2009 International Film Festival Winners

VIEW WINNING FILMS FROM THE MY HERO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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2009 WINNERS!

Best of Fest
Best of Fest	HOME is where you find it (Excerpt) Produced by Director - Alcides Soares / Producer - Neal Baer A sixteen year old AIDS orphan directs a documentary about finding a new family in Maputo, Mozambique. Large (32 MB) - 5 Minutes
Professional
	Biblioburro: The Donkey Library Produced by Valentina Canavesio Luis Soriano, a teacher in the small town of La Gloria, Colombia, travels on the back of his donkey, bringing with him books for children of the rural communities... Large (40 MB) - 5 Minutes
2nd Place	Global Focus V - Equador Produced by Will Parrinello - Producer /John Antonelli - Director A few brave men fight to protect the beauty of the Equadorian Rainforest and the lives of the people who live there. Large (30 MB) - 5 Minutes
2nd Place	Global Focus: The Rossport Five Produced by Will Parrinello - Producer / John Antonelli - Director A passionate group of people take on a corporate giant and win a crucial environmental battle. Large (20 MB) - 5 Minutes
3rd Place	Soft Power Health Produced by Polly Green Dr. Jessie Stone works tirelessly for health care in impoverished areas. Large (26 MB) - 5 Minutes
Excerpt
1st Place	The Philosopher Kings (excerpt) Produced by Patrick Shen and Greg Bennick Wisdom is found in the most unlikely places. This is a trailer from the feature-length film, "The Philosopher Kings." VIEW (23.3 MB) - 3.5 Minutes
2nd Place	NOBELITY: Wangari Maathai (excerpt) Produced by Turk Pipkin An Excerpt from the Feature Doc "Nobelity" produced by Turk Pipkin. Large (30 MB) - 7 Minutes
3rd Place	The Cove: Ric O'Barry (excerpt) Produced by Louie Psihoyos An extraordinary look at animal activist Ric O'Barry (from the feature documentary The Cove). Large (15 MB) - 2 Minutes
Narrative
1st Place	The Boy at the Signal Produced by Pramod Pathak A boy in need wins the heart of a woman passing by. Large (30 MB) - 6 Minutes
2nd Place	Raspberries Produced by Morgan Davidsen Two boys hopes are realized by the kindness of a lady. Large (40 MB) - 7 Minutes
3rd Place	Peace it Together: Checkpoint of Humanity Produced by Tamir Asseoulin, Owen Quanstrom, Chloe Clarkson, Zain Masri A tense standoff becomes an exercise in compassion. Large (22.8 MB) - 4 Minutes
Community
1st Place	Teaching to Live Produced by Andre Guttfreund A teacher hero trains children to be self-sufficient environmentalists. Large (38 MB) - 10 Minutes
2nd Place	See, Listen, Speak: Ngarrindjeri's being heard Produced by Carl Kuddell This powerful documentary presents the real impact the water crisis is having on the Coorong and its people. Large (34 MB) - 6 Minutes
3rd Place	Iqra - Read (A Prayer for the Girls of Afghanistan and Pakistan) Produced by Fauzia Minallah This film promotes the education of the girl child in Afghanistan and Pakistan through Mural Art. VIEW (30 MB) - 4 Minutes
Honorable Mention	THIAM BB Produced by Adam Sie A Holy Man in Senegal is honored by many. Large (30 MB)
Animation
1st Place	NEW YORK SKY Produced by Vlash Droboniku A touching animation following the wife of a firefighter during 911. Large (50 MB) - 8 Minutes
2nd Place	Peace it Together: Freedom Produced by Illy Auerbach, Mohammed Qassas, Jeremy Izso A meditation on the meaning of freedom. Large (21.2 MB) - 2.5 Minutes
3rd Place	Dorme Produced by Sylvia Binsfeld A welcome relief to a busy fast-paced life - a dream of transformation and unrestricted imagination. Large (30 MB) - 6 Minutes
3rd Place	Peace it Together: Listen to This Produced by Itay Sasson, Jennifer Sarkar, Gilli Tohar, and Mirna Yacoub Abu Abara Two musicians literally break down barriers. Large (20.2 MB) - 2.5 Minutes
Elementary School
1st Place	Ruth Foster Produced by Miranda Andersen 4th Grader Miranda is inspired by her environmental hero Ruth Foster. Large (30 MB) - 5 Minutes
2nd Place	Imagine Peace Produced by Mali Bickley & The Dreamteam A collection of art and prose from children of the world who imagine peace. Large (30 MB) - 4 Minutes
3rd Place	Prometheus Produced by Mr. Gozonsky's 4th Grade Class An extremely creative and fun look at the old myth. Large (17 MB) - 3 Minutes
3rd Place	Commit to our Earth Produced by The Dream Team Fifth graders commit to helping the environment. Large (23.3 MB) - 3 Minutes
Honorable Mention	FIN DONNELLY Produced by Sarah Mueckel The story of Fin Donnelly's journey down the Fraser River. Large (30 MB) - 5 Minutes
Middle School
1st Place	SPEAK Produced by Nathan Kress A middle school-er wanted to know "What would you say to the world?" Large (30 MB) - 5 Minutes
2nd Place	Forgotten - Fred's Van Produced by Jessica, Matilda, Mickayla, and Sarah of Hackham East Primary School Fred's Van keeps hope alive for a transient community. Large (20 MB) - 3 Minutes
3rd Place	Saviour of the Seas Produced by Suriah Fishburn Bungey, Ashleigh Tardivo, Jessica Judd-Ireland Aaron Machado rescues sea animals in danger. Large (24.5 MB) - 4 Minutes
Honorable Mention	Laguna Beach Animal Shelter Produced by Keynon Ford and Haley Castuera Caring for animals in need is truly heroic. Large (30 MB) - 3 Minutes
High School
1st Place	Have a Home Run Day Produced by John Barrett & Austin Dodge Skipper is a true hometown hero who inspires everyone he meets with his sense of joy. Large (23.2 MB) - 3:22 Minutes
2nd Place	The Man Behind the Curtains Produced by Jason Li, Jordan Glenn, & Sterling Phillips This film highlights the great work of Laguna's amazing Drama teacher, Mark Dressler a hero to many. Large (35.5 MB) - 5:34 Minutes
2nd Place	A Voice in Copenhagen Produced by SLATER Jewell-Kemker Slater passionately protests the absence of a voice for youth representation at the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Large (13 MB) - 2 Minutes
3rd Place	Capootnutz Produced by Nicholas LaBarbera Max is remembered for his joyful spirit, love of fun, and awesome positive attitude in life. Large (21.8 MB) - 3:02 Minutes
Honorable Mention	The Experience of War Produced by Dylan Griffith and Gerardo Rodriguez An exploration of the impact of war. Large (26 MB) - 5 Minutes
Honorable Mention	Saviors of the Sea Produced by Jack Pillsbury Kirestin Sedlick tells LBHS students all about the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Large (26.4MB) - 3:38 Minutes
Enthusiast
1st Place	Mother Porridge Produced by Fary Sakho MAIMOUNA FALL is known as Mother Porridge in her village in Senegal. Large (38 MB) - 6 Minutes
2nd Place	Wet Feet Produced by Cheikh Seck A cry for help in Senegal! Large (30 MB) - 9 Minutes
3rd Place	Ground Pressure Produced by Andrew Loos and Michael Shaw A champion sumo wrestler challenges himself to run the LA marathon. Large (43.7 MB) - 10 Minutes

