MPI is pleased to invite applications for our 2025 Short Film Lab. This comprehensive program provides filmmakers with hands-on training and mentoring to take their initial film concepts through the process of developing a producible short film script. Filmmakers accepted into the program receive fellowship grants and participate in screenwriting workshops, followed by directing workshops.

After the workshop stages, at least one official selection will be made. That filmmaker will receive a $10,000 grant, acquisition of their script, and the opportunity to further develop their project with MPI for potential production as an MPI Original Film.

Past MPI Original short films have premiered at top festivals, including Tribeca and SXSW, and have helped launch their filmmakers into the next stages of their careers. You can check out some of MPI’s completed shorts here.

MPI’s mission is to promote freedom through film, and this can be defined in many ways. To narrow the types of submissions we receive for our 2025 Short Film Lab, we are asking for concepts related to the following theme:

Silenced Voices: The Fight for Free Speech and Expression in a Digital Age

In an era where public discourse faces new challenges, including both private and state censorship, how far are individuals and communities willing to go to defend their right to speak? This theme invites storytellers to explore the power of open dialogue and the ways people push back against restrictions on expression—whether in universities, on media platforms, or in public spaces. Through these stories, we celebrate the resilience of those who champion free speech and foster meaningful conversation in today’s world. To that end, we encourage our filmmakers to creatively consider our latest Short Film Lab theme: Silenced Voices: The Fight for Free Speech and Expression in a Digital Age.

The possibilities are endless, and you’re free to pitch a story in any genre, but this theme is your jumping-off point.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Have a limited cast (fewer than five principal actors, with limited or no extras)
• Have limited locations (ideally one)
• Can be shot within two days in the LA area
• Tell stories about characters within the United States

Click HERE to learn more and submit your concept to the 2025 Short Film Lab. Application requirements include a résumé and a completed questionnaire detailing your concept and explaining how your project relates to MPI’s mission and the theme above. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (PT) on Friday, January 3, 2025. Submissions will not be accepted after that time.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We are excited to hear your pitches!