Official 2026 Winners & Selection

Zero To Hero Winners

Celebrating extraordinary storytelling, exceptional filmmaking talent, and passion over budget.

Festival Grand Winner
The Screenwriter
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Best Hero Short Film (Overall Winner)

The Screenwriter

Directed by Mark Petrasso

Winner of the highest honor at the 2026 Zero To Hero Short Film Festival. Honored for exemplary storytelling, vision, and artistic excellence.

2026 Category Winners

Dominion - Best Local Hero Short Film
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Best Local Hero Short Film

Dominion

by Bradley Spiteri, Liam Spiteri

40 Seconds - Best No Budget Short Film
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Best No Budget Short Film

40 Seconds

by Alexandru Dan Albulescu

A Puppet for Any Occasion - Best Micro Budget Short Film
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Best Micro Budget Short Film

A Puppet for Any Occasion

by Trent Cliffe, Dominic Mulligan

Buttercream - Best Low Budget Short Film
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Best Low Budget Short Film

Buttercream

by Lauren Bennett, Ruby Busuttil

Bubbles - Best Drama Short
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Best Drama Short

Bubbles

by Meri Dishnica

Dancing in the Stars - Best Drama Short
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Best Drama Short

Dancing in the Stars

by Lazar Jovanović

The Screenwriter - Best Comedy Short
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Best Comedy Short

The Screenwriter

by Mark Petrasso

Holzläufer - Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short
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Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short

Holzläufer

by Philipp Krautschick

The Archivist - Best Animated Short
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Best Animated Short

The Archivist

by Antonio Sergio Spagnol

Flesheater - Best Horror Short
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Best Horror Short

Flesheater

by Luca Maxia

2026 Official Selection Finalists

Celebrating the outstanding official selection finalist short films of the 2026 Zero To Hero Short Film Festival.

A Good Man
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A Good Man

Official Finalist

Acceleration
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Acceleration

Official Finalist

Chuño y Mote
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Chuño y Mote

Official Finalist

Ego
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Ego

Official Finalist

Gan Canny
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Gan Canny

Official Finalist

Geryon
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Geryon

Official Finalist

I Am Tejimola
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I Am Tejimola

Official Finalist

Love Struck
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Love Struck

Official Finalist

Outside
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Outside

Official Finalist

Quarter
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Quarter

Official Finalist

Romance AnĂłnimo
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Romance AnĂłnimo

Official Finalist

Summer's Gone
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Summer's Gone

Official Finalist

Tomahawk Hollder
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Tomahawk Hollder

Official Finalist

Why Did You Come Back Every Summer
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Why Did You Come Back Every Summer

Official Finalist

Wild Lands
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Wild Lands

Official Finalist