Local audiences will join viewers around the world in judging the next generation of filmmakers, when the Manhattan Short Film Festival arrives at the month’s end.

The 19th annual festival brings ten short films from eight countries to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, on Thursday this week and Saturday. Bermuda filmgoers will join with others in more than 250 cities in choosing the best.

Winnowed from a record 844 submissions from 52 countries, all ten finalists are Oscar-qualified — a first in the festival’s history.

Attendees will get ballots on entry, to choose Best Film and Best Actor, with the winners announced on October 3, 11am local time, on the site ManhattanShort.com.

The films are: The Tunnel, from Norway; Carousel, England; Kaputt, Germany; Ella Got a Promotion, United States; Hold On, The Netherlands; Bravoman, Russia; Overtime, Australia; Gorilla, France; I am a Pencil, Australia, and The Last Journey of the Enigmatic Paul WR, France.

Two films, Kaputt and I am a Pencil, are animations. Others range from comedy to drama, horror and science fiction.