No One Is an Island Wins at MY HERO International Film Festival

CONTACT: Jeanne Meyers                                                                                                                                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Co-founder/Director
The MY HERO Project
[email protected]

December 19, 2025 — Laguna Beach, CA

No One Is an Island Wins Animation Award at MY HERO International Film Festival

The MY HERO Project proudly announces that No One Is an Island, directed by David Bunting and James McKay, is the recipient of the Animation Award at the 21st Annual MY HERO International Film Festival.

Film StillDavid Bunting 

Through a compelling animated conversation, No One Is an Island brings scientists together to explore whether humanity can live well without harming the environment. The film highlights how hope, creativity, research, and collaboration can inspire meaningful change - demonstrating that a sustainable future is not only possible but closer than we may think.

The award is being announced during Part Two of the MY HERO International Film Festival Awards Ceremony, airing as a virtual event on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT. The ceremony celebrates filmmakers whose work highlights individuals and organizations striving to make the world a better place.

About the Film and Filmmakers

David BuntingHouse of Sound-Kathryn Leigh-James McKay-David Bunting 

No One Is an Island is an animated documentary directed and produced by David Bunting, built around an on-screen conversation between artist James McKay and a team of scientists led by Professor Julia Steinberger. The film combines hand-drawn, watercolor animation with groundbreaking climate justice research to explore how universal human well-being can be achieved within environmental limits.

DavidJosh Heely Cinematography 

Bunting, who has worked professionally in animation for more than 25 years—including as a Disney effects animator on The Tigger Movie and a storyboard artist on Shaun the Sheep—worked closely with McKay to ensure the storytelling remained authentic. “I produced and directed the documentary, working very closely with James, who also illustrated the film, to ensure the way we told the story was always authentic,” Bunting said.

The project came together when Professor Steinberger and her research team reached out to McKay to explore new ways of sharing their findings with the public. “As soon as we listened to Julia and her core team explain their groundbreaking research on climate justice, we knew this was a special story of incredible importance that needed to be told,” Bunting explained.

McKay emphasized the film’s hopeful message as one of its greatest strengths. “Its strength is the positivity, based on real science. We can make a positive future. This film empowers people to believe it can work,” he said.

Using the power of animation, the filmmakers bring a science-modeled vision of a possible 2050 to life. Bunting noted that the research behind the film offers a powerful counterbalance to the often-overwhelming narratives surrounding the climate crisis. “It fills a void of negative news and cuts through political division by reminding us of our shared values - family, health, and fairness. Like a modern-day parable, it challenges us to reflect on what a good and fulfilled life truly means,” he said.

Created by a dedicated international team of artists, animators, editors, musicians, and scientists, No One Is an Island distills hours of complex discussion into an accessible short film for audiences of all ages. For McKay, receiving a MY HERO award helps ensure the message reaches even further: “An award helps the film generate attention and reach larger and larger audiences.”

Read an interview with David and James HERE. 

Part One of the Awards Ceremony was held on December 13, 2025, during activist and longtime MY HERO supporter Eva Haller’s renowned weekly salon series. Part Two will honor additional winning filmmakers from the 2025 festival, with special award categories including the Relationships First Award (presented by the Foundation for the Contemporary Family), the Animation Awards (presented by Wacom), the Mattie Stepanek Poetry Prize, the People’s Choice Award, the Community Heroes Award, and more.

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.