The Strand Theatre on Columbia Road was primarily a movie house when it opened its doors in 1918. So, it’s appropriate to mark its centennial with a film event. That’s part of the thinking behind the Dorchester Short Film Festival, which will be held at the Strand on Thurs., Oct. 25. The event — for ages 16-plus— will start at 7:30 p.m.

Asbury Shorts USA, New York’s longest running short film exhibition, is teaming with a new entity— the Dorchester Film Group — to produce the Dorchester Short Film Festival (DSFF). Sponsors include City Councillor Frank Baker, Great Spaces Real Estate, Mass Motors and the Dorchester Reporter.

Asbury Shorts USA produces short film concerts at theatrical venues around the world. The inaugural Dorchester event will combine classic, world-renowned shorts with new international festival honorees creating a rare opportunity for attendees to see honored short films on a real cinema screen rather than YouTube, computers, or smart technology.

The Oct. 25 event will include a screening of “A Poet Long Ago,” from acclaimed director Bob Giraldi. The short is based on bestselling novelist Pete Hamill’s sstory and starrs Steve Schirripa (HBO’s “The Sopranos”) and Boris McGiver (Netflix’s “House of Cards,” HBO’s “The Wire,”) as two former classmates from the 1970’s who meet by chance and reminisce about the younger days back in Brooklyn, opening up old wounds.

Another featured short film is “ASAD” from internationally renowned TV commercial director Bryan Buckley, who is known as the “King of the Super Bowl Commercials.” Buckley has directed over 50 commercials. A poignant coming of age story about a young Somali boy living precariously day-to-day in his war torn country, ASAD was nominated for a 2013 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. “

Director Amy Nicholson’s documentary hit “Pickle” examines the complicated relationships humans have with their pets in a film combining real people, live action, animation, and lots of warmth and mirth.

The Strand Theatre is located at 543 Columbia Rd. General admission tickets are $20 (plus $1.69 service charge). To purchase your tickets and find out more, please visit dotfilmfest.com.