Kyra and The Coral is a Sylvia Earle Award Finalist

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Abigail Richardson
Editor
The MY HERO Project
[email protected]

Kyra and The Coral directed by Pambajeng Putro follows Murid and his daughter, Kyra, as they spend time together restoring coral reefs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, one of the world's most biodiverse marine environments. Through their shared experiences, the film explores conservation, family, and the importance of protecting the ocean for future generations.

Sceenshot from 'Kyra and The Coral'Pambajeng Putro

For Putro, the inspiration behind Kyra and the Coral came from a simple moment in the field. While working in Raja Ampat, he noticed Murid bringing his young daughter, Kyra, along to the reef restoration sites. Kyra was curious about everything around her and was always eager to try her father's scuba equipment. Watching the relationship between father and daughter develop alongside Murid's conservation work, Putro felt there was a story worth telling.

For Putro, one of the film's greatest strengths is its honesty: "The film features honest stories from people whose lives depend on the ocean," he explains. "It also shows a family that shares the same commitment to protecting it."

The natural beauty of Raja Ampat provides the setting, but the film is ultimately about the people who live there and their efforts to care for the environment that supports them.

Environmental conservation remains a deeply important issue for Putro, particularly the protection of coral reefs: "Corals provide a home for fish and support the entire marine ecosystem," he says.

Sceenshot from 'Kyra and The Coral'Pambajeng Putro

Bringing the film to life was not without its challenges. When Putro first shared the idea with colleague Jo, she immediately encouraged him to aim high. "Let's make a festival-level film," she said. Putro admits he laughed at the suggestion. "My first thought was, 'Yeah, we don't have the resources to produce that level of film.'"

As the sole filmmaker at Misool Foundation, Putro was responsible for filming, production and editing. Jo and his supervisor, Virly, served as executive producers, helping to guide the project throughout production, while staff from across the organisation contributed wherever they could.

Agi and Annisa from the ReShark Programme assisted with sound recording and helped keep Kyra safe while filming in the water. Rati supported the interview process, while Field Operations Manager Ayub helped organise boats and logistics.

"It really was a team effort," Putro says.

The production brought several new experiences. It was the first time the team had made a film involving a child, requiring extra care to ensure Kyra remained comfortable throughout filming. The weather also proved difficult, with production taking place during the rainy season. "Sometimes we couldn't make any progress for an entire week because it rained every day," he recalls.

One achievement Putro remembers particularly well was completing Kyra's interview. "Interviewing a shy young girl can be challenging," he says.

Looking back, he remembers the entire production process with affection and gratitude.

The experience also shaped his view of heroism. Rather than pointing to one individual, Putro says his heroes are the people who dedicate themselves to conservation work every day. "After making this film, I see all the people who work in the field, as well as those working behind desks supporting them, as heroes," he says. "They truly do their work with their hearts."

Being selected for the MY HERO International Film Festival has been a significant moment for Putro: "This is my first award and an important moment in my career," he says. "I am beyond happy that Kyra and Murid's story is being shared with more people around the world through this film festival." 

Watch the film HERE.

MY HERO Ocean-Minded Films Screening To Be Held At Rivian Laguna

Join MY HERO for a World Oceans Day celebration featuring a special screening of winning short films from the 2026 Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award. Filmmakers and award presenters will be on hand at this special event and local organizations will be recognized for their work in protecting our oceans.  

Saturday, June 6, 2026
Doors open at 6:30pm
Films start at 7:00pm

Rivian South Coast Theater
162 South Coast Highway,

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Ocean-minded nonprofits are welcome to participate in the June 6th event. Email [email protected] for information. 

About the Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award

The award, which comes with up to $2,000 in Cash Prizes, is part of the MY HERO International Film Festival and is sponsored by MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation's One World One Ocean Campaign. 

“Sylvia Earle is our ocean hero, and we hope this award inspires aspiring filmmakers to shine a spotlight on other dedicated people from all walks of life who are working tirelessly on behalf of our oceans.“      - IMAX filmmaker.Greg MacGillivray

One World One Ocean is a global non-profit campaign designed to connect people emotionally to the world's ocean. Their mission is to raise awareness of ocean degradation, to inspire audiences through cinematography, and to spark a global movement to protect our seas.

Sylvia Earle is a world-renowned oceanographer, explorer, author, lecturer, leader, and research scientist who has led more than 70 expeditions, logging more than 6,500 hours underwater. Formally chief scientist of NOAA and now a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, she was awarded the 2009 TED Prize for her proposal to establish a global network of marine protected areas, called “hope spots.”

Read more about the award and its sponsors here.

To see previous winners of the MY HERO Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award, or enter for 2027, go to: myhero.com/sylvia-earle-ocean-conservation-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.