[Release by Manhattan Short]
The Manhattan Short Film Festival today announced the twelve finalists set to screen across four continents between the 21st and the 28th of September. Film lovers in Australia will have the opportunity view and vote on the next generation of filmmakers when the Festival screens at the The Metro Cinemas Boronia in Boronia, The Bigscreen Cinema at Hervey Bay, The Astor in Melbourne and Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney – Cremorne all on September 28th, and FTI Cinema in Fremantle on September 24th, both Theatre J at Noosa Head and Walter Reid Cultural Centre in Rockhampton on September 27th, and Sir Henry Parkes Memorial School of Arts Cinema & Theatre in Tenterfield on September 21st and 26th. This year’s festival exceeded expectations with 429 entries from 42 countries. The resulting 12 films are set to screen 295 times in 115 cities in one week – from as far north as Saint Petersburg, Russia to as far south as St. Kilda in Melbourne, Australia – during the last week of September.
The best short film and winner of the 2008 Manhattan Short Film Festival will be determined by the global theater-going public. After each screening, audience members can vote for their favorite film. The votes will be tallied and sent directly to the Manhattan Short headquarters where the winner will be announced in New York City at 10 p.m. on Sunday, September 28, 2008.
In 2007 three of the finalists went on to screen at the Sundance Film Festival in which one won, another was later nominated for a BAFTA, while another went on to receive an Oscar Nomination. “We are expecting similar results if not better with this year’s crop. The films are simply outstanding,” said Festival Director Nicholas Mason.
The twelve finalists
Ripple by Paul Gowers, United Kingdom
Ode Ober by Hiba Vink, The Netherlands
Rachael by Chris King, USA
Teat Beat of Sex by Signe Baumane, USA
Sour Milk by Amit Gicelter, Israel
New Boy by Stephanie Green, Ireland
Mother of Mine by Susan Everett, United Kingdom
Make My Day by Pelle Moeller, Denmark
The Game by John Cohen-Du Four
Change Coming by Mark Alston, Australia
Viva Sunita by Bob and Lola
The Golden Thread by Diego Sanchidrian Rubio