Held in collaboration with the Malta Film Foundation and the VET & STEM Programmes Directorate within the Ministry for Education, Malta Youth Film Festival (MYFF) and the fifth edition of the Jumpstart Film Festival have a shared mission in fostering and nurturing creative expression and build confidence, while acting as a launchpad for tomorrow’s filmmakers and storytellers.

The MYFF is aimed towards young creatives aged 16 to 30 and is now open for submissions through youth.gov.mt. Potential participants can submit short films up to 10 minutes long and have a chance at winning €600 for Best Film. Submissions will stay open until 4th May 2026.

On the other hand, the Jumpstart Film Festival is open to secondary school students and gives young people the opportunity to experiment with the technical and artistic sides of film. Submissions are open until 3rd December 2025 (next week!), with a dedicated Showcase Event happening next year, on 25th March 2026. During this event, trophies and €300 worth of equipment will be awarded to the winning school, while the Best Film will go on to be screened during MYFF 2026.

Joyce Grech from the Malta Film Foundation emphasised the importance of these festivals, saying: 'The MYFF and Jumpstart didn’t exist ten years ago – today they stand as proof of how much talent and vision Maltese youth possess. We are proud to see young people grow in this sector and proud to be part of the step that leads them into a creative career.'

Past participants echo this sentiment. Jumpstart alumnus Enrique Camilleri shared how the festival gave him the confidence to pursue storytelling for the first time. 'Jumpstart gave me the courage to believe I was capable. From an idea in a classroom to my first short film, the festival gave me that push,' he said. 

MYFF alum Daniel Mallia described the festival as his creative starting point. 'I learned to work as part of a team, to think with vision, and to tell stories that move people. This platform doesn’t only offer awards, it gives life to dreamers,' he shared. 

It is clear that together these festivals have inspired a plethora of young people to pursue further studies or creative work, nurturing Malta’s next generation of filmmakers by giving them support, visibility, and community.

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