Recently, Moving Picture Institute (MPI) filmmaker Hannah Caruana returned from Toronto, Canada, where she served as third assistant director on the set of the MPI Original television pilot Public Interest, a legal drama set at a nonprofit law firm in Washington, DC, that explores individual rights and government accountability. Earlier during her time in Toronto, she also worked as an associate producer on four MPI Production Lab shorts. Each film explored a different perspective on free speech in the digital age, giving Hannah the opportunity to contribute across multiple departments, from office operations and script supervision to set decoration. For a young filmmaker committed to telling stories about freedom, these productions provided another opportunity to bring that vision to life.

Just two years ago, that future seemed much less certain. After graduating from college, Hannah knew she wanted to build a career in filmmaking. She hoped to tell stories about freedom, truth, and transformation, but she had no clear path into the industry. She wasn’t simply looking for an internship. She was searching for mentors, meaningful production experience, and a community of filmmakers who shared her values.

Everything changed when Hannah attended the Windrider Summit during the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. There, she met a Hollywood Career Launch Program (HCLP) intern who described her experience working on the MPI Original feature Kemba. Hearing how the program combined hands-on production experience with a mission to tell stories about freedom convinced Hannah she had found the opportunity she had been searching for.

“My HCLP internship experience was an incredible bridge between college in the Midwest and joining the entertainment industry in Los Angeles,” Hannah said. “From day one, it’s been an encouraging, empowering, and exciting network to be a part of.”

As an HCLP intern, Hannah was paired with MPI filmmaker Timothy Blackwood (Infraction) as a creative assistant. She soon expanded her responsibilities into assistant editing, contributing to documentary and narrative projects, creating post-production assets, and editing the trailer for Timothy’s comedy short Badmouth Grandma, which premiered at an MPI short film competition.

After completing the program, Hannah accepted a contract with Fulwell Entertainment as a story logger for Netflix’s Starting 5. She also remained an active member of MPI’s filmmaker network, participating in workshops and events while continuing to collaborate with fellow filmmakers. She later served as production coordinator on the MPI Original short Pocket Change before joining the crew of the upcoming feature One Second After in Bulgaria. Each opportunity built on the last, expanding her experience across projects of every scale. Learn more about other MPI filmmakers’ experiences on the set here.

“Working in Bulgaria was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” Hannah said. “It stoked my personal passion for exploring the world through filmmaking and grew my understanding of many different department operations, which I believe continues to enhance my ability to effectively produce. It also brought so many wonderful relationships into my life, deepening my love for people in the world of storytelling and beyond.”

Looking back, Hannah says the productions themselves tell only part of the story. What has made the greatest difference is the network she found through MPI and the relationships that have continued long after her internship ended.

“MPI has been one of the most transformative communities I’ve been a part of as a filmmaker,” she said. “The organization has created space for me to develop my professional goals within a community that inspires, challenges, and supports me. It has far surpassed my expectations for an internship; not only have I received practical creative experiences, but I’ve been exposed to the whole ecosystem of industry engagements, including film festivals, awards shows, red carpets, producer conferences, and filmmaker Q&A panels.”

That experience also strengthened Hannah’s commitment to the kind of stories she set out to tell when she first entered the industry. “My aim is to amplify goodness and beauty, declare the truth, and bring light and freedom through the stories I help tell,” she said. “MPI’s mission to produce freedom-focused films is something I’m grateful to be a part of.”

As Hannah continues pursuing a career dedicated to telling stories about freedom, she says none of it would have been possible without the generosity of those who invest in emerging filmmakers.

“I’m deeply grateful to the donors who support filmmakers like me,” Hannah said. “This investment has truly had the most significant impact on me as a well-rounded filmmaker. I’ve been able to develop meaningful relationships, collaborate with like-minded, high-caliber creatives, and expand my professional portfolio. MPI launched me into my career with a network of collaborators and an unparalleled team of supporters. Many thanks to everyone who’s made this dream a reality!”