Veteran Steve Hartman, known for telling heartfelt stories about kindness and humanity, has received one of the film industry’s highest honors. On March 15, 2026, his documentary “All the Empty Rooms” won Best Documentary Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
The powerful film follows Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they visit the preserved bedrooms of children who lost their lives in U.S. school shootings. Inside each room, time seems frozen — photos still hang on the walls, shoes rest by the door, and toys remain where a child last left them. Through these quiet spaces, grieving families share who their children were and why their memories should never be forgotten.
Away from the cameras, Hartman’s greatest role is being a father. His oldest son, George Hartman, lives with Autism, and the experience has deeply shaped the way Hartman sees the world. As a dad of three, he says every laugh, every challenge, and every small victory has taught him patience, compassion, and the true meaning of kindness.
For nearly four decades, Hartman has shared uplifting stories across American television — from WTOL and KSTP-TV to WABC-TV, and now CBS News.
Through every interview and every story, Hartman reminds viewers of something simple but powerful: behind every person is a story worth hearing — and kindness is what truly makes us human. ❤️
