MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival Brings Oscar-Qualified Films to Shubert Theatre

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Ten finalists from the USA, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, the UK, Moldova, Russia, Cuba, Georgia and Mexico will compete for audience awards.

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The Shubert Theatre will host the MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in the Elm City's Cabaret at the Shubert Theatre. The screening begins at 7:00pm.

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Film lovers in Connecticut will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world during the week of the festival when the 29th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens in the Elm City's Cabaret at the Shubert Theatre on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale online at Shubert.com , by phone at 203-562-5666 and at the Shubert Theatre Box Office (247 College Street, New Haven).

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.

For the first time in its history MANHATTAN SHORT has selected ten short films from ten countries. The 2026 selection includes films from the USA, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Moldova, Russia, Cuba, Georgia and Mexico. 'Since 9/11 my vision for this Festival has been to create a filmic Olympiad. An event consisting of ten quality shorts from ten separate countries that join 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,' says Nicholas Mason, founding director of MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival.

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 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 CA from September 18–24, 2026. In 2024, five MANHATTAN SHORT selections were short-listed for Oscars with three of those nominated, including the ultimate winner for Best Live Action short I'm Not a Robot.

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. MANHATTAN SHORT is the ultimate audience award that salutes the talents of both directors behind the camera and actors in front of it. Votes will be sent to MANHATTAN SHORT HQ with the winners announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 10 AM EST.

Location: Elm City's Cabaret at Shubert Theatre, 247 College Street, New Haven, CT

To Purchase: Online at Shubert.com

Call 203-562-5666 or visit the Shubert Box Office, Monday through Friday 12:00 Noon–6:00 PM

Nominate your favorite local productions and performers before the deadline on October 31, 2026.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/MANHATTAN-SHORT-Film-Festival-to-Screen-at-Shubert-Theatre-20260923)._