Gorton Center

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
2025-10-04 19:00 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | Gorton Center – John & Nancy Hughes Theater, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL, 60045, United States
The always-popular compilation of global short films returns to the John & Nancy Hughes Theater at Gorton—come watch and vote for your favorite! Film lovers unite during the same week across six continents to view and judge the work of the next generation of international filmmakers.
The ten Finalists will 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.
The Ten MANHATTAN SHORT Finalists hail from seven countries with films from Spain, Irael, United Kingdom, Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Mexico, alongside three films from the USA. “These ten short films bring a much-needed positive energy to the world!” says Nicholas Mason, founding director of Manhattan Short Film Festival. The program runs 2.5 hours with an 8 minute intermission.
Manhattan Short 2025 Finalists

“Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting” (USA)
“Al Fresco” (Spain)
“Chasing the Party” (USA)
“Paradise Man” (USA)
“We Have Sinned Before You” (Israel)
“I Have My Reasons” (United Kingdom)
“Ovary-Acting” (Norway)
“Beyond Silence” (The Netherlands)
“Zodiak” (Belgium)
“Passarinho” (Mexico)

For details about the short films, visit the Manhattan Short website.
