PÖFF Shorts holds competitions in four competition programmes:
International Live-Action Competition
International Animation Competition
National Competition
Rebels with a cause competition
Juries will also decide upon one European* film in eligible competitions with a candidacy in the short film category of the European Film Awards.
*European according to the rules of the European Film Academy, meaning both EU and non-EU, and shall include Israeli and Palestinian.
Winners of the International Live-Action Competition Grand Prix for Best Film, International Animation Competition Grand Prix for Best Animation Film and National Competition Grand Prix for Best National Film will be eligible to apply for consideration for the annual Academy Awards should they fit the eligibility criteria as determined by the Academy.
Winners of PÖFF Shorts Competition programmes are given priority status for consideration for the PÖFF main competitions in the future.
*PÖFF Shorts award statuettes were created by the Estonian artist Eeva Käsper.