LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/08/13 -- As you shake off the revelry of yesteryear and embrace the dawn of 2013, it may be time to ask yourself one simple question:

How can you help change the world?

The 2012 MY HERO International Film Festival celebrated inspiring filmmakers and humanitarians, as they honored individuals who stood up and stood out. The organization's annual film festival was held at the George Lucas Building at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Winning films can be viewed at: http://myhero.com/Winners

"The Best of Fest Award" and "The Ron Kovic Peace Prize" (myhero.com/kovic) went to Frank Marshall for his outstanding film, Right To Play, featuring Olympian Johann Olav Koss and his organization that uses athletic activities to promote health and social skills among destitute children.

Creative Visions founder Kathy Eldon presented the "Dan Eldon Activist Award" in honor of her son, an activist and photojournalist killed on assignment while covering the 1993 conflict in Somalia. This year's "Dan Eldon Activist Award" went to A Ride With Matt (myhero.com/eldon), a documentary chronicling a young man with Huntington's disease, who raises awareness about his illness while bicycling across America.

Malala Yousafzai (myhero.com/Malala_Award), a young activist from Pakistan, was shot by Taliban extremists for speaking out for girls' right to go to school. She was honored with the "2012 Media Award;" her tribute included a musical performance by Pihcintu Multi-Cultural Chorus.

MY HERO's "Global Educator Award" went to Dr. Sylvia Earle, a world-renowned oceanographer who led more than 70 expeditions, and logged more than 6,500 hours underwater. In conjunction with the One World One Ocean campaign, MY HERO announced a new "Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award" for the best short film celebrating the importance of ocean conservation. The submission deadline is May 1st, 2013.

The MY HERO Project is a nonprofit organization. Their annual film festival welcomes documentary, narrative, animated and experimental short films about heroism. All are invited to share stories, art, music and film to honor those making a positive difference in this world.

MY HERO is now accepting submissions for the 2013 festival at myhero.com/submit.

For information on the MY HERO Project, contact Eileen Koch of Eileen Koch & Company INC., a Public Relations, Marketing and Branding Firm at 310.441.1000, or email eileen@eileenkoch.com. Visit www.eileenkoch.com.

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