Short films that win the top prize at South Korea's Bucheon International Animation Festival will be nominated for the American Oscars from next year.
 
The festival's organizing committee said Saturday that BIAF has been officially designated as an international film fest by the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
 
The organization hosts the esteemed Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, every March.
 
The Academy counts some 6,000 directors, actors and producers worldwide as its members.
 
The Bucheon festival is the first film gala in South Korea to be recognized as an official partner of the Academy.
 
With the recognition, the winning short film of BIAF is automatically nominated to compete in the short film animation category at the Academy Awards. 
 
BIAF can also use the Academy's logo and name. 
 
The 20th Bucheon festival next year is scheduled from October 19th to the 23rd.