Social Impact Media Award

The team behind the award-winning film “Blood Brother” was recently awarded a 2016 Social Impact Media Award (SIMA) for Best Feature Documentary. Director Steve Hoover, who in 2006 earned a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and producer Danny Yourd, who in 2005 earned a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, received the award for their film, “Crocodile Gennadiy.” The documentary premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.

“Crocodile Gennadiy” tells the story of Gennadiy Mokhnenko, a man known throughout Ukraine for his work rehabilitating drug-addicted children. According to its website, SIMA celebrates social-documentary storytelling of excellence and connects international audiences and organizations with the best global impact cinema. Each year, films are selected from more than 140 countries.

In addition to their documentary film work, Hoover and Yourd work at Pittsburgh-based Animal Media Group. Animal is the creative group that produced The Art Institutes’ “Creative Warriors” television commercials.

Hoover and Yourd won two Sundance Awards for their first documentary, “Blood Brother,” in 2013. The film featured fellow alum Rocky Braat’s experience volunteering in India at an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. Braat earned a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design in 2005 from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.