This document provides information about the Annual International Film Festival that honors filmmakers working for social activism. It summarizes the festival details, including location information, past award recipients, featured heroes, prize winners, special awards, and sponsors. The festival screens over 3,000 films on its online screening room and brings together professional and student filmmakers each year.

2. ONLINE SCREENING ROOM
All winning films are available on our website
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3. SHARE FILMS
Our online screening room hosts over 3,000 short films
made by professionals and students
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4. INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Annual International Film Festival brings together professional and
student filmmakers to honor those working for social activism
The MY HERO International Film
Festival
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5. INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Ray Stark Family Theater George Lucas
Building
University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts
Ann and Jerry Moss Theater
The Capshaw-Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational
Justice Herb Alpert Educational Village, Santa Monica,
California
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6. FESTIVAL WINNERS
Frank Marshall Ryan Coogler
Abigail Disney Tiffany Shlain
Playing for Change
Foundation CNN Heroes
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Frank
Marshall
Abigail Disney Ryan Coogler
Paul
Cummins
GLOBAL EDUCATOR AWARD
RECIPIENTS
George Lucas Elizabeth Daley Erin Gruwell Cheikh Seck Peter Copen
George Lucas, Founder of Edutopia
Elizabeth Daley, Dean of USC School of Cinematic Arts Erin Gruwell, Director of The Freedom
Writers Foundation Cheikh Seck, Media Arts Educator, Senegal
Peter Copen, Founder of iEARN.org (International Education Association and Resource
Network) Paul Cummins, Founder of New Roads School & The Coalition for Engaged
Education
FESTIVAL WINNERS & AWARD RECIPIENTS
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7. WINNING FILMS
Because I’m a Girl: I’ll Take it From Here
Produced by Raj Yagnik and Shona
Hamilton, featuring Plan International.
Racing Extinction
Produced by Vulcan
Productions
Directed by Louie Psihoyos
Isla Coronado Ghost Net
Directed by Walter Marti
Featuring Kurt Leiber from Ocean Defenders Alliance
The Future of Our Species
Directed by Tiffany Shlain
The Moxie Institute
Best of
Fest
Ron Kovic Peace Prize Media Award
Relationships First Award Sylvia Earle Ocean Award People’s Choice Award
Defying Death in South Sudan
Francis Meade
Young Storytellers
Directed by Jill Jones, Brent
Yontz Nanuq Originals
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8. HEROES FEATURED
Wangari
Maathai
Nelson Mandela Malala
Yousafzai
Mohamed Sidibay
SSlalateterrJJeewwe
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Wangari Mathaai, Nobel Peace Prize winner,
Kenya Nelson Mandela, peace activist, South
Africa Malala Yousafzai, human rights activist,
Pakistan Mohamed Sidibay, peace activist, Sierra
Leone
Jon Rose, humanitarian, Waves for Water USA
Jean-Michel Cousteau, environmentalist, USA
Slater Jewell-Kemker, environmental activist, Canada
Jon
Rose
Jean-Michel Cousteau
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9. PRIZE WINNERS
Rabiya Sudebar Muslim Student
Association
Filmmaker Kayla
Briet
Filmmakers Gabrielle and Amanda Gorman
Filmmakers Santa Barbara Team
Press
Filmmakers Mark Manilo Malia
Pyles
Nate Trives, Mr. Santa
Monica
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10. PRIZE WINNERS
Filmmaker Nonny De La Peña
Filmmakers Trey Carlisle and Cheikh Seck
Will Parinello of Mill Valley Film Group Emerging Artist and filmmaker, Kenza Kadmiry
Royal Film Commission Liason Claire Naber MatalqaFilmmaker Tiffany Shlain
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11. UNSUNG HEROES
Environmental activist Jaime Lynn Butler Azim Khamisa founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, in his son’s memory
Unsung heroes and filmmakers from the 11th Annual Film Festival
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12. SPECIAL AWARDS
Filmmaker Ryan Suffern and Kathy Eldon
Kathy Eldon presenting the Eldon Activist Award
Ron Kovic presents the Kovic Peace Prize 12
Kovic Peace Prize
Presented by author and artist Ron Kovic
Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award
Presented by OneWorldOneOcean.org
Dan Eldon Activist Award
Presented by his mother, author and activist Kathy Eldon
Relationships First Award
Presented by the Foundation for Contemporary Family

13. MEDIA ARTS EDUCATION
Media Arts Educators are mentors to students and
teachers around the world, providing technical
training and resources in global workshops
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14. GLOBAL IMPACT
“You have helped to reshape
the word ‘hero’ for many
people. What a gift.”
Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D.
USA
“The MY HERO mentors
trained the students how to use
cameras, conduct interviews
and edit video montages on
the computer.”
Emily Murray,
Director of Arts Programs,
Laguna Beach Boys and Girls Club,
USA
“The MY HERO Project
has created a unique
opportunity for me to undergo
professional and personal
development.”
Cheikh Seck,
Educator
Dakar,
Senegal 14

15. FESTIVAL SPONSORS
Donors Include:
Judy and Doug Anderson
Amy Eldon and Jon Turtletaub
Ron Kovic
Cynthia Costas & Larry Cohen
Helene Cavanaugh
James Pelts
Kathy Eldon
Ken Koslow
Dorothy Meyers
Eva & Yoel Haller
Prize Sponsors: