The PennZone

PHILADELPHIA - PennZone -- Movie fans in Philadelphia, PA will discover their inner film critic while joining film lovers in over 500 venues across the globe who are gathering to see Ten Finalists during the week of Sept 25 - Oct 5 when the 28th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Madlab Post in South Philly from Thursday, September 25th through Sunday, October 5, 2025.

MANHATTAN SHORT 2025 is a worldwide event screening simultaneously across six continents during a one-week period. With past finalists garnering Oscar nominations and short films continuing to move into the Hollywood mainstream, this entertaining program features the best short films in the world today!

The Ten MANHATTAN SHORT Finalists hail from seven countries with films from Spain, Israel, United Kingdom, Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Mexico, alongside three films from the USA.

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This year's lineup explores a wide range of topics including dramatic and comical takes on migration, reconciliation, housing prices, parenthood and the price of silence, not to mention the trials and tribulations of growing into adulthood -- especially when fantastical and dangerous griffins fly overhead and you have an OMG murderous mother. And what is it about golf anyway? Audiences will find it more difficult than ever to vote for Best Film and Best Actor.

The MANHATTAN SHORT Final Ten are:
Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting (USA), Al Fresco (Spain), Chasing the Party (USA), Paradise Man (USA), We Have Sinned Before You (Israel), I Have My Reasons (United Kingdom), Ovary-Acting (Norway), Beyond Silence (The Netherlands), Zodiak (Belgium), Passarinho (Mexico).

All Finalist short films are part of the MANHATTAN SHORT 2025 Oscar Qualifying Run, meaning they are automatically eligible for an Academy Award nomination. In 2024, four Manhattan Short selections were short-listed. Two of those Manhattan Short films were nominated for an Oscar, including the ultimate winner for Best Live Action short "I'm Not a Robot." Manhattan Short continues to be an early showcase for Oscar contenders.

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You Be the Judge!
Which of these Final Ten short films is the best? That's up to a worldwide audience to decide. Cinema-goers across the United States and around the globe will become instant film critics as they are handed a ballot upon entry that allows them to vote for the Best Film and Actor, in each participating venue. Cast your vote for Best Film and Best Actor between Sept.25 - Oct. 5, 2025. Your picks will be announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 10AM EST.

For tickets to see MANHATTAN SHORT at The Madlab Post in Philadelphia, PA, visit:
www.madlabpost.com