Film lovers in Normal will join over 100,000 film enthusiasts around the world for the 26th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival.

The Final Ten screen 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.

Introducing the MANHATTAN SHORT Finalists of 2023

SUNLESS

Directed by: Boris Vesselinov Principal Cast: Ben Holtzmuller, Erik Scilley Country: USA Running Time: 8:00 Synopsis: As they pilot their submarine down into the world's deepest point, two researchers must debate pressing on when a crack in their window port grows.

VOICE ACTIVATED

Directed by: Steve Anthopoulos Principal Cast: Aleks Mikic, Becky Lucas, Sam Neill Country: Australia Running Time: 12:00 Synopsis: A florist with a stutter is forced to cooperate with a voice-activated car on the way to an important delivery.

YELLOW

Directed by: Elham Ehsas Principal Cast: Afsaneh Dehrouyeh, Elham Ehsas Country: UK/Afghanistan Running Time: 13:00 Synopsis: In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a woman walks into a chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full-body veil and face an uncertain future.

TUULIKKI

Directed by: Teemu Nikki Principal Cast: Saana Koivisto, Elina Knihtila Country: Finland Running Time: 14:00 Synopsis: When a young woman, dominated by an over-protective mother plots her escape, their relationship dissolves into one of mutual suspicion.

THE FAMILY CIRCUS

Directed by: Andrew Fitzgerald Principal Cast: Elyse Dinh, Michael Ironside, Scott Subiono, Michael Nguyen Manceau, Blake Dang, Christian Seavey Country: USA Running Time: 17:00 Synopsis: A Vietnamese-American family's plan to cover up a drunk-driving incident begins to unravel when their emotional baggage spills out in front of the police.

CAREER DAY

Directed by: Jason Robinson & Chris Hooper Principal Cast: Paul Bartholomew, Aria Perry, Abby Eiland, Julianna Robinson Country: USA Running Time: 10:00 Synopsis: A once promising 90's pop star and his aging boy band reunite for his daughter's elementary school Career Day. They go viral.

SNAIL

Directed by: Aminreza Alimohammadi Principal Cast: Bahareh Nouhian, Iliya Akhavanrad Country: Iran Running Time: 14:00 Synopsis: A loving mother strives to make her young son's singing dreams come true but an audition takes a dramatic, unforeseen turn.

THE RECORD

Directed by: Jonathan Laskar Country: Switzerland Running Time: 8:38 Synopsis: An antique musical instrument dealer obsessively plays a magical vinyl record that “reads your mind and plays your lost memories.” Even the forgotten ones.

THE STUPID BOY

Directed by: Phil Dunn Principal Cast: Joshua Griffin, Shaun Mason, Derek Elroy, Ellie Piercy Country: United Kingdom Running Time: 14:50 Synopsis: In London, a broken man groomed for a terrorist attack is confronted by a local lad who sees things differently. But seeing things differently can be dangerous.

SOLEIL DE NUIT

Directed by: Fernando López Escrivá & Maria Camila Arias Principal Cast: Larissa Corriveau, Jacques Newashish, Mark Krupa, Oshim Ottawa Country: Canada Running Time: 13:00 Synopsis: While training for a moon landing, a group of Canadian astronauts are tasked with an added mission by a Native American elder.