DATE NIGHT: ‘Small Talk’ focuses on a weary cab driver, who, in the face of an all-consuming AI world, attempts to preserve the last traces of humanity the only way he knows how. (Supplied Photo)

The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, located at 120 Long Beach Blvd. in Loveladies, will host a screening of the 29th Manhattan Short Film Festival at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25.

Tickets are $15. They may be purchased online at lbifoundation.org or at the door, although this is a popular event, so advance purchase is recommended.

The festivities will actually begin at 6 when a fundraiser for the Barnegat Light First Aid Squad will open the evening.

“Your support ensures they have the highest quality medical equipment and ambulances for our island community to continue to provide free, 24/7 medical assistance,” said the folks at the Foundation. “Please come early to support and get a great seat for the Shorts! Refreshments will be provided.”

If you’re not interested in the short films, come anyway to support the squad; no admission price will be charged.

For almost three decades the Manhattan Short Film Festival has screened 10 nominated short films during a week-or-so-long period (this year’s is from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4) at hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. and the world. Venues this year include not only scores and scores in the United States, but also in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Croatia, France, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, South Africa, Bermuda, Mexico and Argentina. Attendees at each venue will vote for their favorite film and performers – you help decide who gets the Best Film and Best Actor awards.

There’s a new highlight this year. For the first time in its history Manhattan Short has nominated 10 films from 10 different countries.

“Since 9/11 my vision for this festival has been to create a filmic Olympiad,” said Nicholas Mason, founding director of the Manhattan Short Film Festival, “an event consisting of 10 quality shorts from 10 separate countries that joins the world, and finally in 2026 we’ve managed to do that. I’m very excited for the reaction it receives from our worldwide audiences.”

So, with no further ado, a drum roll, please:

“Small Talk” (USA). “Mary is Missing” (Ireland). “Candy Bar” (Australia). “Vultures” (South Africa). “Life Goes On” (United Kingdom). “Hai Davai” (Moldova). “Pickup” (Russia). “Norheimsund” (Cuba). “When the Sea was Calm” (Georgia). “Never Give Up” (Mexico).

Winners will be announced at ManhattanShort.com on Monday, Oct. 5. Actually, though, there are no losers because by virtue of their selection as finalists by Manhattan Short, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified.  —R.M.