20th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival Announces Presenters and Award Sponsors

CONTACT:                                                                                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEANNE MEYERS
Co-founder/Director
The MY HERO Project
[email protected] 

20TH ANNUAL MY HERO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PRESENTERS AND AWARD SPONSORS

JULY 21, 2024 - LAGUNA BEACH, CA - The MY HERO Project is gearing up for the 20th annual MY HERO International Film Festival. The festival is celebrating its 20th year of honoring filmmakers who shine a light on the heroes working to make the world a better place. Prizes are awarded to professional filmmakers and to students in Elementary, Middle-High School and College. There are also SPECIAL AWARDS with Cash Prizes. sponsored by presenters who are each heroes in their own right.

Dan Eldon Activist AwardMY HERO Kathy Eldon, founder of Creative Visions Foundation, established the Dan Eldon Activist Award to honor the life and creative spirit of her son Dan Eldon, a photojournalist who was killed on assignment in Somalia. Each year Eldon and her daughter Amy Eldon Turteltaub present the award to the filmmaker who best uses media to effect positive change in the world. 

Kovic Peace PrizeMY HERO Ron Kovic  presents the annual Ron Kovic Peace Prize. to a filmmaker whose work honors the theme of peace. Kovic is a former United States Marine Corps sergeant, who became an anti-war activist after he was paralyzed in the Vietnam War. He told his story in the New York Times Bestselling book, and the Oscar-winning film, "Born on the Fourth of July."  

WTM AwardMY HERO Eva Haller, Holocaust survivor, mentor and philanthropist presents the annual Eva Haller Women Transforming Media Award recognizes outstanding short films that feature stories about women. The award comes with cash prizes of up to $2,500. 

Sing for HopeMY HERO Eva Haller and the nonprofit Guitars in the Classroom sponsor the annual Sing for Hope Music Video Award to support the arts in creating a better world. Eva Haller is a supporter, and board member of Guitars in The Classroom  and The MY HERO Project. This award comes with cash prizes up to $2,000.

Relationships First AwardMY HERO The Foundation for the Contemporary Family presents the Relationships First Award, which honors filmmakers whose innovative, short films portray the powerful and poignant connections in any type of contemporary family relationship. The award comes with cash prizes of up to $2,000.

'WOJ'MY HERO Esther Wojcicki, esteemed media arts educator, author and reporter, sponsors The 'WOJ' Youth Reporter Award. The annual award celebrates youth reporters whose videos show heroes making a positive difference in their community and the world. The prize is open for Middle and High School Students, with cash prizes of up to $2,000.

Earle AwardMY HERO The Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award goes to a filmmaker whose work celebrates those working to help and protect the world's oceans. The annual award is sponsored by the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation's One World One Ocean Campaign to honor the work of renowned oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle. Earle is an author, lecturer and research scientist who has led more than 70 expeditions and has logged more than 6,500 hours underwater. Earle, the former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is currently a National Geographic explorer-in-residence. The award comes with up to $2,000 in cash prizes. Winners are announced on June 8th — World Oceans Day.

Other awards include:

Mattie Stepanek Poetic Film PrizeMY HEROThe Mattie Stepanek Poetic Film Prize honors filmmakers who share messages of hope and peace through their visual poems. Jeni Stepanek offers this prize in honor of her son, Mattie, who in his brief life touched the hearts of thousands with his messages of hope and peace through original poetry.

Immersive Storytelling AwardMY HEROThe Immersive Storytelling Award goes to a storyteller whose innovative Virtual Reality content features stories that promote creativity, engagement, activism and social good.

The 20th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival Awards Ceremony takes place
on Saturday, November 16th, 2024, at the Ann & Jerry Moss Theater
at New Roads School, in Santa Monica.