Dear Friends,

Calling all filmmakers with inspiring short films! Share your films with a global audience with the 2025 MY HERO International Film Festival. Awards are given for outstanding documentaries, narrative films, music videos, animated shorts and experimental films and STUDENTS SUBMIT FOR FREE.

The festival celebrates diversity, environmental stewardship, and films that honor those working for social justice, peace and human rights. We seek uplifting family friendly content and will not accept work that promotes hatred, violence, racism or sexism.

Thanks to our generous donors and prize sponsors, professional filmmakers and students in elementary, middle school, high school and college, can receive Special Awards for outstanding short films.

Submissions are made online via FilmFreeway. For a student fee waiver code, email media@myheroproject.org. All films must be 10 minutes meximum.

FINAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE - OCTOBER 1ST.

Click here to view and share our print flyers for the festival and special awards


Sponsorship opportunities are available.

We welcome your participation in this global celebration. 

Best wishes,

The MY HERO team

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The Ron Kovic Peace Prize is given by the New York Times best-selling author, artist and peace activist. Ron Kovic, a decorated marine who was paralyzed from the waist down during combat in the Vietnam War. A leading voice for peace in the world, his autobiography, Born on the Fourth of July became an Academy Award-winning film, directed by Oliver Stone and starring Tom Cruise. The Kovic Peace Prize is open to students, amateurs and professional filmmakers whose short films shine a light on those working for peace.

Esteemed global educator Esther Wojcicki presents the WOJ Youth Reporter Award at the festival. The annual award was created to inspire students to create short films that showcase heroes in their communities. All student filmmakers are encouraged to apply.

The Eva Haller Women Transforming Media Award celebrates women creating positive change in the world. This prestigious award is sponsored by activist, philanthropist, and mentor Eva Haller.

Dan Eldon was a fearless activist, artist, and photojournalist who dedicated his life to helping those in need by sharing their stories. Each year, his mother Kathy Eldon and sister Amy Eldon Turteltaub present the Dan Eldon Activist Award to filmmakers who use their craft to raise awareness and create positive change.

The Immersive Storytelling Award celebrates innovative and immersive content creators who push the boundaries and tell stories that matter, using VR, animation, or other cutting-edge mediums.

Sponsored by the Foundation for the Contemporary Family, the Relationships First Award celebrates short films that explore and illuminate the powerful and poignant connections within any type of contemporary family relationship.

For the Sing for Hope Music Video Award, we invite filmmakers to celebrate unsung heroes in their communities, and around the globe, through song. This award is given in partnership with the nonprofit Sing For Hope and board member Eva Haller.

The Mattie Stepanek Poetic Film Prize  is given by Mattie's mother Jeni Stepanek to celebrate the power of poetic storytelling and filmmaking to uplift and inspire.

Young Mattie was a wise young soul. In his short but spectacular life his poetry touched the lives of millions of people around the world including Oprah and Jimmy Carter. Students and professional filmmakers are invited to explore this genre and to give vision to their voice with this special award.

The inaugural Best Acting Award is sponsored by Backstage. Six actors will be honored for their work. Categories include Under 18, College and Professional actors. Learn more.

The Best Animation Award honors animated films made by students in middle school, high school, and college. All winners receive a Wacom tablet. Learn more.

Students can participate in The MY HERO Film Festival by voting with their classmates for their favorite films in the People's Choice Award.

Each year, our team curates a special slate of finalists short films, with an approximate runtime of 30 minutes, that can be viewed during a single class period. This is a great way to introduce students to a discussion on what makes a hero and what makes a good short film. Students can also think about stories they would like to share for next year's festival.

People's Choice Ballot opens October 6th

Check out our Teacher's Guide to Online Voting in the Classroom.

Enjoy a FREE download of our new MY HERO Journalism and Filmmaking Workbook to help those students interested in making their own short hero films. The MY HERO Journalism & Filmmaking Workbook, is a user-friendly textbook designed to take the mystery out of documentary filmmaking. The book written by Jonan Steinhart includes a foreword by renowned educator Esther Wojcicki, who explains how creating short films is an excellent way to build critical thinking skills and boost confidence. 

To download a Free Digital Copy, click this link: MY HERO Journalism & Filmmaking Workbook - Go to checkout: Scroll down to the bottom of the payment page and enter the discount code: 2025Workbook!

The workbook, funded by the Scripps Family Impact Fund, is designed to encourage young people to create short films for the MY HERO International Film Festival and the WOJ Youth Reporter Award, given by esteemed educator and author Esther Wojcicki.

Order your PRINT Copy on Amazon

Order your digital copy through the MY HERO Store

MY HERO's Art Contest provides a great opportunity for students of all ages, from Pre-K through college, to showcase their artistic talents while celebrating the heroes in their lives. Learn more.

For 30 years, MY HERO has championed the use of media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. MY HERO CONTESTS for stories, poetry, art, music and short films promote creative self-expression and media literacy for students and life learners.

We need and value your support for The MY HERO Project so we can continue to provide our free educational resources to millions of teachers, students and families around the world.

Help support MY HERO's global learning community.