The Shorts Industry Shortcut (or SIS) is PÖFF Shorts’ industry arm, a stimulating, thought-provoking and inspiring guidance platform for emerging filmmakers.

Its events are conceived to further the careers of future generations of filmmakers and guide them on the short film circuit. They also follow current trends in (short) film, strengthen the ties between the Baltic and International short film communities and meet the needs of the global film industry.

The programme of the 2024 edition included a panel on a hot topic from the short film industry in collaboration with the Short Film Conference. This year’s topic revolves around the exhibition of short films in theatres, on television and streaming platforms with Sari Volanen from Yle, Amos Geva from T-Port and Alexandra Gramatke from the Hamburg Short Film Agency. This wass followed by a Festival Ecosystem 101 presentation to demystify the short film circuit in the presence of four short film industry movers and shakers, a speed-dating session between short film professionals and filmmakers in attendance and a Would you buy this? session with live feedback from shorts distributors and sales agents, moderated by Jing Haase from the Swedish Film Institute. The two-day industry events were rounded off with masterclasses by established filmmakers from both the animation and live-action branches.

PÖFF Shorts and SIS also has joined forces with Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event for “Go Long,” to nurture a select number of filmmakers whose shorts have screened in competition at PÖFF Shorts. Taking filmmakers at the beginning of their journey into the world of feature films, “Go Long” offers the participants advice on their ideas via informal networking with a panel of industry professionals. The participants will then be able to better negotiate the feature film world with invaluable tips and feedback to their feature proposals.

SIS is aimed at local, regional and international emerging filmmakers with 1 or 2 films under their belt and filmmakers with films in PÖFF Shorts’ Competition and sidebar programs, both in live action and animation, international short film programmers and industry professionals.