During one week of the year over 100,000 film-lovers gather in over 500 Cinemas across 6 Continents to view and vote on the Finalists Films' in the 26th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival - MANHATTAN SHORT is more than just one of the largest short film festivals in the world....it's the World's First Global Film Festival.

If making short films is about getting your work out there, nothing compares to MANHATTAN SHORT.

Every Film Selected is eligible to enter the Oscars:
MANHATTAN SHORT does a full week's run in a cinema in Los Angeles, California. This theater booking means all ten finalists in the 2023 MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival will be eligible to enter the Oscar competition for 2024. In the last three years at least one film from MANHATTAN SHORT has made it to the Oscars the following year.

MANHATTAN SHORT is now in compliance with the rules governing the Oscar Awards set forth by the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences

MANHATTAN SHORT also conducts a screenplay competition for screenplay for short films only (20 pages and under)

Featured Musical Artist Competition:
MANHATTAN SHORT will be featuring a Musical Artist or Band leading up to and throughout the duration of the Festival each year. The selected Musician or Band will have his/her music featured in over four hundred venues and to over 100,000 people worldwide during the MANHATTAN SHORT intermission and in all promotional materials leading up to the festival dates, including exclusive headline billing on our website. This is a tremendous opportunity for new or unknown musical talent to have their music broadcast to our ready-made worldwide audience of eager festival attendees. It is also a unique chance to gain name recognition and immediate exposure. Entry forms are also available at the website: http://manhattanshort.com/musical-artist-competition.html

Awards & Prizes

All Films Selected automatically become eligible to enter the Oscars
The Gold Medal
The Silver Medal
The Bronze Medal
Best Actor
Best Screenplay
Featured Musical Artist

Rules & Terms

Films Must Be 20 Minutes and Under in Length.

For pre screening selection purposes we ask for either
a) Online Screeners
b) DVDs or Blu Ray sent to our mailing address

If film is successful we ask for Apple Prores QT files at (23.98)

Deadlines - July 31st every year

31 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Bien ou Bien Productions

    We were so lucky to be amongst the 10 films that were part of the final selection this year. This festival is unlike any other: your film gets SEEN by so many people, in so many theaters, it's truly a wonder and we're super grateful to Nick and Frank for their hard work.

    October 2022
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  • András Attila Farkas

    Thank you very much for the Award to my screenplay "Youth & Age Flower". It was an honor to be part of this contest.

    October 2021
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  • Randy Messersmith

    I am honored to be selected as a Semi-Finalist in the short screenplay competition for Saving Faith. I purchased the online viewing ticket to see the incredible finalists from all over the world!

    October 2021
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  • Benjamin Niemchick

    It was great getting to be a semi-finalist. The feeling of it felt like taking a first bite out of a new flavor candy bar. The flavor sparks you and you enjoyed it from beginning to the end.

    October 2021
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  • John McCloskey

    The Manhattan Short Film Festival values good writing and has a sense of humor. Enough to make my script "The Pizza Paradox" a "Semi-Finalist." I applaud your good taste--we are your audience. Multiple thanks.

    October 2021
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