Los Angeles, California – USA
December 8 to 10, 2012

The 8th Annual HERO FEST – MY HERO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (MHIFF), is a showcase that sends messages of hope, inspiration, and courage to the most treasured and promising of audiences – young people. In an effort to promote positive media and activism across the globe, MHIFF proudly honors the work of passionate storytellers and heroes from all walks of life. By engaging in such stories, MHIFF audiences explore diverse cultures, take transformational emotional journeys, and glean a better understanding of social and environmental issues, as well as of their own capacity to create positive change.

Held annually at the prestigious School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California (USC), MHIFF grants monetary awards to narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental shorts that convey the concept of heroism in artful and memorable ways. The festival has separate competitive categories for student and professional films, recognizing that filmmakers at every experience level should be encouraged in the process of creating socially conscious media. Special awards are also presented in honor of slain photojournalist Daniel Eldon and anti-war activist Ron Kovic (author of Born on the Fourth of July ), both of whom embody the spirit of curiosity and unity that drives MHIFF.

The festival proudly provides selected filmmakers with transportation and accommodations during their visit to Los Angeles. MHIFF also facilitates opportunities for finalists to be interviewed by film and print media and to network with filmmaking professionals. In addition to being showcased in a beautiful state-of-the-art venue at USC, winning films are available year-round in MHIFF’s online screening room which provides world-wide exposure to a broad audience.

UPCOMING DEADLINE
August 1, 2012 – Regular Deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
Through its website and festival, MHIFF showcases thousands of stories about remarkable individuals, as told by children and adults alike. These stories serve to remind viewers that we each have the potential to overcome great obstacles and achieve our dreams by following in the footsteps of our heroes.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Last year’s Best of Festival Award went to the father-and-son creative team at MacGillivray-Freeman Films for their environmental campaign, “One World, One Ocean.” Special Hero Awards were presented to Grace Lee Boggs, a 95-year-old philosopher and peace activist, and Sasa, a young Burmese doctor building a medical training facility in Myanmar.

All work submitted to MHIFF should be appropriate for audiences of all ages and should not promote hatred, violence, or intolerance. MHIFF maintains a tradition of developing young talent and securing an appreciation for cinema by all young people through Media Arts Education, an essential program of MHIFF’s parent organization, The MY HERO Project.

If your film depicts the story of a unique and inspiring person, or discusses heroism in an artful way, submit to Hero Fest – MY HERO International Film Festival today!