MPI 2025 Annual Report

MPI Production Lab Short Films Earn Praise on Festival Circuit

MPI empowered me to pursue a deeply personal story and gave me the tools to bring it to life in a way that resonates with audiences. The relationships I’ve built through MPI have supported and inspired me as I take my next steps as a writer and director, opening doors I never could have imagined. Sharing this film with audiences has reaffirmed my belief in MPI’s mission and in the power of storytelling to promote freedom. —JOE DUCA, MPI FILMMAKER AND DIRECTOR OF THE DYING BUSINESS

Directing our first short film with MPI was one of the most creatively fulfilling experiences of our careers. Beyond the on- set lessons, we gained lasting confidence through MPI’s trust and mentorship. Their team guided us every step of the way, helping the film premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Indy Shorts Film Festival this past summer. No other organization has offered a stronger platform for pro- freedom voices , and we’re deeply grateful for MPI’s support. —TANNER MOBLEY AND HESTON ROEWE, MPI FILMMAKERS AND CO-WRITER-DIRECTORS OF THE MPI ORIGINAL SHORT POCKET CHANGE Tanner Mobley (center right), MPI filmmaker and co-writer-director of Pocket Change , joins cast members from the sci-fi short on the red carpet of HollyShorts, an Oscar-qualifying short film festival based in Los Angeles.

Filmmakers behind The Dying Business , The Art of Inflation , Grind , and Pocket Change take the stage for a post-screening Q&A at the Indy Shorts Film Festival, which featured a special block of MPI Original films.

I n addition to feature films, MPI also produces short films, which invite audiences to consider timely issues from new liberty-oriented perspectives while giving emerging filmmakers a proving ground. In 2025, five MPI Original shorts— Grind ; Pocket Change ; The Art of Inflation ; Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up ; and The Dying Business — began their festival journeys, earning recognition across top festivals with over 30 festival selections in the year. Each was developed through MPI’s Short Film Lab or Documentary Storytelling Workshop and produced through the MPI Production Lab, which provides immersive, real-world production

experience. Notably, four of these films were featured at Indy Shorts—an Oscar-qualifying festival—in a first-ever special MPI block dedicated to the MPI Short Film Lab and Production Lab. Exploring themes of the American Dream, entrepreneurship, and the value of the dollar, these shorts demonstrate MPI’s intentional approach to developing creative talent and crafting stories that advance our mission. The dedicated block at a major festival underscores the reputation for excellence in independent filmmaking that Lana Link, MPI’s senior vice president, and the MPI team have built over MPI’s first 20 years.

Trân Hoàng Calvin (center), MPI filmmaker and writer-director of Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up , discusses his family drama with a packed audience at the New York Shorts International Film Festival.