MY HERO HONORS FILMMAKERS AND OCEAN HEROES IN LAGUNA CELEBRATION

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

MY HERO HONORS FILMMAKERS AND OCEAN HEROES IN LAGUNA CELEBRATION

JUNE 12, 2026 - LAGUNA BEACH, CA - The MY HERO Project presented a special program of inspiring short films honoring local and global heroes in a World Oceans Day celebration Saturday, June 6th. The Rivian Laguna theater was packed with an audience of all ages. 

World Oceans Day at Rivian Theater LagunaMY HERO 

The program began with the recognition of the Laguna Ocean Foundation. Founding member Ed Almanza told the audience about the organization's origin. Twenty three years ago, residents joined forces to save Laguna’s tide-pools, which were being damaged by beach-goers. “There are more than six million visitors (annually) coming to the beach,” he told the audience. “That's more people than visit Yosemite National Park or the Grand Canyon or San Diego Zoo.”

The group started a docent program, teaching the public how to interact with the sea creatures without damaging their environment. Today, the Laguna Ocean Foundation has more than 100 volunteers and staffers helping protect the coastline. 

Honorees on stageMY HERO 

The Forest Beneath the Waves: Restoring Southern California’s Kelp Forests with Capt. Nancy Caruso, a 2-minute film by high school filmmaker Cooper Chen served as an introduction for Nancy Caruso, a local marine biologist responsible for rebuilding the local kelp forests with help from local students and volunteers. Caruso, who was honored at the event, appealed to the audience to encourage young people to get involved. “I'm here to ask you, when you go home today, grab a kid and take them to the beach, take them to a wild place, and introduce them to being out in nature,” she said. By the end of the evening, a group of young people had signed up to go snorkeling, scuba diving with Caruso and her organization Get Inspired.  

The Laguna Bluebelt coalition was recognized for its work in establishing the Laguna Beach Marine Protected Area. Their work continues with a campaign to expand its reach to include all of Laguna. Filmmaker Jordan Manning showed a video he made for Laguna Bluebelt that shows the beauty of the Marine Protected Area. “We want kids to have a connection to the ocean," he said. "We’ve lost 90% of our kelp. What Bluebelt has done, and is continuing to do, is to protect. We are trying to preserve and expand how beautiful Laguna is now.”

Local filmmaker Mitzi Ostrick, cheered on by classmates from Laguna Beach High, watched her film Mitzi's Bull Shark Dive Log on the big screen. Mitzi, assisted by her father, filmmaker Marc Ostrick, documented her first dive with sharks. The film was recognized as a finalist for this year’s Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award. 

Filmmakers Marc and Mitzi OstrickMY HERO 

The second half of the evening featured the winners of the MY HERO International Film Festival’s 2026 Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award,. The award is sponsored by Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, through their One World One Ocean campaign. Greg MacGillivray presented the awards. “It's a real honor for Barbara and I to be able to sponsor this award,” Greg MacGillivray said. “Sylvia is one of my heroes, and probably one of yours as well, and she has been part of our One World One Ocean campaign ever since we began in 2010.

Greg MacGillivray with Winners of the 2026 Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation AwardMY HERO 

There were two winners in the professional division: 

Caught, a short documentary directed by Kevan Doyle, filmed in Sri Lanka, shows the positive impact of recycling plastics and fishing nets into fins for surfboards, building economies and inspiring sustainable change. Doyle was on hand in Laguna to accept his award. 

Krya and the Coral, by filmmaker Pambajeng Putro, follows Murid, an Indonesian man who works to restore coral reefs, while sharing his knowledge, and his love of the sea, with his young daughter. 

Isaac Nelson, a Florida teen, was in Laguna to accept the first-place win in the student filmmaker division. His film Shoreline Story documents his efforts to restore the ecosystem near Florida’s Jupiter Lighthouse. He credits his passion for conservation to meeting one of his heroes, Dr. Sylvia Earle.

Isaac Nelson - Student WinnerIsaac Nelson 

“Isaac Nelson is an inspiration,” said Jeanne Meyers, Co-founder of The MY HERO Project. “He’s  not only a filmmaker, he’s an activist who has created a community-wide movement involving young people who are making a powerful difference in their community.

More Laguna HonoreesMY HERO 

Greg MacGillivray gave high praise to all of this year’s filmmakers. “The last 13 years, we've judged this contest and the film quality has risen every year,” he said. “This contest, it's been the best. It’s far better than most of the things that you see on television, and very professional, in every respect.”

“We are grateful to Rivian for their generous use of this beautiful theater,” said Meyers. “And, also, to Coast Film Festival for their support of this event,”

The winning films, and the finalists can be viewed on The MY HERO website (myhero.com).