Love in Action!

Welcome to the Zariya Foundation's short film competition.
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Love in Action!

How would you like to make the world a little brighter?

What does "Love in Action" mean to you?

Grab a camera – whether it's your smartphone or professional gear – and shoot your own short film (max. 5 minutes). Whether you're flying solo, with a friend, or as a team: anything is possible.
Your story is what really matters, not the technical stuff. Tell a real, emotional, inspiring, surprising, or even funny story.
Show how small gestures can strengthen our community and make a big difference – through compassion, good deeds, joy, humor, and humanity.
Sign up now and grab a free spot in the film workshop! There you'll learn everything you need to turn your idea into your very own short film – and have tons of fun making movies!

This invitation is for young visionaries aged 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 living in Switzerland, challenging them to capture the essence of compassion – 'Love in Action' – through film. Whether you're working alone or in a group, your short film can spark simple, positive changes in your community – and in our world.

From January 15, 2026, until Friday, August 14, 2026, participants can submit short films up to 5 minutes long. The competition encourages everyone to explore how simple acts of kindness can make a big difference.

The competition offers a grand prize of CHF 1,000 for first place and CHF 500 second place in each age category.

Free film workshop

With filmdkids.ch

Once you register for the film competition, you will be invited to one of the two filmkids.ch workshops in Zurich supported by Coop.

Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM,
or
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM

In this workshop, you'll get an introduction to storytelling and filmmaking. No matter if you just have an idea, are still thinking about it, or already have a clear story in mind – in this workshop, we'll show you practical ways to develop a captivating film story and bring it to life. A professional filmmaker will lead the workshop and answer all your questions. No prior experience is needed.

Seize this opportunity and register now for the competition to take part in the workshop!

If you would like to participate in one of the filmkids.ch workshops but do not speak German, please contact us at info@loveaction.ch.

Register here for the short film competition and a workshop with filmkids.ch.

More information about filmkids

A documentary film

On Coop's "Day of Good Deeds"?

Would you like to film a specific project on Saturday, May 30, 2026?

When you register for the film contest, you can indicate your interest in filming on that day, and we'll send you more information.

FILM OPPORTUNITY: “DAY OF GOOD DEEDS – ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”

Watch the video now

Your Challenge

Your task is to create a short film, up to 5 minutes long, that perfectly captures the essence of compassion. Whether it's the story of an individual, a community action, or an innovative project, your film should touch hearts and inspire others to act with compassion.

Eligibility

Age	12–17 years (Cat. 1) 18–25 years (Cat. 2)
Residency	Only for people living in Switzerland
Film Length	Up to 5 minutes
Film Genre	All short film genres are welcome (fiction, documentary, animation, etc.)
Start	Call for entries begins January 15, 2026
Submission Deadline	Friday, August 14, 2026

Prizes that boost your motivation

1st Place	CHF 1,000
2nd Place	CHF 500

There's a first and second prize in each category.

Media and Online Presence: The winning films, their filmmakers, and their themes will be presented to the media and on social media after the awards ceremony.

To further support the theme of compassion, we encourage filmmakers to share a portion of their prize with the person featured in the film, if it's a real person.

Nominations

On Friday, August 28, 2026, the nominated films will be announced. All participants will get an email that day. The two best nominated films from each age category will be invited to the premiere on September 5, 2026, at Restaurant Razzia, Zurich. If your film is nominated, please save this evening in advance!

The winning films and all nominated films will be featured on the website www.loveaction.ch/filme under 'BEST OF 2026'.

Premiere

The two best nominated films will be premiered on September 5, 2026, at the Zariya Foundation's traditional event, the "United Nations International Charity Day," in memory of Mother Teresa at the Razzia restaurant in Zurich . The audience there will award prizes to the winning films.

Submission Guidelines

To submit your film, please make sure to follow these guidelines:

Films must be submitted by August 14, 2026, at the latest (see checklist). Register here to submit a film.

Got Questions? Get in Touch!

If you have any questions or need more info, just drop us an email! The Love in Action team is here to help you out on your creative journey, every step of the way.

info@loveaction.ch

Let your imagination run wild – get creative and send us your short film about 'Love in Action'.