
THE FESTIVAL
Heroes IFF is the independent festival dedicated to science fiction and fantasy feature and short films, horror and thriller, action, adventure, and transmedia. The festival involves great masters of cinematic and visual arts, young authors and independent productions, students from universities and international cinema and visual arts institutes in its various sections, with the aim of promoting and supporting the ideation, development, and production of genre films both in its competition-related activities and in its out-of-competition activities, of a cultural or promotional nature.
ORGANIZING ENTITY
Heroes IFF is an independent festival organized by the association "La Citta’ dell’Animazione e dei Contenuti Digitali" (the city of animation and digital content).
DATES AND VENUE
Heroes IFF will be held from 9th to 11th of December 2025, in Rome.
PROGRAM
The official program of the Heroes International Film Festival presents a competition section called Stories (short films in the science fiction or fantasy, horror, thriller, action, adventure, or transmedia genres), divided into two categories: International Short Films Competition, created by independent productions and authors of cinema and visual arts, and International Graduation Short Films Competition, created by students and graduates of international universities and academic institutions.
There is also a section called UNIVERSES with international genre works (feature films in the science fiction or fantasy, horror, thriller, action, adventure, or transmedia genres) that will award the Film of the Year prize.
Finally, the Storyworlds section presents screenings and retrospectives of great genre classics from both theatrical distribution and television and online broadcasting.
On the initiative of the artistic director, the activities of the Heroes Film School (masterclasses, international keynotes, and meetings for the public and industry professionals) are added, along with exhibitions (to be held in the physical space of the Heroes Exhibit Hall).
The jury will determine, from the entries received, the winning works of the International Short Films Competition and the international graduation short films competition categories. The jury will be composed of 4 members selected from international and national professionals of "genre" cinema (science fiction and fantasy, horror, thriller, action, adventure, and transmedia), critics, and journalists from the audiovisual sector, and it has the authority to award:
• The Best "Genre" Short Film Award for the International Short Films Competition Category;
• The Best "Genre" Short Film Award for the International Graduation Short Films Competition Category;
• The Film Of The Year award for the Universes Category.
The first-place winner of each category will receive a prize provided by the festival's technical sponsors. The jury also reserves the right to award special mentions. The artistic direction has the authority to award the "Heroes Special Prize" in each edition to national or international representatives of note in "genre" narratives in cinema or series.
By November 4th, 2025, an email will be sent to the proposers communicating the outcome of their application. The selection of the finalists will be announced by November 7th, 2025.