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Filmmakers Selected for MPI’s Doc Storytelling Workshop
September 13, 2024
The Moving Picture Institute (MPI) is excited to announce the 13 talented filmmakers selected for MPI’s Documentary Storytelling Workshop, which began this week. This intensive eight-week workshop provides filmmakers with training and mentorship to inspire and guide them in developing their short documentary pitches. Throughout the workshop, participants will engage in virtual sessions focused on key aspects of documentary development and production, working alongside a community of skilled filmmakers.
MPI filmmaker and Academy Award-nominated director and cinematographer Elizabeth Mirzaei will lead the workshop. Her film Natalia premiered at True/False and was named one of Vox’s top ten new documentaries. She co-directed the Oscar-nominated short film Three Songs For Benazir. Her feature Laila at the Bridge screened at festivals like Locarno and had a UK theatrical release. Elizabeth has worked on documentaries for BBC and Al Jazeera and was Director of Photography for MTV’s Afghan Dreamers. She is a Film Independent Fellow, MPI Fellow, Global Media Makers mentor, and Sundance Co//ab advisor.
Nicole Roewe, MPI’s director of creative and talent development, will oversee the workshop. She previously worked in creative development at Millennium Media, known for franchises like Has Fallen and The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Nicole has a double MA in historical research and creative writing from the University of Roehampton and a BFA in television and broadcast journalism from Chapman University. She has authored three books on Amelia Earhart’s last flight and is the screenwriter for the upcoming MPI Original feature film Motherland.
One of the recent standout MPI Original documentary shorts to emerge from the Documentary Storytelling Workshop, A Clean Slate, directed by MPI filmmaker Trần Hoàng Calvin, achieved remarkable success on the festival circuit. It had its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying BronzeLens Film Festival, was screened at over 20 festivals—with more to come—and won the Best Documentary Short Award at the Red Rock Film Festival.
Below are the 2024 MPI Documentary Storytelling Workshop filmmakers:
David Altrogge is an Emmy-winning filmmaker whose work has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and RogerEbert.com. His latest documentary, Clemente, about MLB legend Roberto Clemente, was executive-produced by LeBron James, Richard Linklater, and the Clemente family. It premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, winning the Documentary Spotlight Audience Award.
Ryan Caldwell is an American filmmaker known for his work with Boeing and the US Air Force. He served as 1st Assistant Director on Spike Lee’s Cronies, which premiered at Sundance. In 2020, he founded Ballistic Boy, a production company creating thought-provoking content, such as the short film The Beggar and the Road Kid, which won the Spreading Light Award at the 2022 Anthem Film Festival.
Michael Catenacci is a Connecticut-based director specializing in documentaries and short commercial projects. After graduating from NYU’s Stern School of Business, he pivoted to filmmaking, focusing on blending analog-crafted visuals with well-structured storytelling to create films that are both visually stunning and emotionally impactful.
Mary Lucia Darst holds a DPhil in Music from Oxford. She was vice-president of the Oxford University Filmmaking Foundation and attended the London Film School’s Directors’ Workshop. She has interned at MPI, worked on the MPI Original short Moving Violation, and taken part in several MPI workshops.
James Leigh began his career in 2003 as a researcher for documentaries at Brook Lapping Productions in London, working on factual programming for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, National Geographic, PBS, and Discovery. He later produced the acclaimed Surviving Katrina and When We Left Earth for Discovery. Before founding Origin Films in 2011, James produced the BAFTA-winning documentary The Liquid Bomb Plot for National Geographic and Channel 4.
Patrick Lehe is a filmmaker whose career took off with MPI when he interned at Adam Scott’s Gettin’ Rad Productions. During this time, he secured his first option deal for an unscripted series with Grandma’s House Entertainment. His horror comedy Shit Show received a reader-recommended review on the Black List and caught the attention of director Darren Stein, who is now attached to direct Patrick’s latest ’90s slasher-inspired horror feature. Patrick is currently a production coordinator at Family Theater Productions.
Matthew Middendorf joined MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch program in 2019, interning at Bold Films and Film Finances Inc. He directed short films featured in Oscar-qualifying festivals and worked in Technology, Media, and Telecom at Ernst & Young and other tech startups. He also attended MPI’s Rising Executive Summit and the Producing Seminar and remains active in supporting independent film and education.
Justin Monticello is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker with over 55 million views on his work. A former senior producer for Reason TV and MPI comedy fellow, he is a two-time LA Press Club Award winner featured by ABC and The Atlantic. He holds a degree from Harvard.
Kaitlin Moose is a writer and director passionate about “edutainment.” She has worked with MTV on indie film projects in Los Angeles and created YouTube content for over a decade. Her latest short film depicts her great-uncle’s heroism as a WWII pilot using real combat footage.
Matt Pirrall is a producer and director with 10 years of experience in award-winning documentaries, educational series, and commercial videos. He began as a humanitarian filmmaker and later transitioned to content strategy for educational and commercial clients. His work with Ascension earned Emmy and Telly Awards nominations. In 2023, he co-founded Cavern Collective, a production company.
Taryn Sells is a filmmaker drawn to stories of freedom and the American Dream. She has worked in creative development at Walt Disney Studios, Pascal Pictures, and Skybound Entertainment. While participating in MPI’s 2021 Hollywood Career Launch Program, she was selected for the Academy Gold Rising internship enhancement program.
Jen Sidorova is a documentary film producer whose filmmaking is inspired by her experience with real estate regulations. A PhD candidate at Georgia Tech, she leverages her data expertise to analyze housing regulations and offer insights to stakeholders. With a background in government reform and a decade in entertainment, she focuses on creating films that drive legislative impact.
Lucy Stylianou has over 30 years of experience in television production, from production manager to producer. She spent nine years at Channel 4 as a Commercial Affairs Executive, managing programming budgets across genres. Lucy has produced non-scripted shows for major UK networks and global broadcasters, including Surviving Mumbai (PBS), Churchill’s Darkest Decision (Channel 4 & PBS), and Unapologetic (Channel 4). She is currently head of production at Chatterbox Media.
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