The Jamestown Arts Center will screen the 29th Manhattan Short Film Festival over two weekends starting Friday, Sept. 25, with audiences voting on the winners alongside moviegoers at more than 500 venues worldwide.
Screenings are at 7 p.m. on Sept. 25 and 26 and Oct. 2 and 3 at 18 Valley St. Tickets are $20, or $15 for JAC members, seniors and military. The center recommends buying ahead, since the screenings often sell out.
Everyone who attends gets a ballot and votes for best film and best actor. The results are tallied globally and announced Oct. 5 at manhattanshort.com. The arts center is the only Rhode Island venue participating.
This year’s program is the first in the festival’s history to feature ten films from ten different countries: “Small Talk” (USA), “Mary is Missing” (Ireland), “Candy Bar” (Australia), “Vultures” (South Africa), “Life Goes On” (United Kingdom), “Hai Davai” (Moldova), “Pickup” (Russia), “Norheimsund” (Cuba), “When the Sea Was Calm” (Georgia) and “Never Give Up” (Mexico).
All ten are Oscar-qualified. In 2024, five Manhattan Short selections made the Academy’s shortlist and three were nominated, including “I’m Not a Robot,” which won for best live action short.
“Year after year, our community’s votes often match the global winners,” said Jocelyn Shaffer of the arts center’s film committee. “It’s a wonderful reminder of how connected Jamestown is to this worldwide audience.”
Tickets are at jamestownartcenter.org/events.
