Submission Rules

Dates & Deadlines

  • Opening Date:November 1, 2025
  • Early Bird Deadline:February 1, 2026
  • Regular Deadline:April 1, 2026
  • Late Deadline:June 1, 2026
  • Notification Date:August 1, 2026
  • Festival Night:TBC - September 2026

Regulations

  • Budget max: 100,000 EUR/USD
  • Produced within last 5 years (since 2021)
  • English subtitles required if non-English
  • Max length: 20 minutes
  • All rights must be cleared

Submission Process

To submit a film to the Zero To Hero Short Film Festival, you must fill out an entry form on FilmFreeway. The entry form will ask for basic information about the film, including the title, director’s name, runtime, and a brief synopsis. You will also need to provide a digital copy of the film by providing a link to the online screener on FilmFreeway.

Submit via FilmFreeway

Terms & Conditions

There are no limits to the number of films that a producer or filmmaker may register. There are no restrictions on genre or subject matter, and films from any country are welcome to submit.

You grant Zero To Hero Short Film Festival the right to use clips or images from your film and/or press kit for promotional purposes. Films and scripts will be judged on creativity, storytelling, technical quality, originality, and impact. We are particularly interested in works that push artistic boundaries or offer new perspectives. The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

We cannot provide refunds. By submitting to us you agree to our terms and conditions.