18 Months is a Finalist at the 2026 MY HERO Film Festival

CONTACT:                                                                                                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abigail Richardson
Editor
The MY HERO Project
[email protected]

October 28, 2026

“18 Months” – A Different Journey to Becoming a Family

Brazilian directing duo Paulo Garcia and Natália Gouvea explore love, adoption and the meaning of family in their award-winning animated short film, 18 Months, a finalist at the MY HERO International Film Festival.

What makes a family? In 18 Months, directors Paulo Garcia and Natália Gouvea tell a true story that challenges traditional ideas about parenthood and celebrates the unexpected ways families come together.

When Danny and Pete discover a newborn baby in a subway station, their lives change forever. Their journey to adopt him unfolds in a way that mirrors the stages of pregnancy, drawing parallels between the physical experience of carrying a child and the emotional journey of becoming parents.

Through this inventive approach to storytelling, 18 Months explores the love, commitment and determination involved in building a family. It challenges the idea that parenthood must follow a conventional path, showing that becoming a family does not always take a man, a woman and nine months.

The film offers a fresh perspective on adoption and the many different forms a family can take, reminding audiences that what matters most is the love and care that bring people together.

About the Directors

Paulo Garcia and Natália Gouvea

Paulo Garcia and Natália Gouvea de Oliveira are Brazilian directors and producers who have collaborated on short films for more than a decade. Their work combines emotionally driven storytelling with a distinctive visual style, earning recognition across the international animation and film industries.

Their films have been officially selected for and received awards at major animation festivals, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Animayo and the Quirino Awards.

18 Months, won the Grand Prize at Animayo 2026 and the Jury Award at SIGGRAPH 2026, qualifying it for Academy Award consideration.

Originally from Brazil and now based in Portugal, Paulo and Natália work internationally, with a strong presence across Europe and the United States. Their films combine cinematic ambition with handcrafted artistry, using innovative visual storytelling to explore deeply human experiences.

Find out more: https://18monthsfilm.com/, 

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/18monthsfilm/

About MY HERO International Film Festival

Now in its 22nd year, the MY HERO International Film Festival continues to celebrate both unsung and well-known heroes whose stories of resilience and hope inspire a global learning community. This unique festival unites professional and youth filmmakers who use their craft to drive positive change in the world.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, prizes are awarded across multiple categories—including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more - recognizing outstanding work from elementary, middle school, high school, college, and professional filmmakers.

To view all of the 2025 award-winning films, go to: /films/winners2025

For more details about MY HERO's International Film Festival, please visit: myhero.com/FilmFestival