Sept. 9, the 252nd day of 2025. There are 113 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

The Jamestown Arts Center will serve as Rhode Island’s exclusive venue for the 27th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival, screening 10 international finalists from Sept. 26 through Oct. 4.

The global competition, held simultaneously in more than 500 locations across six continents, features short films from seven countries including Spain, Israel, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Mexico, alongside three entries from the United States. This year’s selections explore themes ranging from migration and parenthood to housing prices and coming-of-age struggles, with titles including “Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting,” “Passarinho” and “We Have Sinned Before You.”

“JAC is thrilled to welcome audiences back into the gallery for Manhattan Short,” said Christine Cocca, executive director of the arts center. “This festival is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience global cinema while joining a global conversation about film and performance — right here in Jamestown.”

The center will host four screenings at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26; Saturday, Sept. 27; Friday, Oct. 3; and Saturday, Oct. 4. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $15 for JAC members, seniors and military personnel. Advance purchase is recommended as the event typically sells out. All screenings take place at the center’s 18 Valley Street location.

Audiences will vote for best film and best actor, with ballots tallied globally and winners announced in October. The Manhattan Short Film Festival began in 1998 when founder Nicholas Mason screened 16 films from a truck-mounted screen in New York City’s Little Italy. Tickets are available at jamestownartcenter.org/events.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. What Sold: A look at 23 recent sales across Newport County (Sept. 1 – 5)
  2. Middletown woman seriously injured in bicycle-vehicle collision on Greene Lane
  3. Obituary: Sadie Emma Asher
  4. Downton Abbey finale to debut in Newport, benefit PBS
  5. Newport carriage house in historic Kay Catherine neighborhood sells for $4.1 million
  6. Obituary: Amos F. Cecchi
  7. Rose Island opens doors to public for artist residency showcase
  8. Hasbro to move to Boston Seaport by end of 2026
  9. Racing for ninth Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup begins Tuesday in Newport
  10. Portsmouth legislator among Rhode Island lawmakers honored for food policy work

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 9 to 14 mph.
  • Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly after 1 am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 11 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: ENE wind 8 to 12 kt. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: NE wind around 10 kt. A chance of showers, mainly after 1 am. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 69 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 6:20 am. Sunset at 7:04 pm. 12 hours & 44 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 9:27 am & 9:50 pm. Low tide at 2:42 am & 3:17 pm.
  • The lunar phase is a Waning Gibbous.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Newport County Public Meetings

Cruise Ship Schedule

  • Saturday, Sept. 13: Sojourn
  • Sunday, Sept. 14: Enchanted Princess + Insignia
  • Monday, Sept. 15: Sojourn

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Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...