We are excited to announce that MPI filmmaker and Oscar-nominated documentarian Elizabeth Mirzaei has won MPI’s Short Film Lab’s $10,000 grant for her outstanding project proposal and script. 

In the lab, Elizabeth participated in the Screenwriting Workshop, where she developed her script through cycles of writing, revision, and constructive feedback from experienced mentors and peers. Following this, she advanced to MPI’s Directing Workshop, where she learned to bring her script to life by working with actors, managing a crew, and preparing for pre-production and production.

Elizabeth is known for her nonfiction films, including her latest feature Natalia, which premiered at True/False Film Fest and Visions du Réel and earned a nomination for Best Editing at the Australian Screen Awards. Natalia was praised for its unconventional approach and highlighted by Vox as a must-watch. Her short film Three Songs for Benazir, co-directed with her husband Gulistan, won a Cinema Eye Honors Award, a Grierson Award, a dozen jury awards, and was nominated for a 2022 Academy Award. The film was released by Netflix. Elizabeth’s debut feature Laila at the Bridge screened at prestigious festivals like Locarno and CPH and had a theatrical release in the UK. Her work as a cinematographer has been screened at TIFF and Venice, among others. She has also worked on documentaries for BBC, Al Jazeera, and Discovery. Elizabeth is a Film Independent Fellow and has served as a mentor for Global Media Makers and as an advisor for Sundance Co//ab. 

Elizabeth has a long history with MPI, having participated in several programs that have been instrumental in shaping her filmmaking career. As an intern in MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch Program, she acquired invaluable experience in film development. Elizabeth also participated in MPI’s Documentary Storytelling Workshop, refining her narrative-building abilities, and in the Cinematography Workshop, where she gained practical experience with professional camera and lighting systems, learning how to use them effectively to realize her artistic vision.

Now serving as a mentor in MPI’s Documentary Storytelling Workshop, Elizabeth continues to give back to the filmmaking community by sharing her expertise with the next generation of storytellers.

Reflecting on her time with MPI, Elizabeth said: “My appreciation for MPI runs deep—not just because MPI has been supportive of me as a filmmaker but because, in doing so, they have also felt in some ways like a family. MPI has provided a nurturing and invigorating environment in which I had the freedom and space to experiment and grow.”

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