EVA HALLER TO HOST THE MY HERO PROJECT SCREENING AND AWARDS CEREMONY 12/13

CONTACT: Jeanne Meyers                                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Co-founder/Director
The MY HERO Project
[email protected]

NOVEMBER 4, 2025 — LAGUNA BEACH, CA

MY HERO invites you to join us for the 21st Annual MY HERO International Film Festival, a family-friendly celebration of creativity, courage, and compassion.

This year’s festival will be held virtually on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM (PST). There is no fee to attend, though donation-based reservations are gratefully accepted. Reservations are required — once you register, you’ll receive the Zoom link(s) to attend.

👉 To request an invitation, send your name and email address to [email protected]

The 2025 MY HERO International Film Festival Awards Ceremony will be hosted by Eva Haller during her renowned weekly salon. The virtual event will feature inspiring filmmakers and heroes from around the world, along with the presentation of several Special Awards.

All winning short films will also be available to stream on the MY HERO Project website beginning December 13th — perfect for sharing with family and friends this holiday season.

Event Details:
 Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM (PST)
Location: Via Zoom
RSVP: Register here

All are welcome! Join us in honoring the storytellers who are changing the world, one hero at a time.

The inspiring short films are about heroes — people making a positive difference in the world. Categories include Narrative, Documentary, Music video, Experimental, Animation, Trailer and Excerpt. Separate divisions honor Elementary, Middle School, High School, College and Professional filmmakers.

The Special Awards to be presented:

The WOJ Youth Reporter Award offers up to $2,000 in prize money and is presented by Esther Wojcicki, (WOJ) a legendary media arts educator, author, and journalist. This award encourages elementary, middle, high school, and college-age students to use their creativity and voice to highlight those working for positive change. 

The Dan Eldon Activist Award offers up to $1,500 in prize money to filmmakers whose works highlight the theme of activism. The award is sponsored by Kathy Eldon and Amy Eldon Turteltaub, of the Creative Visions Foundation and is named for Kathy’s late son Dan Eldon, a photojournalist who was killed on assignment in Somalia in 1993. 

The $1,000 Ron Kovic Peace Prize is awarded to a filmmaker whose work promotes peace. The winner is chosen by Ron Kovic, a U.S. Marine-turned-peace activist, artist and author of the New York Times bestseller Born on the Fourth of July, which became a major motion picture.

The Relationships First Award is given to a filmmaker whose work portrays the diversity and depth of today's modern familial relationships. The Foundation for the Contemporary Family offers a $2,000 cash prize for a short film that depicts the powerful connections present in any type of family.

The Eva Haller Women Transforming Media Award goes to a filmmaker who shows women making a positive difference in the world through their use of media. The $2,500 award is shared by two divisions —student and professional filmmakers. The award is sponsored by Eva Haller, a Holocaust survivor, philanthropist and mentor to many.

The Sing for Hope Music Video Award offers up to $2,000 in cash prizes and is sponsored by Sing for Hope Board member Eva Haller and co-sponsored by Guitars in The Classroom. It celebrates music videos that harness the power of the arts to create a better world.

The Immersive Storytelling Award honors work that uses VR and other immersive technology to promote creativity, engagement, activism and social good.

The Backstage Best Acting Award, sponsored by Backstage, celebrates exceptional acting in hero-themed films. This award is open to both student and professionally made films. 

And many more.

To see all the special awards, go to: myhero.com/special-awards

Past festival winners can be viewed on the MY HERO website: myhero.com/winners. The festival is part of The MY HERO Project, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to celebrate the world’s heroes through stories, short films, music, and art. For more information, visit MY HERO’s award-winning website www.myhero.com.