Worldwide viewers are the judges: Short films spotlighted at Manhattan festival

Like short films? You be the judge of what’s best at The Manhattan Short Film Festival, which is back for in-person screenings in both Wellfleet and Vineyard Haven.

There are three shows of 10 shorts planned for the backyard at Wellfleet Preservation Hall, at 7 p.m. Sept. 23-25. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m., and screenings will be moved inside in inclement weather, with masks and proof of vaccination required.

At Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, shows are at 7:30 p.m. from Sept. 23-25, and 4 p.m. on Sept. 26. Doors will open a half-hour ahead.

Known as “Manhattan Short,” the festival is a worldwide event that takes place in over 400 venues across six continents between Sept. 23 and Oct. 3. Ten finalist films are selected from several hundred submissions by filmmakers from all over the world, then screened simultaneously at various venues, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue, according to information from the Wellfleet hall.

By their selection in the Manhattan festival, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified. Examples include “Death By Handshake” by director Hudson Flynn, who was 16 years old when he created a story of living in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Humor pervades films that include “Rough” from Northern Ireland; France’s “Archibald’s Syndrome” and “Monsieur Cashemire” from Canada.

"Out of Time” and the animated “Aurora” are close studies by two women directors of life at different stages of our existence from French and American perspectives.

Short films tackling big topics include Norway’s “The Kicksled Choir,” which offers a look at conflict resolution, and “Bad Omen,” which examines how a woman copes with stark circumstances in Afghanistan. “Closed To the Light” focuses on a moment in World War II Italy. “Ganef,” from the United Kingdom, examines that war’s trickle-down effect on subsequent generations.

At Wellfleet Preservation Hall, 335 Main St., tickets on Sept. 23 are $75 (supporting the hall’s year-round programming) and include a goodie bag full of gourmet, locally crafted sweet and savory movie treats, plus complimentary beverages. The Sept. 24-25 shows are $20 general admission. Tickets and information: wellfleetpreservationhall.org, 508-349-1800.

At the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, tickets are $15, $12 for members, $10 for age 14 or younger; https://mvfilmsociety.com/.