Cobb Theatres Wants You To Be the Judge!

NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Filmgoers will unite with audiences in over 300 cities spanning six continents to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world when the 16th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens on Friday 10/4 at 7:00pm at the following Cobb Theatre locations:

Cobb Hollywood 16 & IMAX in Tuscaloosa, AL
Cobb Countryside 12 Theatre in Clearwater, FL
Cobb Merritt Square & IMAX in Merritt Island, FL
Cobb Plaza Cinema Cafe 12 in Orlando, FL
Cobb Downtown 16 Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Cobb Village 12 Cinemas in Leesburg, VA

From a record breaking 628 entries received from 48 countries around the world, MANHATTAN SHORT selected 10 short films as finalists. Each film is 18 minutes or under in length. Countries represented this year include the USA, England, Ireland, France, Finland and Australia.  With past finalists achieving the ultimate in recognition by being nominated and even winning the Oscar in the short film category, MANHATTAN SHORT is known as a breeding ground for the next big thing in film.

These 10 short films will not only entertain a global audience but will be judged by them as well. Filmgoers will be handed a voting card upon entry into a participating theater and asked to vote for the one film they feel should win. Votes are tallied at each participating cinema and submitted to MANHATTAN SHORT headquarters where the winner will be announced in New York City as well as posted on the Internet (www.ManhattanShort.com) on Sunday, October 6th at 10:00pm.

"In my 16 years of programming MANHATTAN SHORT, this is by far the strongest program I've ever put together," says Festival Director Nicholas Mason. "There is something for everyone, from the ages of 16 to 80. This event is not going to cable TV or any form of digital download. If you don't get down to your local cinema during the week of September 27 to October the 6^th, you missed it," adds Mason.

For the first time, MANHATTAN SHORT will name a Best Actor based upon audience voting. MANHATTAN SHORT believes the outstanding work of actors and actresses in short films is often overlooked by the general public and the film community at large. By asking the MANHATTAN SHORT audience to vote for Best Actor, MANHATTAN SHORT wants to acknowledge the crucial role an actor plays in the execution of a short film director's vision.

MANHATTAN SHORT began in 1998, when Mason screened 16 short films onto a screen mounted to the side of a truck on Mulberry Street, Little Italy, in New York City. A year later, the Festival moved uptown to Union Square Park in New York City. In the aftermath of 9/11, MANHATTAN SHORT transformed into a worldwide phenomenon, becoming the only film festival on the planet that unfolds, simultaneously, in more than 250 cinemas on six continents, bringing over 100,000 film-lovers in all corners of the globe together for one week, via the next generation of filmmakers. Click here to read how it all began.  For more information on the Festival and to read detailed interviews with the 10 Finalists visit www.ManhattanShort.com or click on the following links:  

About Cobb Theatres
Cobb Theatres, based in Birmingham, Ala., is a progressive motion picture exhibitor operating 231 screens at 19 locations throughout the Southeastern United States. We are committed to being the leader in providing the ultimate entertainment experience, while maintaining a rich heritage of family values and integrity. Consistently surpassing our guests' expectations is a natural outgrowth of our dedication to empowering team members to deliver excellence in guest service. For more information on Cobb Theatres, visit www.cobbtheatres.com.

SOURCE Cobb Theatres