Friday, September 26

Can’t afford your shrink anymore? Drown sorrows in kooky short films at Tropfest 2008, which bills itself as the “world’s largest short film festival,” taking place at the World Financial Center Plaza—ouch. Sexy Billy Crudup and cerebral Malcolm Gladwell are among the celebrity judges, the latter taking a break from preparations for his no-doubt starring role in the New Yorker Festival! “Short films are a great way to discover new talent and they are easy and fun to watch,” e-mailed another celeb judge, actress Radha Mitchell, co-star with Ally Sheedy of every straight girl’s favorite lesbian movie, High Art. She also noted that “the festival has launched the careers of many filmmakers in Australia.” Gettin’ a wee chilly for shrimps on the barbie, alas.

[TropFest New York 2008, World Financial Center Plaza, 5 p.m., www.tropfest.com/NY]

mbryan@observer.com