Goldie Hawn and Tiffany Shlain Win Media Award

CONTACT:                                                                                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Goldie Hawn and Tiffany Shlain Win Media Award

The MY HERO Project is thrilled to announce that Goldie Hawn and renowned filmmaker Tiffany Shlain will be honored with the 2024 Media Award at The 20th Annual MY HERO International Film Festival for their documentary "The Teen Brain".

 The MY HERO Media Award recognizes individuals and organizations who use media to drive positive change in the world. Said Wendy Milette, Film Festival Director, "The Teen Brain" is an outstanding short film that should be viewed by teens and their parents. It examines the science of the teen brain and provides insights to help them stay balanced while navigating the powerful adolescent years."

Goldie Hawn

Hawn, renowned for her Academy Award-winning performances, is also a producer, director, best-selling author, and a passionate advocate for children. She first gained widespread recognition on the NBC sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Cactus Flower. However, Hawn’s impact extends far beyond the silver screen through her profound contributions to education and child development via her MindUP^™ program. 

Mind Up

In response to the rising issues of school violence, youth depression, and suicide, and the failure of the education system to address the increasing stress in children's lives, Hawn established the Goldie Hawn Foundation in 2003. By leveraging cutting-edge scientific research, the Foundation created educational programs aimed at enhancing the social and emotional development of children. Collaborating with leading experts in neuroscience, education, psychology, and research, the Foundation developed MindUP, an evidence-based curriculum for grades K-12. This program equips children with tools to self-regulate, understand their emotions, reduce stress, sharpen concentration, increase empathy, and improve academic performance. MindUP is the flagship initiative of The Hawn Foundation, which impacts over six million children all over the world. 

Read more about Goldy here: myhero.com/goldie-hawn-honored-by-my-hero

Tiffany Shlain

Shlain has passionately used media to drive positive change in the world throughout her career. Her numerous accolades include being selected by the Albert Einstein Foundation for their Genius100 list, receiving the Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Intellectual Activity, and being featured on NPR’s list of best commencement speeches. Known for her dynamic cinematic talks, Shlain performs internationally. Her films, which have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, have garnered over 60 awards and have been showcased at US embassies globally to represent America. In 1996, at the dawn of the Internet revolution, Shlain founded the Webby Awards, an annual event that honors excellence on the Internet. 

Filmmaker

Shlain's work as a filmmaker is marked by a unique blend of humor, humanity, and insightful commentary on contemporary issues. Her 2011 documentary, "Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology," explores the impact of technology on human relationships and the environment. The film was critically acclaimed for its innovative narrative style and thought-provoking content. She continued to explore the implications of technology and interconnectedness in subsequent films, such as "Brain Power: From Neurons to Networks" and "The Future Starts Here," a web series that examines the intersection of technology, science, and culture. Her films have been screened at prestigious venues, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival, and have been translated into multiple languages, extending their reach globally.

Read more about Tiffany here: myhero.com/tiffany-shlain-wins-the-my-hero-media-award

About the MY HERO International Film Festival:

The MY HERO 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.

Join us in celebrating 20 years of The MY HERO International Film Festival on November 16, 6pm @ the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica, California. Find out more HERE.

Learn more about MINDUP.org