Love in action !

Welcome to the Zariya Foundation’s Short Film Competition,
a journey through the lens of compassion within the heart of Switzerland.

Love in action !

Your imagination is set to no limits except your own creative thinking!

Be creative and send us your short film! If you could, what would you do for your friends, family, teachers or boss? Or the tram driver?

Or do you know someone in your neighbourhood who is changing things or doing something good for someone and would like to tell us about it?

Surprise us with your idea, make your own film and win a prize!

This call to action is directed towards young visionaries aged 12 to 16 and 17 to 25, residing in Switzerland, urging them to capture the essence of “Love in Action” — the tangible expressions of compassion through individuals or groups making simple, impactful, positive changes in those around them.

Kicking off on March 12, 2025, with a submission deadline of June 30th, 2025, entrants are invited to craft short films of up to 5 minutes. The competition encourages participants to delve deep into the heart of compassion, exploring how simple acts of kindness can profoundly alter and uplift the human spirit.

In celebration of these heartfelt narratives, the competition offers a grand prize of CHF 1’000 for the 1st place and CHF 500 for the 2nd place for each age category.

Film workshop with Filmkids

You don’t have an idea yet or don’t know how to realize your idea? Then attend the Filmkids online kick-off workshop on May 3, 2025, from 10 AM – 4 PM (online, with a long lunch break).

All participants of the workshop will automatically be entered into the prize draw for two Samsung Galaxy S24 FE smartphones, generously offered by Swisscom (Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – Smartphones | Swisscom).

In this online workshop, you will receive an introduction to storytelling and filmmaking. Whether you just have an idea, are still thinking about it, or already have a clear story in mind – in this workshop, we will show you how to develop a compelling film story and bring it to life. A professional filmmaker will answer all your questions. No previous experience is required. There will be one workshop in German, one in French, and one in Italian.

Registration for the online workshop with Filmkids.

Click here

Your challenge

Your challenge is to create a short film upto 5 minutes long, that encapsulates compassion’s essence. Whether through an individual’s story, a community effort, or an innovative project, your film should touch hearts and motivate others to act compassionately.

Entry Requirements

Age	12 – 16 years (cat 1) 17 – 25 years (cat 2)
Residency	Swiss residents only
Film Length	max 5 minutes
Call for entries start	12th March 2025
Closing date for entries	30 June 2025

Prizes to Ignite Your Passion

1st place	CHF 1’000
2nd place	CHF 500

Each category has a first and a second prize.

To further support the cause of compassion, we encourage filmmakers to share a portion of the prize with the film’s subject, where this depicts a real person.

Nominations

On August 22, 2025, the films up for nomination will be featured prominently on this site.

Premiere

All nominated films will be presented on September 5, 2025 as part of the Zariya Foundation’s traditional event, the “United Nations Charity Day”, in memory of Mother Teresa at the Razzia Restaurant in Zurich. The audience will decide the winners there.

Submission Guidelines

To submit your film, please adhere to the following guidelines:

Films must be submitted in digital format on the Vimeo platform and a copy also sent to shortfilm@zariyafoundation.org
Ensure your film is maximum 5 minutes long.
Include a brief description of your film and how it represents or inspires compassion

Contact and Submission

Ready to showcase your vision of compassion? Submit your film in the digital format on the Vimeo platform and also send to shortfilm@zariyafoundation.org. If you have any inquiries or need further information, please get in touch with us via this email. The Zariya Foundation is here to support your creative journey every step of the way. Let your voice be heard, your creativity shine, and your compassion spread. We look forward to your powerful stories and their positive impact on our community and beyond.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SHORT INSPIRING FILMS WHICH FILL our lives WITH empathy, respect and love.