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

  • A bearded man wearing a hat and dark jacket looks intently at a woman with curly hair, whose face is not visible.
  • Three children and a woman with a headscarf standing outdoors on rocky terrain engaged in conversation, with serious expressions.
  • A woman with dark curly hair partially covered by a black lace shawl, looking to her right with a serious expression inside a room with white walls.
  • A woman with blonde hair and colorful face paint, singing or shouting, outdoors among tree branches with a flowing white fabric or material around her.
  • A young boy with his eyes closed, standing against a rough brick wall, with hands pressed together in a prayer gesture.
  • Person standing in front of a vintage Toyota car on a narrow, rocky street between stone walls.
  • Close-up of a person with black nail polish holding a pine cone, with black face paint or markings on their face and arm, outdoors with dirt ground
  • Silhouette of a person wearing a hoodie and face mask standing in a dark, wooded area at dusk.
  • Man reading a book at a desk in a dimly lit room, with a desk lamp illuminating the area and scattered jewelry and books on the table.

“This festival is dedicated to showcasing low-budget short films. 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 Maltese filmmakers)

  • BEST NO BUDGET SHORT FILM (done for 0 to 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 DOCUMENTARY SHORT

  • BEST COMEDY SHORT

  • BEST DRAMA SHORT

  • BEST FANTASY SHORT

  • BEST ANIMATION SHORT

  • BEST HORROR SHORT

Yellow sign with black text promoting the 'Zero to Hero Short Film Festival' and describing it as the 'Best Low Budget Movie'.

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

Movie theater with rows of tan and beige seats facing a large projection screen in a dimly lit room with black walls and ceiling

The Venue

CURRENT EDITION

Submission Deadline
June 1st 2025
(Closed)

Screening Date
September 2025
Valletta, Malta