Seith Mann’s short film five deep breaths is one of the best we’ve seen in recent years, and it got the New York filmmaker selected to our 25 New Faces list — in 2003. And now that Mann has made a name for himself directing episodes of HBO’s hit The Wire, his short has surfaced again, this time via Bilge Ebiri at New York Magazine. Click here to both read about and see the film.

Here’s Ebiri on Mann and his work:

The tale of two friends who get in too deep when they decide to help out a battered female friend, five deep breaths takes a small story of loyalty and turns it into something greater, a subtle and mournful meditation on African-American manhood. A model of economy and character development, it features two sterling lead performances. (Hector’s co-star, Anslem Richardson, has appeared on As the World Turns and will be starring in the upcoming indie sci-fi feature 2k3.) The short screened at Sundance and won Best Narrative Short at the Los Angeles and Chicago Film Festivals. Mann has since also directed episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, and Entourage. He is currently at work on his debut feature. If it’s as good as this short, we’ll be very, very impressed.

After you finish watching it, click over to the site for 2k3, Gray Miller’s forthcoming indie film which also stars Anslem Richardson and which was a participant in the IFP Rough Cuts Lab.