Shalin Liu Performance Center Showcases the 28th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival

This is who we are - there’s room for change.

The Shalin Liu Performance Center is currently presenting screenings of the 28th Annual "Manhattan Short Film Festival" in the picturesque Rockport, MA. The festival combines ten short films from across the world, including the United States, Mexico, Norway, and more.

Any evening makes for a superb movie-watching experience. Film festivals bring audiences together to laugh, converse, and think. This is what I love about movies. Each short film is different, but explores similar themes of breaking traditions, speaking out, and valid communication, all through the creative lens of filmmaking.

Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting (USA), directed by Alex Thompson, captivated audiences with its fantasy story. The CGI designs for the griffin creatures are INCREDIBLE. Fans of the 2018 horror film will be happy to see Milly Shapiro, who plays Em, who does not believe in hunting traditions. This film’s ending garnered audible feedback from the audience.

Ignacio Rodo’s Al Fresco (Spain) made audiences laugh. Filmed in an impressive one take, a landlord escorts a potential client around his busy apartment. The place (or the room) isn’t what you’d expect. Comedy is all about delivery, and the actors nail their dialogue. I loved hearing the audience's reaction to this film.

Jessie Komitor’s Chasing the Party (USA) warns of sexual assault. Two teenage girls, Melissa (Lucia Ryan) and Stephanie (Kitana Turnbull), go to a bar. Melissa’s photography idol isn’t who she expected him to be. Komitor handles the sensitive scene well. Everyone was holding their breath in the theater.

Paradise Man (USA) is a unique telling of mental health. Jordan Michael Blake’s bleakly animated short explores meaning in a unique universe. The film has a sad tone. Though it does conclude on a happy note, it encourages that with time, we can find hope.

Remember those fighting family tropes? Ifat Nener Orgad’s ups the trope in We Have Sinned Before You (Israel), but steers the story in a different and more positive direction. The actors did a great job in their interactions and with their characters. Amidst all the arguments, this film teaches viewers to communicate their problems, instead of bottling them up.

Mikey Altoft’s I Have My Reasons (United Kingdom) takes a deep dive into Amanda’s (Lisa Jones) life. This film is edited like a memory as Amanda recalls different aspects of her father that have stayed with her. Don’t let anyone discourage you for your life choices.

Ovary-Acting (Norway, UK, Sweden) is a delightfully weird animated short film. Have you ever thought what a conversation would be like with your uterus? Isa Melum takes a fun approach on women freely making their own decisions. We all have different futures, not just one. That’s a good lesson.

Marnie Blok’s Beyond Silence (Netherlands) is a thought-provoking short film that presents a social issue several women have been unfairly silenced over. Henrianne Jenson (Eva) is tremendous as a deaf woman fighting for her voice. This is a film that will help more voices speak out.

Zodiac (Belgium) takes audiences out to sea. What starts as a conversation between two friends changes to saving a family lost at sea. Hans Buyse has effective direction, showing how each side is careful in their interactions. Although things are left ambiguous, little moments like these change you. This short film leaves a lasting impact.

The final short of the evening went from laughs to awws. Natalia Garcia Agraz’s Passarinho (Mexico) explores friendship, communication, and the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle has evolved in the media, and we need more focus on it. It’s a heartwarming short film about making better efforts in relationships. The last image made everyone laugh.

The Shalin Liu Performance Center made an excellent space for the "Manhattan Short Film Festival," which has one last showing on Oct. 2. Audiences discussed the films and their themes while leaving. You can also vote for your favorite short film and actor.