The 20th annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival, hosted by Rowan Public Library, features short films with free admission and free refreshments on Oct. 2-7. RPL is one of only six locations in North Carolina to host the 2017 festival.

The MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival is unique, screening its slated films simultaneously at participating locations worldwide over the course of a week. After each screening, audience members vote for Best Film and Best Actor. Every audience member’s vote counts. On Oct. 9 at 10 a.m., winners will be announced via ManhattanShort.com

Each screening features the “Final 10,” the 10 short films competing for the awards of Best Film and Best Actor. Film lengths range from five minutes to 15, and the total runtime for all 10 shorts is approximately two hours. Admission is free, and popcorn and lemonade will be served.

• South Rowan Regional (China Grove) kicks off RPL’s screenings on Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m • Headquarters (Salisbury) hosts the festival on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m. • East Branch (Rockwell) on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. If you can’t make it to a weekday showing, Headquarters (Salisbury) will host a final matinee screening on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. All showings are intended for adults (ages 17 and up).

In this year’s MANHATTAN SHORT, the 10 featured finalists hail from nine countries: USA, UK, New Zealand, Latvia, Syria, Italy, Switzerland, Georgia, and Spain. All are eligible for an Academy Award nomination. The finalists were selected out of a record 1,615 submissions from 75 countries.

For more information, contact Gretchen.Witt@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8232 or visit www.RowanPublicLibrary.org