Shorts and the Estonian Animation Union are now members of the CEE Animation Network. In addition, UK animated films screened at the festival will be eligible for a BAFTA nomination.

The Central and Eastern European (CEE) Animation Network brings together regional activities to highlight and promote animation and animators in 17 Central and Eastern European countries.

The network aims to increase professional expertise, facilitate funding and co-production, showcase the talent of filmmakers and producers, and improve the content and visual side of projects. One of its main events is the CEE Animation Forum, which will take place in Pilsen, Czechia on 12-13 November.

This year, BAFTA qualification was extended to the PÖFF Shorts animation programme. UK-produced short animations screening in the Shorts competition are eligible for nomination for the British Short Animation Award, the next winner of which will be announced in 2025.

"We were already a BAFTA qualifying festival for short films and documentaries. However, other rules applied to animation, which the BAFTA organisers decided to change, so we applied and made the shortlist," explained Vassilis Kroustallis, head of programming for animation at PÖFF Shorts.

In addition to Shorts, BAFTA-qualifying festivals include the world's oldest animation festival Annecy, Tampere Film Festival, Fantoche, Animafest Zagreb.

This year's PÖFF Shorts short film and animation festival will take place from 8 to 20 November in Tallinn and Tartu. The first Shorts programmes will be announced in October.