Culture doesn’t change on its own—it changes when storytellers have the tools, support, and freedom to challenge prevailing narratives. As 2026 begins, MPI is building on the momentum you helped make possible, extending the reach of films and filmmakers committed to the values that are critical to upholding a free society.

MPI is poised to scale its impact promoting freedom through film with enhanced Rising Filmmaker Program offerings such as our First Feature Lab—and with bold, large-scale MPI Original films that will bring powerful stories to the screen. Currently in post-production is One Second After, a gripping survival thriller that explores themes of community, national security, and self-government after an electromagnetic pulse disables all technology across America. Our development slate also includes In Order to Live, based on the extraordinary escape of North Korean defector and human rights activist Yeonmi Park.

Watch the video below highlighting MPI’s upcoming projects and programs—and how they support filmmakers as they advance their careers.

To make a tax-deductible year-end gift supporting MPI’s strategic efforts to advance freedom through film, please click the button below.

If you’d prefer to make your donation by check, your envelope must be postmarked by December 31. You can mail it to the Moving Picture Institute at 375 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013.

REMNANTS TO PREMIERE AT DANCES WITH FILMS NYC

The MPI Original documentary short Remnants will have its world premiere in New York City on Sunday, January 18, at 11:30 a.m. at Dances With Films, a festival highlighted by USA Today in 2023 as one of the ten best festivals in the US and featured in MovieMaker’s 2025 list of the Coolest Film Festivals in the World.

Directed by MPI filmmaker Michael Catenacci and produced by MPI filmmaker Matt Pirrall of the Cavern Collective, a commercial and documentary production company, the film follows a sixth-generation ranching family grappling with the legacy of the American cowboy after a devastating wildfire ravages their land. As government policies threaten their livelihood and cultural shifts cast their way of life as a thing of the past, the family must confront what it means to carry tradition forward in a rapidly changing world.

Get your tickets now, and watch the official trailer below.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE YEAR AHEAD

Thinking about what’s next in your filmmaking journey?

MPI is now accepting applications for the 2026 Short Film Lab. This year’s theme is A Republic, If You Can Keep It: Reflecting on America’s 250th. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we invite filmmakers to explore the fragile heartbeat of a democratic republic: the ongoing struggle to balance individual rights with the duties to sustain a free society. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. (PT) on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

To find out more or to apply, click here. 

COMING SOON: DOCUMENTARY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

Documentarians committed to telling meaningful real-world stories can apply to MPI’s Documentary Storytelling Workshop, an eight-week program led by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Elizabeth Mirzaei. Participants sharpen their concepts, learn from working professionals, and may advance to the MPI Production Lab for continued development. Applications open February 1, 2026.

MPI’S YEAR-ROUND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Applications for MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch Program (HCLP) are accepted on a rolling basis year-round. Designed for college students and recent graduates who share MPI’s commitment to advancing freedom through film, the HCLP is highly selective—admitting roughly one percent of applicants—and has placed interns at leading production companies. Summer interns also participate in the Academy Gold Rising program, gaining access to mentorship, panels, screenings, networking events, and studio tours with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In addition to all this, the HCLP has become a key pathway into MPI’s Mentorship Program, increasing the potential benefits of applying in the coming year.

MPI also offers a referral program. If you recommend a new applicant who is accepted and successfully placed with one of our production partners or on an MPI set, you’ll receive a $100 Amazon gift card. We are likewise welcoming new host companies; when you introduce a production company or contact who goes on to host an MPI intern, you may also earn a gift card. Referrals may be sent to Bradford Downs, MPI’s director of talent engagement, at bradford@thempi.org.

On behalf of everyone at MPI, thank you again and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous year ahead.

Cheers!