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As with any worthwhile tale, the beginnings of the Manhattan Short Film Festival started with a dream.

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• Nicholas Mason
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Short Films

"I just wanted to make the Olympics of film," says festival founder Nicholas Mason, who started the movie melee one September day ten years ago by projecting a handful of short films onto the side of a truck. But in the fest's humble fourth year, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 would strike in Mason's back yard — and his festival's time slot. Through the dust of Ground Zero, the Big Apple's mayor told New Yorkers to get back to work, and Mason did just that. The world media gushed over the courageous film festival that could, and soon venues around the planet were requesting to show the films as part of a global exhibition.

"The theaters joining in the festival became bigger than the films," says Mason. "All these communities are making it their own event to share with the world."

The tenth annual Manhattan Short Film Festival will be shown at the Bug Theatre tonight concurrent with screenings in 97 other cities on three continents. The Bug is at 3654 Navajo Street; reels roll at 8 p.m., and admission is $8. Call 303-477-5977 for more information.
Thu., Sept. 27, 8 p.m., 2007