Student Filmmakers Give Thanks to MY HERO Following 20th Annual Film Festival Celebrations

CONTACT:                                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEANNE MEYERS
Co-founder/Director
The MY HERO Project
[email protected] 

STUDENT FILMMAKERS GIVE THANKS TO MY HERO FOLLOWING 20^TH ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS

The MY HERO International Film Festival Ceremony on Nov. 16, 2024, at the Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica.Myron McClure Photography/The MY HERO Project

DECEMBER 15, 2024 – LAGUNA BEACH, CA – The MY HERO Project hosted their 20^th Annual International Film Festival Awards Ceremony on November 16th, 2024 at the Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica, followed by a Film Festival Highlights Ceremony on Wednesday, December 11th at The Rivian South Coast Theater. Numerous student filmmakers were recognized at the celebrations, many of whom expressed gratitude to MY HERO for sharing their work.

Emilee Sung/Clarissa Ngo with permissionTwelve-year-old student filmmaker Emilee Sung created this artwork to accompany a thank you note to The MY HERO Project after her film 'For Mom: My Lighthouse,' received third place in the Middle School Creative Category.

Several students from Imaginate Ink, an educational company founded by Harvard graduate Clarissa Ngo to help people of all ages unlock their full potential through creativity, submitted work to the MY HERO Film Festival and then took time to write thank you notes following the November ceremony. Ngo herself praised the MY HERO Film Festival, explaining: 

What I laud those who invest their time and treasure into creating MY HERO International Film Festival is that you have created a forum that not only motivates kids to make things that matter, but also, a place where anyone can hear and see good news about unsung heroes–those who are in the trenches doing good things to ameliorate the world. MY HERO’s films are exactly the stories we need to tell our children so that instead of falling prey to the despair social media and the news cycle cultivates, they become a part of the fabric of the story we need to tell–that it is possible to make a difference. That your voice does matter. And that anyone can do it.

Ten-year-old Jordan created a digitally illustrated thank you letter, following the celebrations.Jordan Sung/Clarissa Ngo with permission

A sentiment expressed by all the students was that they were left feeling inspired after having been given the opportunity to connect with so many other heroes and filmmakers. “It was a privilege to see and connect with so many heroes,” wrote fourteen-year-old Vila Song, who won the first-place prize in the Student Animation category with Death of a Zombie Cell: A Case for Senolytics. “Seeing real heroes in action inspired me about what I can do. I now believe it is possible for anyone to choose to become a hero,” she added.

Myron McClure Photography/The MY HERO ProjectElise Chen (left) attends the MY HERO International Film Festival Awards Ceremony with Clarissa Ngo (right), Nov. 16, 2024.

Elise Chen, 16, whose film about the ways people can help prevent Alzheimer’s - The Mind’s Fountain of Youth - received third place in the Student Animation category wrote:

I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring about me enough to spend the time to see my film and honor my story. I hope to do a lot of good with it to honor what you did for me.

Myron McClure Photography/The MY HERO ProjectAlivia Hsu stands with her certificate at the MY HERO International Film Festival awards ceremony.

Thirteen-year-old Alivia Hsu, who won third place in the Middle School Creative category with her film The Runaway Bear, expressed particular thanks to MY HERO Film Festival Director Wendy Milette, explaining that Milette “stands out as one of the kindest and purest souls [she] has ever met.” Hsu then went on:

Your film festival reminded me that heroes are not defined by capes or superpowers, but by courage, creativity, and connection. […] Your platform doesn’t just celebrate heroes; it nurtures them.

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.