Tiffany Shlain Receives Media Award

The 20^th MY HERO Film Festival Awards Ceremony was held on November 16th, 2024 in Santa Monica at the Ann & Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School. The ceremony was hosted Gabrielle Gorman, an advocate for international human rights, who has been affiliated with MY HERO since 2017 when she herself was a student at New Roads School.

The Teen BrainMY HERO

The first Award, the MY HERO Media Award 2024, was presented to Tiffany Shlain and Goldie Hawn for their short documentary The Teen Brain.

The MY HERO Media Award recognizes individuals and organizations who use media to drive positive change in the world. Said Wendy Milette, Film Festival Director, The Teen Brain is an outstanding short film that should be viewed by teens and their parents. It examines the science of the teen brain and provides insights to help them stay balanced while navigating the powerful adolescent years."

While presenting the award, Gorman highlighted the contributions of executive producer Goldie Hawn and her organization, Mind Up. She also expressed MY HERO’s delight in honoring Tiffany Shlain, the film’s director and longtime participant in the MY HERO Film Festival and past winner. Said Gorman, “Honored by Newsweek as one of the women shaping the 21st century, Tiffany is a multidisciplinary artist, Emmy nominated filmmaker, national bestselling author and founder of the Webby Awards. Her work spanning film, sculpture and performance has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the National Mall, and currently at the Skirball Center.”

MYRON MCCLURE PHOTOGRAPHYTiffany Shlain

Tiffany Shlain attended the ceremony to accept the award and expressed her gratitude, stating: “I'm so happy to be here. And this is such a beautiful community. I have been honored here for several different projects. And each time I come, I'm just reminded how good it is to be in a theater with people who care about truth and a better world and finding heroes and mentors and mentoring others… mentorship is just such a beautiful and important thing. And that's something that any one of us can do. Any one of us can reach out to someone that we believe in and offer more support and tell them, I am your mentor. We've never actually said that word, but that's how I feel to you. So, I think MY HERO exemplifies all of that. It's looking for heroes. It's mentoring. It's being a mentor…The Teen Brain is really about this film is made for teens to empower them to know about what's happening in their brain. And really, we're so honored to get this award and to be here with all of you.”

Screenshot from CeremonyGoldie Hawn

Goldie Hawn joined the ceremony via video and shared her thoughts, saying: “Thank you so much for giving me this award…it's a wonderful thing that you're doing. And there are so many people out there that are doing great things for others and you're recognizing them. And I feel very honored for that. It was great doing the project with The Teen Brain. I mean, it was really something I always wanted to do because kids don't know what's going on in their brain when they're teenagers. And it's kind of a crazy time. I thought it would be great to have basically a short little video, 10 minutes that really shows how these children can behave, understanding more about what's really going on in that brain of theirs. Thank you so much for this award, and I honor you (MY HERO) for all that you're doing for others.”

Tiffany Shlain

Background: Early Life and Education

Born in 1970 in Mill Valley, California, Shlain was immersed in an intellectually stimulating environment from an early age. Her father, Dr. Leonard Shlain, was a noted surgeon and author, whose works explored the relationships between art, science, and technology. This early exposure to interdisciplinary thinking profoundly influenced Tiffany's later work. Shlain attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in film theory and interdisciplinary studies.

The Webby Awards

In 1996, at the dawn of the Internet revolution, Shlain founded the Webby Awards, an annual event that honors excellence on the Internet. Shlain's vision for the Webby Awards was to highlight the potential of the Internet as a platform for creativity and social change. Under her leadership, the awards grew exponentially, reflecting the rapid expansion and evolution of the internet itself.

Filmmaking

Shlain's work as a filmmaker is marked by a unique blend of humor, humanity, and insightful commentary on contemporary issues. Her 2011 documentary, "Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology," explores the impact of technology on human relationships and the environment. The film was critically acclaimed for its innovative narrative style and thought-provoking content.

She continued to explore the implications of technology and interconnectedness in subsequent films, such as "Brain Power: From Neurons to Networks" and "The Future Starts Here," a web series that examines the intersection of technology, science, and culture. Her films have been screened at prestigious venues, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival, and have been translated into multiple languages, extending their reach globally.

Advocacy

Beyond filmmaking, Shlain is a prominent advocate for the ethical use of technology and its potential to foster global connectivity and understanding. Her 2019 book, "24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week," advocates for a technology Shabbat, encouraging people to disconnect from their digital devices one day a week to reconnect with themselves and their loved ones. Shlain is also a sought-after speaker, delivering keynote addresses at conferences, universities, and corporate events. Her TED Talks have garnered millions of views, further amplifying her message of balancing technology with personal well-being and social responsibility.

Read an interview with Tiffany and MY HERO’s Wendy Jewell here: tiffany_shlain-interview.