JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Arts Center will once again be host to the worldwide Manhattan Short Film Festival this weekend.

The 21st Annual festival spans over 300 cities and six continents for residents to judge the work of next generation filmmakers from around the world. The final nine films are screened simultaneously across the world with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue.

Jamestown Arts Center Education Coordinator Myra Olson says audience participation is important for the festival. Each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified with all finalists hailing from Austria, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Kosovo, New Zeland, USA, and two coming from the United Kingdom.

“These Final Nine short films represent the best short films from among 1,565 submissions from 73 countries received by MANHATTTAN SHORT for 2018, testimony to the enduring vibrancy and creativity of short films,” the organization states. “This year’s Final Nine represent an extraordinary range of film genres that includes intimate dramas; fast-paced animation; spine-tingling tales; a World War II epic; a film shot entirely underwater and comedy as part of the MANHATTAN SHORT program.”

Olson says residents can come to the Arts Center this Friday or Saturday to watch the short films and vote on their favorites. Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

Visit jamestownarts.com for more information.