Media Theatre Unites with World During 2012 Manhattan Short Film Festival

Filmgoers in Media, Pennsylvania, will unite with audiences in more than 300 cities spanning six continents to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world when the 15th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival screens at on Monday, October 1, at 7 p.m.

Out of 520 entries received from 49 countries around the world, Manhattan Short selected 10 short films as finalists. Each film is 18 minutes or under in length. Countries represented this year include Norway, The Netherlands, Russia, England, Ireland, Peru, France, Romania, Spain and the USA, in what festival organizers describe as the “United Nations of Film Festivals.”

These short films will not only entertain a global audience, but will be judged by them as well. Filmgoers will be handed a voting card upon entry and asked to vote for the one film they feel should win. Votes are tallied at each participating cinema and submitted to festival headquarters. The winner will be announced in New York City, as well as posted at www.ManhattanShort.com on Sunday, October 7, at 10 p.m.

With past finalists achieving the ultimate in recognition by being nominated and even winning the Oscar in the short film category, the Manhattan Short has become known as a breeding ground for the next big thing.

In one week, more than 100,000 people from as far north as St. Petersburg, Russia, to as far south as Buenos Aires, Argentina, as far east as Kathmandu, Nepal, and as far west as Perth, Australia, to over 150 cinemas in 47 US States will come together to view and vote on these 10 films.

“While the goal of any festival is to discover and promote new talent, the real aim of this festival is bringing communities together via stories from around the world,” says Nicholas Mason, Manhattan Short founder and director.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that what started as a small, relatively simple event when I projected a handful of short films onto the side of a truck on a downtown Manhattan street 15 years ago, would grow into what it is today, with communities all over the world getting together to celebrate via 10 short films. It's become like Earth Day—but with film,” adds Mason.

Tickets for the Manhattan Short Film Festival are $10 per person. The event takes place at The Media Theatre, 104 East State Street in Media on Monday night, October 1, at 7 p.m. The concession stand and bar will be open.

For more information on the Festival and to read detailed interviews and view trailers of the 2012 film  Finalists visit www.ManhattanShort.com or you may go to the following link: http://www.manhattanshort.com/finalists.html

The Finalists for 2012 are: “The Devil’s Ballroom” (Norway); “A Curious Conjunction of Coincedences” (Holland);  “Where Does the Sea Flow” (Russia); “Two & Two” (England); “Cluck” (Ireland);  “Behind the Mirrors” (Peru); “The Elaborate End of Robert Ebb” (England);  “Superman, Spiderman, or Batman” (Romania); “92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card” (USA); and “Voice Over” (Spain)

Your vote, combined with viewers in more than 300 cities across the globe, after viewing the Manhattan Short Film Festival, will determine the winner.