Asbury Shorts to Bring THE 34TH SHORT FILM CONCERT to The Bijou Theatre, 12/6

Asbury Shorts, New York City's longest running, non competitive short film exhibition, returns to the historic Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport, Connecticut for a third consecutive year to present its acclaimed national touring showcase of award winning short films: "The 34th Short Film Concert." This special screening of award winning short films, from the past and present, takes place on Sunday, December 6th with the first film blasting on to the screen at 6:00pm.

Asbury USA "concerts" feature the best in short film comedy, drama and animation without promoting competition. Academy Award nominated Director Jason Reitman ("Juno," "Up in the Air", "Thank You for Smoking," "Young Adult") calls Asbury Shorts: "The Best Short Film Show I've ever seen!" Combining classic festival honorees from the past with new international selections Asbury Shorts provides a rare opportunity for the general public to see world-class films on a real cinema screen as opposed to You Tube, iPads or smart phones. Highlights of the December 6th showcase of internationally honored shorts include:

The Girl and the Gondola - British director Abbe Robinson's poignant and charming story of a young Venetian girl dreaming of becoming a gondolier like her father while battling 900 years of tradition. This short was recently awarded Best Short Film at The Martha's Vineyard Short Film Festival.

Oh Crappy Day - A short comedy from DagType Films of North Carolina. On a blind date with a delightful young woman, a man struggles to keep his OCD on the down low. Director Jon Lance Bacon and producer Steven P. Neilson were recently awarded the REMI Award for short film at WorldFest Houston.

Wired...A short documentary following an artist in Nova Scotia, Canada who creates pieces from found metal in and around his property. He lets the metal rust utilizing nature as his "co artist." Director Ben Proudfoot from Halifax won "Best Short Film" at the Shelburne International Film Expo this past September in Canada.

Asbury Shorts has been presented at: The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Royal Festival Hall, London; The Lake Shore Theater, Chicago; The Director's Guild Theater in Manhattan; SUMMER STAGE in Central Park; the AERO Theatre in Santa Monica; Creative Alliance in Baltimore and the Leminske Theater in Berlin to name just a few of the prestigious venues where audiences have enjoyed these amazing films...including The Bijou!

One of the last historic movie theaters left in Bridgeport, the Bijou Theatre originally intended as an opera house, opened in 1909 as a movie theatre. In 1929, it was renamed The Rivoli Theatre, and in later years became the Studio Cinema, and the Downtown Family Cinema, which closed in 1996. Dormant for years, new owners purchased the theater in 2005, and eventually renovation work began. The Bijou Theatre re-opened July 7, 2011. It now operates as a multi-functional venue with 202 seats (94 stadium, 108 cabaret). The dominant focus will be on independent films and cultural art performances, with additional attractions of live music, comedy and theatrical productions.

The Bijou Theatre is located at 275 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. General admission tickets cost $15. Doors open at 5:00pm. For all information, visit www.thebijoutheatre.com or call 203.332.3228. For more about Asbury Shorts, go to www.asburyshortsnyc.com.

The Bijou Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual and performing arts programs and events for the community. Private donations, grants, tuition fees & ticket sales fund the Bijou Arts Center, which is located at 275 Fairfield Avenue in Downtown Bridgeport. The Bijou Theatre, one of the oldest buildings in the country used as a movie house, reopened its doors in 2011. In addition to continuing its historic character of showing movies, the Theatre offers a full repertoire of live music, comedy, theater and dance, which can be enjoyed in either theater seating or cabaret style. The Bijou Theatre is a multi-functional venue with integrity and an open-minded philosophy- a symposium for film, theatre, art, comedy and music. The Theatre is available for private rentals, holiday parties, corporate events, and much more.