«Bis Gleich», winning short film of the Mahattan Short Film Festival

Last Sunday, the winner of the 2015 Manhattan Short Film Festival was announced in New York. From the votes received from cities across all continents, the short film Bis Gleich, by German Benjamin Wolff, was declared the winner with 14,095 votes. In the best actor category, Horst Werstphal was the winner with 12,244 votes for his work in the short film Bis Gleich.

The festival, organized by the Salamanca Film Commission, received around half a thousand spectators during September 28, 29, 30 and October 1, who filled the eight sessions offered at the Museum of Commerce. Simultaneously, more than 100,000 people from 250 cities worldwide were doing the same in different cinemas, galleries, and coffee shops across the 5 continents. Salamanca audiences opted for the short film Bis Glich, with 71 votes, by German filmmaker Benjamin Wolff, followed by the short film by British Jamie Donahue, Shock, with 35 votes, and the third place in the voting was taken by the Chilean film Bear Story, by Gabriel Osorio, with 27 votes. In the best actor category, Lum Vesili was chosen as the winner for his performance in the short film Shock, with 61 votes.

The Manhattan Short Film Festival, thanks to the Salamanca Film Commission, is being held for the sixth time in the city. This year, it has once again had the collaboration of the Museum of Commerce; in previous editions, it was held at the Juan Pablo II Auditorium of the Pontifical University, at the Fonseca Auditorium, and at the Casa de las Conchas.

Participating in the Manhattan Short represents a significant step forward in filmmakers' professional careers, as several short films from past editions have been nominated for Oscars in the short film category, British BAFTAs, French Césars, or have competed for awards at important festivals such as Sundance. The festival's prize consists of screening the winning short film on one of Manhattan's streets in a showing to which various New York producers are invited.