Manhattan Short, established in 1988, is a worldwide film festival that concurrently brings films from 10 countries all across the globe to over 500 local theaters. The festival declares its winner from audience voting after viewing the free festival screenings all around the world, leading to the festival being proclaimed within the cinema community as one of the most people-powered film festivals in the world.

2026’s festival includes 10 Oscar-eligible short films, all from different creators representing different countries, including America, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Moldova, Russia, Cuba, Georgia, Hungary, and Mexico. 

Wayne State Alum and Manager of the Music, Arts and Literature Department at the Detroit Public Library, Cully Summers, is the lead on bringing the Manhattan Short to DPL. The DPL is just one of Michigan’s 22 screening venues across the state. Due to the sheer number of venues screening the festival in Michigan, it is one of the states with the most theatre participation, second only to New York.

Summers said the festival and other local DPL screenings are great ways to provide inspiration and give a platform to those who are trying to make a career of filmmaking. 

“Any new opportunity for aspiring filmmakers … there aren’t always venues for them, so (it’s important) for us to be another stop and for someone to see it (the festival)  and think ‘I could do that,’” Summers said. 

Not only is this Summers’ belief, but it’s one of the driving forces of the festival itself. 

Nicholas Mason, the founding director of Manhattan Short, created it with the purpose of providing a platform for aspiring filmmakers from across the world. Manhattan Short is about more than just awards and competition; it’s about getting visibility for the hard work of the artists behind the projects. 

This is an aspect of the festival audiences get a glimpse of as a short introduction made by the filmmakers introduces themselves and the passion for their work before each film is played. This provides creators like Kat Butterfield (UK) and Daniel Audritt (UK), directors of this year’s winning film “Life Goes On,” a chance to get more exposure as the driving artistic force behind the project. 

WSU assistant professor and experienced film festival committee member Paul Echeverria said the film community is growing in the city because of these festivals. 

“There is a growing list of festivals and events that are taking place in the city of Detroit. These screenings bring filmmakers and audiences together to celebrate an ongoing passion for cinema,” Echeverria said.

The festival runs for only one week, typically late September to early October, with in-person voting slips provided at every screening. This year’s winning short film “Life Goes On” was announced Oct. 5 on the Manhattan Short website.

Dawson Sarcona is the Arts and Entertainment Reporter for The South End. He can be reached at hy2521@wayne.edu.

Cover photo graphic made by Julia Ezzeddine