The Manhattan Short Film Festival 25th & 26th September 2009
Press release Manhattan Short
Manhattan Short – now in Malta!
The Manhattan Short Film Festival unites audiences from all continents of the globe for one week via an exhibition of the ten most compelling short films submitted each year. For up-and-coming filmmakers there is no greater test than to be judged in cinemas by a global audience.
The 2009 Manhattan Short will be held in over 150 cities across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia between the 20th and 27th of September 2009. In 2009 we are inviting venues in Asia and The Middle East with venues in Africa scheduled for 2010 and ice stations in Antarctica in 2011.
For the first time, Valletta will be joining these cities and the Maltese audience will be able to enjoy these top quality films from around the world and voice their opinion by casting their votes for the best film of the festival. The Manhattan Short Film Festival will be held on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September 2009 at 7.30pm at the Cinema of the St James Centre of Creativity in Valletta.
This event is produced by Joyce Grech and Tony Parnis, producers of The Malta International TV short film festival which was produced for TVM last year. Entrance is free of charge however those who would like to attend should reserve their seats by sending an e-mail on the following address: info@maltashortfilmfest.com or calling 99425594.
The event is made possible by the Embassy of the United States of America in Malta and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts.
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MANHATTAN SHORT
SYNOPSIS FINALISTS
This year the Manhattan Short received 428 Entries from 36 Countries from which 10 Finalists were selected. Their Films will screen 532 times in 173 cities in Five Continents during One week
Film 1
THE BOUNDARY
Fiction (12:00) USA
Director: Julius Onah
Once we cross, there is no return… A family on its way home is forced to deal with circumstances they would never hope for.
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Film 2
LOVE CHILD
Fiction (6:00) Sweden
Director: Daniel Wirtberg
A young girl enjoys the perfect life of being the only child, when one day a new family member arrives.
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Film 3
MOZAMBIQUE
Documentary (13:30) Mozambique
Director: Alcides Soares
Sixteen-year-old Alcides Soares is one of a half a million AIDS orphans living in Mozambique today. American television writer Neal Baer and movie director Chris Zalla gave Alcides a movie camera and taught him how to shoot. The result is “Mozambique” a moving chronicle directed by Alcides himself, which details his journey to find his family and make a new life in his country._____________________________________________________________
Film 4
SKHIZEIN
Animation (14:00) France
Director: Jérémy Clapin
After being struck by a 150-ton meteorite, Henry has to adapt to living precisely 91 centimeters from himself.
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Film 5
PARKING
Fiction (11:00) Spain
Director: Jorge Molina
An executive goes to get his car…when he discovers that someone else has beaten him to it.
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Film 6
A’MARE
Fiction (15:00) Italy
Director: Martina Amati
Andrea and Felice are two kids whose lives centre around the sea. One during a fishing excursion their usual routine is disturbed when something unexpected appears from the water. Will their friendship survive the turbulent events that follow?
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Film 7
PLASTIC
Fiction (7:30) Australia
Director: Sandy Widyanata
Whilst Anna is preparing for a first date with Henry, a man she has secretly loved for years, everything goes wrong until she discovers the impossible – to sculpt her appearance like clay to any shape she desires.
“I had this idea for about 10 years. It was an image of a woman who was able to do anything she wants to her face. Imagine that!” Sandy Widyanata
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Film 8
MIENTE
Fiction (15:00) Spain
Director: Isabel De Ocampo
Doina wants to make a birthday present to her young sister, but it isn’t easy to get it. “What I love about making fiction films is the ability to manipulate feelings. It is the best way to make people think”. Isabel De Ocampo
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Film 9
LASHABIYA
Fiction (6:00) Israel
Director: Yehezkel Lazarov
In an elementary school courtyard, a young Palestinian man plays a dangerous game with an armed squad of Israeli soldiers. “I think that the game is not over. The game just started. I leave it to the tree, I leave it to the birds, I leave it to the kids, to the future and the past. But in the present, this is still a burning issue and the reality is that it’s stuck. And it has been stuck for a long time and we are all sick and tired of it and we all want it to end. We wish that it would end with peace”. Yehezkel Lazarov
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Film 10
HAMMERHEAD
Fiction (14:00) UK
Director: Sam Donovan
Boris tries to reunite his separated parents on a shark-spotting trip. The only problem is, his biggest enemy is along for the ride: his mother’s new girlfriend.
“We should celebrate dysfunctional families a little more because the dysfunctional families actually can be functional. I believe the family structure doesn’t have to be two parents and 2.4 children. I think it can work out in many other different ways if you have the right attitude towards it.” Sam Donovan
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