The first edition has concluded. The second edition will open in November.

Passionate filmmakers can tell compelling stories with little to no budget. We celebrate their work and their vision.

  • Three men wearing matching black T-shirts with the words 'Zero to Hero Short Film Festival' pose in front of a yellow banner that reads 'Zero to Hero Short Film Festival' and a message about celebrating filmmakers. One man kneels in front making rock hand gestures, while the other two stand with their arms crossed or relaxed.
  • A black and white photograph of a young boy with short dark hair, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books, with subtitles reading: "You are not Turkey. You come from Turkey or you are Turkish."
  • A scene from a movie shows a shirtless man with dreadlocks looking surprised or confused, with trees and sunlight in the background.
  • Group of people standing and talking in a lobby area with a yellow banner for Zero to Hero Short Film Festival in the foreground.
  • A young man with light brown hair and a beard dressed in a red uniform with gold buttons and trim, wearing a red hat with gold trim, standing against a dark red background.
  • Black T-shirt with text promoting the Zero to Hero Short Film Festival.
  • Digital illustration of a girl with blonde hair, wearing a red shirt and blue overalls, standing in front of a house with blue shutters, a porch, and a garden with trees.

The Zero To Hero Short Film Festival will be back in 2026

Submissions to open on
November 1st 2025

This festival is dedicated to showcasing low-budget short films from all over the world.

It's a platform for dreamers who may not have access to vast resources but still possess powerful stories to tell. We believe in recognizing those diamonds in the rough, those filmmakers with immense talent and passion.

Welcome to the Zero to Hero Short Film Festival!

The Hero Trophy

A trophy is awarded to EACH winner in any of the categories. We believe that filmmakers should be recognized with an actual trophy and not just laurels or certificates.

The categories are:

  • BEST HERO SHORT FILM (best overall)

  • BEST LOCAL HERO SHORT FILM (for filmmakers based in Malta)

  • BEST NO BUDGET SHORT FILM (done for less than 1,000 EUR/USD)

  • BEST MICRO BUDGET SHORT FILM (done for 1,000 to 10,000 EUR/USD)

  • BEST LOW BUDGET SHORT FILM (done for 10,000 to 100,000 EUR/USD)

  • BEST COMEDY SHORT

  • BEST DRAMA SHORT

  • BEST FANTASY SHORT

  • BEST ANIMATION SHORT

  • BEST HORROR SHORT

SUBMISSION RULES
Award plaque for Zero to Hero Short Film Festival 2025, recognizing Laura Living Backwards as Best Hero Short Film winner.

The Venue

People sitting in a movie theater with dark walls and seats arranged in tiers, some interacting and some using their phones.

The winning movies will be screened at the Embassy Cinema in Valletta, the capital of Malta, Europe.

Sign for Embassy Cinemas with a popcorn bucket icon to the left of the text.