Dear Friends,

The MY HERO International Film Festival continues, on December 11th, at the Rivian South Coast Theater in Laguna Beach. Doors open at 6:30 and the event runs from 7-9 pm.

We are thankful to the Coast Film Festival and the Rivian South Coast Theater for hosting The MY HERO International Film Festival. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.

MY HERO will be screening short films from the festival and will honor local legends Greg and Shaun MacGillivray, known for their outstanding educational IMAX documentaries that promote environmental stewardship and conservation.

This year, MY HERO recognizes Greg and Shaun with the Global Educator Award for their documentary Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels. The film, narrated by actor Matthew McConaughey, takes the audience on a tour of the human body and explores the scientific breakthroughs that are changing the course of human health. Superhuman Body Behind the Scenes, which offers a glimpse into the larger film, will screen at the December 11th event.

Katherine Liao, a student from Sage High School, will be acknowledged as the winner of the 2024 Best of Fest Award.

Katherine's documentary When the Devil Smoked in Paradise tells the story of a local movement to stop an asphalt plant that was quietly belching toxic chemicals into the local community.

Judy Anderson, Ph.D, President of the Foundation for the Contemporary Family, will present the Relationships First Award to Dima Puchkarev, director of the documentary Grillo.

The film follows the story of David “Grillo” Zamudio, a man shaped by gang violence, addiction, and incarceration in East L.A. With the support of Homeboy Industries and Father Greg Boyle, he finds redemption and transformation.

Wendy Milette has been at the helm of The MY HERO International Film Festival for 20 years, with her outstanding leadership skills, years of experience as an educator, and a keen knowledge of filmmaking.

In addition to running the MY HERO International Film Festival, Milette also helped produce the Laguna Hero Fest, a celebration of local heroes supported by the City of Laguna Beach and local establishments.

Previous honorees include Toni Iseman, Colin Henderson, Gregg Abel, Pam Estes, Stu Saffer, Jodi Gates, Diane Challis Davy, Patsee Ober, Doug Miller, Robin Altman, Nancy Caruso, Judith Anderson, Jeffrey Briar, Marc Ostrick, students and teachers from Laguna Beach schools and Skipper Carrillo. A short tribute for Carrillo, who recently passed away, will screen at the Rivian during the December 11th event.

Watch highlights from the Laguna Hero Fest. This is a model program that has been replicated in other countries and at schools across the United States. MY HERO has Media Arts Resources to help you launch a festival in your community.

WINNING FILMS can be viewed on the MY HERO website. For information about hosting a screening in your community, contact myhero@myheroproject.org.

Register Here for MY HERO'S Rivian Theater Screening.

Help support MY HERO's global learning community.

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.