Thumbs Up to the Regent Theatre's 'Manhattan Short Film Festival'
Attend the event and make your votes for your favorite short film and actor.
A crowd of film fanatics sat in the Regent Theatre excitedly awaiting for the Manhattan Short Film Festival to begin. “This is one of the theater’s annual traditions,” Leland Stein, the co-owner of the Regent Theatre announced for the 20-year-old event. The Manhattan Short Film Festival director, Nicholas Mason, introduced the 10 selected finalists, and the festival began.
The festival started with The Talent, a short film directed by Thomas May Bailey. Tommy (Emma D’Arcy) desires to seize their chance for a new opportunity on the set of a new car ad commercial. The Talent inducts a powerful message about grasping opportunities in this well-directed short film. It’s impossible to know your direction, but you can’t sit on your journey.
The next short involved a relatable subject that had several viewers laughing at its relatable technology nightmares. I’m Not a Robot is a Netherlands short film directed by Victoria Warmerdam. This is a complex film about a woman (Ellen Parren) who is told that she is a robot. I interpreted the film as a warning to be cautious about controlled relationships. The ending is bleak, leaving several questions in the air.
Mariia Felenko’s short film Mother takes place in Ukraine. Katia (Veronika Shostak) arrives to take her mother, Lena (Inna Belikova) to a safer place, but her mother is too busy polishing her nails. Katia leaves alone. The music by Viktoria Leleka is chilling, leaving haunting sounds. The editing is effective, selling the devastation as people flee the Ukraine.
Dovecote is an eye-opening Italian short film directed by Marco Perego. It exhibits life inside a Venetian women’s prison. The film stars the talented Zoe Saldana as a prisoner. The short encapsulates striking cinematography. Just as Perego presents, Dovecote promotes conversations about feelings. I researched everything I could find about this story.
Alison Rich’s Pathological is a funny and important short film about self-image. A woman (Alison Rich) is so desperate to fit in that she lies about her life. In a twist of fate, her wishes are granted, and these lies come true. I found this film quite relatable. Never lie about yourself. It’s fine to be regular.
The French film, Alarms erupted several whispered conversations about its content. Directed by Nicolas Panay, Pierre (Thomas Coumans) ensures that all work is done accordingly, but not at the cost of safety. Sound plays an important part in this short with all the construction noises. My interpretation of this spiral-edited film is: be alert of your mental health.
Nick Russell’s 5-minute Australian short film, Favourites, was the funniest! Parents have a difficult decision to make regarding their kids’ lives. The comedy is hysterical, donning an important message. You don’t have a favorite if you have to choose.
The next short film by Neboisa Slijepcevic is based on a horrible war crime. The Man Who Could Not Remain Still is about heroism. Taking place in a compact train, you can feel the tension as paramilitary forces search passengers. This film leaves a lasting impact on a historical event and discovering who you are in difficult times.
Room Taken is a moving short film directed by TJ O’Grady-Peyton. A homeless man (Gabriel Adewusi) secretly lives with a blind woman (Brid Brennan). The writing is splendid in this well-directed short. While you should take advantage of opportunities, never take advantage of others disabilities.
The final short film of the evening was an audience favorite. Julia Aks and Steve Pinder’s comical short film, Jane Austen’s Period Drama, is not the period piece you had in mind. As characters comically discuss the topic, this short film is integral for all women audiences.
The Manhattan Short Film Festival is at The Regent Theatre until October 6. Movies create discussions, especially in movie theater settings. Keep going out to movie theaters. They elevate the experience to something more. Attend the event and make your votes for your favorite short film and actor.
About the Creator
Marielle Sabbag
Writing has been my passion since I was 11 years old. I love creating stories from fiction, poetry, fanfiction. I enjoy writing movie reviews. I would love to become a creative writing teacher and leave the world inspiring minds.
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