MY HERO Announces Finalists for the 2026 Relationships First Award

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Media Contact:

Jeanne Meyers
Co-founder/Director
The MY HERO Project
[email protected]

MY HERO Announces Finalists for the 2026 Relationships First Award

LAGUNA BEACH, CA – NOVEMBER 11, 2026

Short films celebrating the many forms of family, connection and relationships are recognized in this year's award, sponsored by the Foundation for the Contemporary Family.

The MY HERO Project has announced the finalists for its 2026 Relationships First Award, celebrating filmmakers whose short films explore the connections that shape our lives and the many different ways families are formed.

Sponsored by the Foundation for the Contemporary Family, the award recognizes films that illuminate the powerful and sometimes challenging relationships within contemporary families. This year's finalists include stories of adoption, parenthood, sibling relationships, resilience, intergenerational connections and the bonds that develop through shared experiences.

The finalists are recognized in two categories: Professional and Student.

Professional Finalists

Seven films have been selected in the Professional category:

• Brothers of the Sea – Ethan Edmunds. Bernardo and Diego share a deep connection with the ocean, but their story also reveals the hardship of growing up after being abandoned at a young age.
• 18 Months – Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea. Based on a true story, this film follows Danny and Pete's unexpected journey to parenthood after they find a newborn baby in a subway station, challenging traditional ideas about what makes a family.
• My Father, My Hero – Stefon Rabbitskin. The inspiring story of Wally Rabbitskin, a marathon runner and Residential School survivor who overcame a difficult childhood to become a celebrated athlete.
• Two Ships – McKinley Benson. A couple working opposite schedules try to maintain their connection through brief encounters and fleeting moments together.
• Coach Pancake – Gabriel Olson. A former soccer star discovers a new purpose helping young children build confidence and develop skills both on and off the field.
• OLAUG – Liz McGregor. Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage follows 85-year-old Susan Baur and her team of determined women working together to protect the environment.
• Develop – Lidewij Hartog. This short documentary tells the story of Ydwer van der Heide, whose life changed after a surfing accident left him paralysed from the chest down.

Student Finalists

Six films have been selected in the Student category, offering young filmmakers' perspectives on family relationships, identity, love and the challenges faced by parents and children.

• Education With a Smile – Gadi Kalihman. A father travels alone by train through changing landscapes, where memories and imagination bring his daughter close to him.
• The Talk – Hila Cage Coppola. A loving monologue gradually reveals the difficult realities of systemic racism, personal loss and the fears experienced by Black parents.
• Through My Eyes – Audrey Emma Chang. A personal documentary exploring what it is like to grow up alongside a sister with a rare genetic condition.
• Eclipsed Sight – Chris Bonani. When her daughter Zoey is diagnosed with Stargardt's disease, a degenerative eye condition, Norna races against time to share one last glimpse of the universe with her.
• For Mom – Kaya Schulz. A young girl's interest in the piano brings her closer to her mother, who begins teaching and guiding her.
• White Noise – Sara Nesson and Charlie Hannah. A teenager struggling with difficulties at home and school uses her headphones to escape into an imagined perfect world.

Watch the finalist films and cast your vote!

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.