Stepping Out

'Little' films that make a big impact

The New York Short Film Concert arrives at the Madison Theatre

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Short films are having their moment in the spotlight. These often hard-to-find creations can be seen at the Madison Theatre, in Rockville Centre, next week at the “New York Short Film Concert.”
This showcase of award-winning — and future award-winning films — presented by Asbury Shorts, New York City’s longest running short film exhibition, on Thursday, March 26, gives audiences the opportunity to see these little gems in a real theater format on a big screen.
“Everyone really enjoys these films,” says the Madison Theatre’s Artistic Director Angelo Fraboni. “What makes this evening so unique and special is that the audience can see some great films that don’t get a lot of exposure. Many of these have extremely limited distribution. Maybe you’ll find them on HBO or Showtime. Here they stand out on their own. And our theater is perfect for film, with a great screen, comfortable seating and outstanding acoustics that make it ideal for viewing.”
It’s become a popular annual event at the Madison Theatre, on the campus of Molloy College. The films cover all genres — comedy, drama, — animation, and documentary — from established directors and up-and-coming filmmakers. “These are really clever, fun films, many of which offer an eye and window to directors have become huge and those who are just starting out,” says Fraboni. “These films make you cry, laugh and touch your heart. It’s like reading a book of short stories with a beginning, middle and an end. I love short films and our audience has come to love and enjoy them.”
Asbury Shorts was started in 1981 (on Asbury Avenue in Westbury), by Doug LeClaire, who was then a recent graduate of New York Institute of Technology, as a showcase of student-produced shorts from colleges around the area. “It became an annual thing and much anticipated,” recalls LeClaire. “In 1987 we took it to New York City and it became what it is today. Our show is like a trip to the best film festivals in the world where you sample the elite of the short film genre but without competition.”

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