Education With a Smile is a Finalist at the MY HERO International Film Festival

In Education With a Smile, animation filmmaker Gadi Kalihman explores the enduring bond between a father and daughter through a deeply personal journey of love, memory, and loss.

A father travels alone on a train through forests and open fields. As the landscape passes by, his imagination brings his daughter to life beside him, appearing like a bird and moving between dream and reality. Pairs of animals emerge throughout the journey, reflecting the connection between father and daughter. Shaped by longing, the imagined world offers fleeting moments of togetherness before fading as the train slows. Left alone once more, the father continues his journey, carrying his daughter's memory with him.

For Gadi, animation has become a way to express emotions that words cannot always convey. After working as a dentist for 35 years, his life changed profoundly when he lost his daughter in the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023. In her memory, he chose to continue her studies at Minshar School of Art and Animation, entering a creative world she had loved and discovering a new artistic path of his own.

The film forms part of this personal journey, exploring how art can offer a way to live with grief while keeping a loved one's presence alive. Through movement, colour and storytelling, Gadi reflects on the relationship between loss and love, and the possibility of finding a new purpose after unimaginable change.

Gadi Kalihman

“This film is part of that journey,” Gadi explains. “It is not only a creative act but a personal act of remembrance, resilience, and transformation. Through animation, I explore the emotional landscapes that shape us: grief, love, memory, and the quiet strength that emerges when life forces us to begin again. My goal is to create work that is honest, human, and connected to the experiences that define us. Animation allows me to express what cannot be said directly — to turn pain into movement, color, and story. This film is dedicated to the idea that art can hold what life breaks, and that creativity can continue a voice that was silenced too soon.”

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