Program areas at MPI
Mpi productionsmpi original films use the popular and accessible medium of visual storytelling to educate people about what freedom is and why it matters. We reach hundreds of millions by distributing our films to theaters and digital streaming platforms such as netflix, apple tv, amazon prime video, google play, tubi, bet+, and mpi's streaming channel watchmpioriginalfilms.com. Mpi's nonpartisan approach attracts the attention of prominent media outlets; and our films and filmmakers win major awards and screen at top-tier film festivals such as the tribeca film festival and south by southwest.mpi's in-house production team continually works to develop mpi's slate of films and videos-securing intellectual property from books and articles, acquiring life story rights to adapt into screenplays, and hiring writers to develop original screenplays. These projects are then produced by mpi for wide distribution with two goals in mind-to change minds and inspire action. The 2022 mpi original film pinball is a case study for how our integrated programs work. The film was written and directed by mpi filmmakers who are a part of mpi's rising filmmaker program. Pinball premiered at the hamptons international film festival and screened at over a dozen other film festivals winning several awards such as best narrative feature. It was released in march 2023 in theaters and to more than 100 million homes through on-demand streaming platforms. Mpi also provides other nonprofit organizations complimentary access to its film library and encourages them to use their films as a tool to educate their local communities about issues related to human freedom and inspire them to take action. Mpi's current production slate includes eight active film projects.
Rising filmmaker programmpi's rising filmmaker program identifies, trains, and supports freedom-oriented directors, editors, and screenwriters. We strategically invest in like-minded filmmakers at key points in their careers, work with them to develop high-impact concepts and scripts, and then we acquire the best scripts to produce as mpi original films. The program consists of several components: the mpi hollywood career launch program, mpi rising executives program, mpi short film lab, mpi workshops, and mpi masterclasses. Mpi workshops offer financial support, training, mentoring, and educational opportunities to freedom-oriented filmmakers. We regularly rotate offerings to meet the needs of our filmmakers. We currently offer the following workshops: mpi screenwriting workshops, Moving picturecraft workshop(cinematography), directing workshop, and documentary storytelling workshop. Mpi's rising filmmaker program has supported 454 filmmakers with a total of 871 fellowships since the program began in 2006-and now supports approximately 80 filmmakers each year. We are launching the careers of a generation of filmmakers by offering them exceptional training opportunities, enabling them to establish industry credibility, and empowering them to become economically self-sufficient. Their future success is their own-but, as they often remark, mpi makes it possible by providing key support.