Call for Entries for the
RON KOVIC PEACE AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Wendy Milette
[email protected]
1278 Glenneyre, #286
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Call for Entries for the RON KOVIC PEACE AWARD

Los Angeles, CA – 8/22/11 – The MY HERO Project is accepting submissions for the Ron Kovic Peace Award, which will be presented at the 2011 MY HERO International Short Film Festival. The Peace Award, which includes a $1,000 cash prize, will go to the short film that best deals with the issue of peace.

Ron Kovic has been an accomplished author, painter, and peace activist for more than 40 years. A former Marine sergeant, Kovic volunteered for two tours of duty in the Vietnam War, during which he suffered injuries that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Kovic shared his experiences in the memoir Born on the 4th of July, which later became an Academy Award-winning film. Kovic’s tireless efforts to end war are chronicled on the MY HERO website (http://myhero.com/ronkovic).

Kovic has since become a prominent spokesperson for peace, addressing the Democratic National Convention in 1976, speaking at the Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony in 2009, and taking part in last year’s Council for Dignity, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation in Rome. When asked why he gives the MY HERO Ron Kovic Peace Award, Kovic responded:

"I want to contribute something to filmmakers who are courageous enough to make films that make a difference and begin to move people away from war and violence to a more peaceful and cooperative way of dealing. It's a way of saying 'Thank you. Thank you for trying to make a difference in this world... for teaching us and reminding us that we can become better human beings...learn from our mistakes... forgive ourselves and move on to a better place, all of us together.' " The festival is part of The MY HERO Project, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that celebrates the best of humanity through its website (www.myhero.com), visited by millions of people around the world. The winning films can be viewed online at www.myhero.com/winners. (www.myhero.com)

Last year’s winner was Let Them Bloom by Fauzia Minallah, founder of the Funkor Child Art Center, which promotes art and literacy in Pakistan. Minallah’s film tells the story of a peace mural, created by children from a refugee camp.

The deadline for entries is September 1, 2011. Mr. Kovic will personally present the award at The MY HERO Film Festival Awards Ceremony, on December 3rd, at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. For more information on the Ron Kovic Peace Prize, please visit the MY HERO web site: (http://myhero.com/ronkovic).