	Imagine Peace Produced by Mali Bickley & The Dreamteam A collection of art and prose from children of the world who imagine peace. Large (30 MB) - 4 Minutes
Peace Awards
	Peace it Together: Freedom Illy Auerbach, Mohammed Qassas, Jeremy Izso A meditation on the meaning of freedom. Large (30 MB) - 4 Minutes
	Everest: A Climb for Peace (excerpt) Lance Trumbull This film chronicles the spectacular journey of 9 'peace climbers' from different faiths and cultures as they climb to the summit of the tallest mountain in the world. Large (30 MB) - 4 Minutes

	HOME is where you find it (Excerpt) Produced by Director - Alcides Soares / Producer - Neal Baer A sixteen year old AIDS orphan directs a documentary about finding a new family in Maputo, Mozambique. Watch Watch the Intro to the Dan Eldon Activist Award
Activist Awards
	Sarah Elliot Produced by Meyers & Mendoza Laguna Beach native Sarah Elliot journeys to Africa working as a photojournalist in remote regions. View the Film
	Jesse Stone Produced by Polly Green Dr. Jessie Stone works tirelessly for health care in impoverished areas. View the Film
	Rossport 5 Will Parrinello - Producer / John Antonelli - Director A passionate group of people take on a corporate giant and win a crucial environmental battle. View the Film
	Pablo and Luis Will Parrinello - Producer / John Antonelli - Director A few brave men fight to protect the beauty of the Equadorian Rainforest and the lives of the people who live there. View the Film
	Ric O'Barry Produced by Louis Psihoyos An extraordinary look at animal activist Ric O'Barry (from the feature documentary The Cove). View the Film
	Fauzia Minallah Produced by Fauzia Minallah This film promotes the education of the girl child in Afghanistan and Pakistan through Mural Art. View the Film
Special Hero Awards
	Dave Courchene, Jr. Produced by Adriana Capozzi Dave Courchene, Jr. is a hero who helps preserve traditions. View the Film
	Deborah Ann Light Produced by Alec Hirschfeld Deborah Ann Light donated her land to a wonderful cause. View the Film
	Mark Dressler Produced by Jason Li, Jordan Glenn, & Sterling Phillips Mark Dressler inspires his students every day. View the Film
	Fin Donnelly Produced by Sarah Mueckel Deborah Ann Light donated her land to a wonderful cause. View the Film
	The Volunteers of Fred's Van Produced by Jessica, Matilda, Mickayla, and Sarah of Hackham East Primary School The volunteers of Fred's Van work to help the less fortunate. View the Film
	The Kageno Organization Produced by Justin Noto The Kageno Organization works to help underprivileged communities. View the Film
	Ralina Miller Produced by Timothy B. McCormack and Rohit Agarwal Ralina Miller's courage inspires others. View the Film
	Tom Trevorrow Produced by Carl Kudell Tom Trevorrow is a true community leader. View the Film
	Cheikh Darou Seck - Global Educator Produced by MY HERO Cheikh Darou Seck is the 2009 winner of the MY HERO Global Educator Award. View the Film
	Mali Bickley - Teacher Hero Produced by MY HERO Mali Bickley is a Teacher Hero who was honored at the 2009 MY HERO Film Festival. View the Film
	Ed Gragert - Special Hero Award Produced by MY HERO Ed Gragert was honored at the 2009 MY HERO Film Festival with a Special Hero Award. View the Film