ONE WORLD. ONE WEEK. ONE FESTIVAL.
The fan-favorite film fest returns to the Arts Center!
Discover your inner film critic and cast your vote for Best Film and Best Actor! Join film lovers at more than 500 venues across six continents gathering to view and vote for the next generation of filmmakers. With past finalists garnering Oscar nominations and short films continuing to move into the Hollywood mainstream, this entertaining program showcases some of the best short films in the world today.
For the first time in the festival’s history, 2026’s 10 finalists hail from 10 countries—a “filmic Olympiad” bringing together an extraordinary range of voices and visions from around the world.
TWO SCREENINGS
Friday, September 25 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 26 at 8 pm
Ballots supplied upon entry. The same films will be shown on both evenings.
Runtime: 120 minutes (TBC)
Not rated.
What is Manhattan Short?
Manhattan Short Film Festival is a global celebration of short film, unfolding simultaneously in more than 500 cinemas across six continents. Rather than a traditional touring festival, Manhattan Short an instantaneous celebration that occurs simultaneously across the globe, bringing great films to great venues and allowing the audiences to select their favorites.
You’re the judge! Audiences at participating venues receive a ballot and vote for Best Film and Best Actor. Votes are tallied and submitted to Manhattan Short headquarters, with the winner announced on ManhattanShort.com.
All ten finalists are Oscar-qualified, making them eligible for consideration for an Academy Award nomination through a qualifying theatrical run in Los Angeles.
Manhattan Short began in 1998, when founder Nicholas Mason gathered an audience of 200 people and screened 16 short films on a screen mounted to the side of a truck on Mulberry Street, Little Italy, New York City. Celebrating its 29th year in 2026, the festival has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, bringing more than 100,000 film lovers together each year to discover the next generation of filmmakers.
