Shorts National Competition 1

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2025

The National Competition is a delve into the life of the small country we all call home, uncovering the truths that – for those of us who live here – we all relate to and perhaps offering some true surprises for those living outside of our fair shores. For, whilst many of the stories are rooted in the tradition and folklore of Estonia, there is also universality to the stories that reflect not only the diverse nature of filmmakers in the country but how cinema can unite people from all over the world. Amongst familiar names there are plenty of new talents and plethora of ideas and invention.
The Estonian animation films of the programme are quintessentially, happily subversive (as always), but also very timely. Invasion, war, and its consequences are explored with empathy and poignant humor. We also have helpful robots, humans, and other characters navigating different facets of reality - messy, surreal, and very familiar.

Screenings

Screening051618 / Shorts Rahvuslik võistlusprogramm 1
Q&A duration
Screening duration

Films

Kyiv Cake

Local title
Kiievi tort
Director
Mykyta Lyskov
Year
2025
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2025
Programme

The events of the movie unfold in modern Ukraine. A child is born into a poor family, the parents do everything possible to survive, but just when the crisis reaches its peak, a new danger flares up.

Director
Mykyta Lyskov
Runtime
Language

Am I Ukrainian Enough?

Local title
Kas ma olen piisavalt ukrainlane?
Director
Kateryna Hantseva
Country
Year
2024
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2025
Programme

In a personal documentary, the director confronts an identity crisis triggered by the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The director returns to Ukraine to explore her linguistic roots. In her family's village, she speaks Surzhik with her grandmother. Moving to Kharkiv, she sees the war's impact and discusses language dynamics with her mother, who urges her to switch to Ukrainian. This journey highlights the complex relationship between identity and language.

Director
Kateryna Hantseva
Runtime
Subtitles

Border

Local title
Piir
Original title
Piir
Director
Sasha Shprotser
Country
Year
2025
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2025
Programme

Over four days, director undertakes an 80-kilometer solo journey on foot from Narva, Estonia—her homeland—to her grandmother’s grave in Slantsy, Russia, just beyond the border.

Director
Sasha Shprotser
Runtime
Subtitles

Winter In March

Local title
Lumi saadab meid
Director
Natalia Mirzoyan
Year
2025
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2025
Programme

Helpless in the face of a repressive state, a young couple leaves their home — an escape that turns into a surreal nightmare.

Director
Natalia Mirzoyan
Runtime
Language
Subtitles

Idyll

Local title
Idüll
Director
Rao Heidmets
Country
Year
2025
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2025
Programme

War must be fought long before it reaches your backyard. And once he's there,
pulling the curtains won't help anymore.

Director
Rao Heidmets
Runtime
Language