Results of the 28th Manhattan Short Film Festival votes worldwide and at WSU

The results of the 2025 Manhattan Short Film Festival are in!

Here's the word from the Manhattan Short website: "We Have Sinned Before You, written and directed by Ifat Nener Orgad (Israel), is the Gold Medal Winner of the 28th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival. We Have Sinned Before You, a family drama set around a game designed to pass the time on Yom Kippur, resonated with viewers around the world."

In second place worldwide and winning the silver medal was Passarinho, directed by Natalia García Agraz (Mexico). This film was "about two teenage girls who try to meet their favorite soccer player, but their plan is threatened when one of them gets a red card. The film is dedicated to all the Messi Mums in the world."

Finally, winning the bronze medal was Beyond Silence, written and directed by Marnie Blok (The Netherlands). This film "tells the story of two women from two generations who experience a singular trauma. One retreats into silence. The other breaks it."

The Best Actor Award was won by Henrianne Jansen for "her breakout performance" in Beyond Silence. She played the role of "deaf girl" in the movie.

Manhattan Short medal winners are selected by voters attending the festival in theatrical venues around the world.

The on-campus festival had somewhat different results. At WSU, two films tied for first place in the WSU festival ballots: Beyond Silence (The Netherlands) and I Have My Reasons (UK). But Worcester State viewers agreed overwhelmingly (42.3%) with the rest of the world when it came to selecting the Best Actor: Lancers also chose Henrianne Jansen from Beyond Silence.

In total, 104 WSU viewers cast votes although there were more people who watched the films. It was sponsored on campus by the Department of Urban Studies and the School of Humanities and Social Science. The Manhattan Short Film Festival will be back to campus next year for its 29th festival.

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