WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Film lovers in Franklin County will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world on Sept. 25, when the 29th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival screens at Waynesboro Theatre. Manhattan Short 2026 screens simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue.
By virtue of their selection by Manhattan Short, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified. The Waynesboro event will begin at 7 p.m., and admission is $10.
For the first time in its history, Manhattan Short has selected 10 films from 10 countries with films from the U.S., Ireland, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Moldova, Russia, Cuba, Georgia and Mexico making up Manhattan Short 2026.
“Since 9/11 my vision for this festival has been to create a filmic Olympiad. An event consisting of 10 quality shorts from 10 separate countries that joins the world, and finally in 2026 we’ve managed to do that. I’m very excited for the reaction it receives from our worldwide audiences,” said Nicholas Mason, founding director of the festival.
The Manhattan Short Final 10 are:
Small Talk (USA)
Mary is Missing (Ireland)
Candy Bar (Australia)
Vultures (South Africa)
Life Goes On (United Kingdom)
Hai Davai (Moldova)
Pickup (Russia)
Norheimsund (Cuba)
When the Sea was Calm (Georgia)
Never Give Up (Mexico).
All final 10 short films become Oscar-qualified, meaning they will be automatically eligible for an Academy Award nomination by screening for a week at The New Parkway Theater in Oakland, California, from Sept. 18-24. In 2024, five Manhattan Short selections were shortlisted for Oscars with three of those nominated, 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. You Be the Judge! Which of these 10 short films is the best? That’s up to a worldwide audience to decide. Moviegoers 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.
Manhattan Short is the ultimate audience award that salutes the creative talents of both directors behind the camera and actors in front of it. Votes will be sent through to Manhattan Short HQ with the winners announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m.
