Reel Heroes - Young Filmmakers and Their Heroes

The selected works below include excerpts from award winning short films from The MY HERO International Film Festival and interviews with filmmakers. These young filmmakers’ work demonstrate real stories of courage, compassion, and creativity.  We welcome you to use this resource as a North Star for making your own short hero films. The films selected for this program are timeless treasures. They were made with different styles and in different genres. View these short films as a class or on your own to see how other young filmmakers have used their own creativity to celebrate the heroes in their lives.

Watch the full film 'Reel Heroes: Celebrating Student Films and Filmmakers' or view the segments below at your leisure. 

TRT 3:47

This moving music video by Logan Cascio tells the story of Tommy Carroll, a blind teen whose passion for skateboarding and drumming defies all odds. With heart, courage, and relentless determination, Tommy pursues his dream and achieves it by meeting his hero, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, amplifying the emotional impact. This video includes an interview with Logan and Tommy at the MY HERO International Film Festival, where they shared insights about the making of the film and the inspiring friendship that grew from it.

TRT: 3:27

Slater Jewell-Kemker, who began her filmmaking journey with MY HERO as an elementary school student. Her early film, Slater Meets Her Hero, was honored at the 2005 Film Festival. Over the next decade, Slater dedicated herself to documenting youth climate activists around the world, culminating in her feature film Youth Unstoppable. In this powerful excerpt, Slater reunites with her childhood hero, oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, during the Climate March in Washington, D.C., bringing her story full circle and underscoring the lasting impact of environmental advocacy.

TRT: 4:22

This film by Kayla Briet was honored as a high school winner at the 2015 MY HERO International Film Festival. In this heartfelt and visually powerful film, Kayla shares a personal journey that explores her connection to her father, her family, and the rich cultural identity of being Native American today. She spoke with the MY HERO film crew about what it meant to create a piece so close to her heart, and how storytelling can be a powerful tool for honoring heritage and inspiring others to embrace their own voices.

TRT: 2:40 

Fary Sarko is from Dakar, Senegal. Her film Ablaye shines a light on an extraordinary young man whose courage and determination to break through every barrier inspires everyone around him. His story is a powerful reminder that with resilience and heart, we can rise above any challenge.

TRT: 4:03

Gabrielle Gorman’s 2014 student festival winner, Bombingham, is a powerful and expressionistic portrayal of a painful chapter in America’s civil rights history. Through her evocative poetry and deeply personal imagery, Gabrielle demonstrates that storytelling can transcend traditional film formats to create a unique and moving experience. As a high school student, Gabrielle’s bold creative vision stood out, and we had the privilege of speaking with her about the making of Bombingham and the thoughtful approach she brings to her artistic process.

TRT: 3:53

Director Shaun MacGillivray’s film, Joey,  was a standout winner at the 2007 MY HERO International Film Festival. Created while he was a graduate student at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, this short documentary tells the uplifting story of Joey, a child who faces extraordinary challenges with unwavering positivity and courage. Since then, Shaun has gone on to produce numerous acclaimed IMAX feature films. In 2024, The MY HERO Int. Film Festival honored Shaun and Greg MacGillivray with the Global Educator Award for their inspiring film, The Super Human Body. At the award ceremony, Shaun reflected warmly on his journey with MY HERO, sharing heartfelt memories of making Joey and emphasizing the incredible power of community and storytelling.

TRT: 5:32

Director Ryan Coogler’s narrative short film Locks earned recognition at the 2010 MY HERO Film Festival while he was a student at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. This early work offers a powerful glimpse into the storytelling talent that would later captivate audiences worldwide with the blockbuster Black Panther.

Ryan was interviewed at the 2010 MY HERO International Film Festival and shared insights about the inspiration behind Locks and why creating this film was such a meaningful milestone in his journey as a filmmaker.

TRT: 4:48

This film excerpt by high school filmmaker Katherine Liao is a powerful documentary that tells the story of a community’s fight to protect their environment. The film documents how a local community group campaigned for the removal of an asphalt company that was polluting the air in Irvine, Ca. This is an inspiring portrait of how the power of the people can bring real change. Katherine shares insights on her creative process.

This video was made to accompany the MY HERO: Journalism & Filmmaking Workbook. Thanks to the Scripps Family Impact Fund for funding the MY HERO media arts program.