2024 DAN ELDON ACTIVIST AWARD WINNERS NAMED

MHIFFMY HERO 

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CONTACT:                                               
Wendy Milette
Director The MY HERO International Film Festival
[email protected]

WINNERS NAMED IN 2024 DAN ELDON ACTIVIST AWARDS

NOVEMBER 12, 2024– LAGUNA BEACH, CA - The 20^th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival is proud to present the 2024 Dan Eldon Activist Awards Winners. Dan Eldon was a fearless activist, artist, and photojournalist who dedicated his life to telling the untold stories and helping those in need. His work appeared in art journals and exhibitions, inspiring countless individuals globally. In his honor, Kathy Eldon of the Creative Visions Foundation established this award to celebrate Dan’s legacy and creative spirit. 

Each year, Kathy Eldon and Dan's sister Amy Eldon Turteltaub present the Dan Eldon Activist Award to the filmmaker who best uses their craft to celebrate activists who create change in the world. This year, there are 2 winners:

When The Devil Smoked in Paradise

When the Devil Smoked in ParadiseScreenshot from film 

When The Devil Smoked in Paradise is directed by Katherine Liao, a junior high school student, filmmaker, and activist who is passionate about fighting injustice. The film, a short documentary, details a grassroots campaign by residents from Liao’s hometown, Irvine in central Orange County, against All American Asphalt’s large plant in the center of the city, which was emitting dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere. The film has won a Dan Eldon Award, a WOJ Youth Reporter Award, BEST of FEST, and the High School Documentary category at the 2024 MY HERO International Film Festival!

Said Katherine: “This film shows the power within every single human to do good. We harbor misconceptions that heroes must be iconic historical figures, but we can do more good than we think.”

Katherine became involved in the campaign against the Irvine AAA plant in 2021 and was inspired by the courage and dedication of the people around her fighting for change. “They all had families and kids,” she explained to MY HERO, “just like the rest of us. Yet, they took courageous actions and sacrificed their time for something that seemed impossible at first. Their resilience and commitment were truly eye-opening for me.”

Ambassadors of Hope

Ambassadors of Hopescreenshot from filmThe Trailer  Ambassadors of Hope directed by Cassidy Friedman and Amber Allen-Peirson has won a Dan Eldon Activist Award at the 20th MY HERO International Film Festival!  Said Wendy Milette, Film Festival Director: "This beautiful trailer highlights the remarkable heroism of Harambee Arts touching the lives of young people in Kenya."  

One of Harambee Arts’ most profound impacts can be seen in the Kibera slum, located in Nairobi, Kenya. Here, a group of local mentors holds space for children to express themselves through art, offering them a much-needed outlet in a world often fraught with struggle. Among these mentors is Samson, a young man who grew up in Kibera and deeply understands the harsh realities faced by the children he works with.

In the film, Ambassadors of Hope, Samson shares how art changed his life and how it now helps the children he mentors escape the harshness of their daily lives. His connection with these children is clearly personal, and his passion for art is palpable.

Said Cassidy: “Samson's greatness is an introverted, quiet version. What made him such an amazing hero to follow was also what made the filmmaking process with him tricky. He connects great one-on-one, you can feel his realness and genuine heartfeltness. He is not very loud, or gregarious, and he has a lot on his mind that was distracting him and we were filming in a classroom with 150 young people yelling, crying and talking over each other.”

To see the full film go to: Ambassadors of Hope Full Film - Password: Hope 

View all the Dan Eldon 2024 Finalists here

MY HERO Film Festival

MY HERO will be presenting the Awards at the 20th Anniversary MY HERO International Film Festival Awards Ceremony on November 16th, 2024 in Santa Monica at the Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, Ca. 90404.

Join MY HERO in celebrating 20 years of The MY HERO International Film Festival. Find out more here: festival-information

Schedule: 6:00 - 7:00 PM - Reception with live jazz - 7:00 - 9:00 PM - Film Festival Awards Ceremony Dessert reception to follow.

Reserve your tickets HERE: