Still taken from 'Foundation'Jack Hinz, with permission
When Australian high school student Jack Hinz was tasked with creating a short documentary for his final in his film class, he saw it as an opportunity to spotlight a cause close to his heart: the way animals are treated in animal agriculture. His film Foundation is an Official Selection at the 2026 MY HERO International Film Festival.
Foundation is a deeply moving portrait of the Save a Cow Foundation, run by partners Anthony Walsgott and Julianne Smith. As the son of a cow farmer Walsgott witnessed the devastating ways that cows are often treated during standard agricultural practices. He left his life as a lawyer and bought 120 acres of land on Queensland’s Mary River, now home to more than eighty rescued bobby calves, cows, steers, and bulls.
Anthony Walsgott at the Save a Cow Foundation on Queensland’s Mary River, Aus.Jack Hinz, with permission
“How animals are treated in agriculture feels very relevant to me,” Hinz told MY HERO. “It’s on such a huge scale. We say they’re just animals but in truth they have feelings, lives, and the capacity to experience life. They develop bonds. That deserves to be cherished, but that’s not what happens when we eat animals. A 15-minute meal is worth more than their entire lives. That’s fundamentally wrong.”
After settling on an animal sanctuary as the subject of his documentary, Hinz reached out to Walsgott and Smith and persuaded his dad to make the three-hour drive to film. Armed with his camera, Hinz recorded more than five hours’ worth of interview with the couple over a two-day period. “My film teacher Nathan Kelvin played an integral role in advising how to fine tune […] he was my hero”, Hinz explained.
Anthony Walsgott and his partner Julianne Smith prepare for Hinz's interview at the Save a Cow Foundation, Aus.Jack Hinz, with permission
“Also, of course, Anthony and Julianne are heroes of mine. Their commitment, their dedication to the cause; it’s very inspiring,” said Hinz, “They don’t make money from this. In fact, there are huge expenses. They’re doing this purely from their hearts because they want to help animals.” Since the film’s release, several audience members from various festivals and beyond have donated to the foundation. “Teddy Chan saw the film at a festival in China and ended up buying the sanctuary a brand-new truck to help with their work”, Hinz explained. “That really shows the power of filmmaking.”
Anthony Walsgott with one of the cows rescued by the Save a Cow Foundation.Jack Hinz, with permission
On advice to other young filmmakers, Hinz shared
It's a fine line between knowing your craft really well and not overwhelming yourself with the process. Before I shot Foundation, I was on YouTube searching tutorials on every aspect of the documentary process; the lighting, the questions, the cinematography… I would really try to fine tune my setup. I think that's a great thing, but you can’t let that overwhelm you. It's about patience. This wasn't my first film and it's a product of every other film that I've made. Don’t set too high expectations for yourself and just enjoy it.
Learn more about Jack:
https://instagram.com/foundationdoco
https://instagram.com/jackhinzfilms
Learn more about the Save a Cow Foundation:
https://instagram.com/save_a_cow
https://facebook.com/saveacowfoundationpage
About the MY HERO International Film Festival
The MY HERO International Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films that celebrate the power of the human spirit. The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to share inspirational stories of everyday heroes. Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.
The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.
Page created on 11/4/2026 9:57:26 PM
Last edited 11/4/2026 10:07:32 PM
