Colin Albea graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with an individually designed major in film and leads the life of a uniquely independent artist, telling stories of outsiders and underdogs. A proud MPI Hollywood Career Launch Program (HCLP) graduate, he worked with Duncan Scott Productions in the summer of 2012.

David Altrogge is a writer and director based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His films have been showcased at numerous festivals, with his most recent premiering at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, where it won the Documentary Spotlight Audience Award.

Ryan Caldwell is a filmmaker with a diverse background and strong storytelling expertise. His experience includes commercial work with Boeing and the US Air Force, as well as serving as the first assistant director on Cronies, a Spike Lee-produced film that premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and later had a successful Netflix run. In 2020, Ryan launched Ballistic Boy Productions, a production company known for thoughtful films like The Beggar and the Road Kid, which earned the Spreading Light Award at the 2022 Anthem Film Festival. He won the $10,000 grant prize in MPI’s 2024 Documentary Storytelling Workshop and has participated in MPI’s Theory and Fundamentals screenwriting workshop. Ryan is also a current member of the MPI Mentorship Program.

Xander Dominitz is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter. His script about Brown v. Board of Education has Tim Story (Barbershop, Fantastic Four, Ride Along) attached to direct with Richard Arlook (The Sessions) and Jack Greenbaum (A Private War) producing. Other recent commissions include an adaptation of the book Mighty Justice (Red Crown), an adaptation of the book What Stars Are Made Of (Ulladulla Films), and an investigative thriller about the Veterans’ Affairs scandal of 2014 (MPI). 

Huzaifa Ejaz is a Pakistani-American filmmaker focused on amplifying women’s voices, particularly those of South Asian women, through bold, thought-provoking storytelling. A self-taught filmmaker, Huzaifa has independently written and directed short films that experiment with nonlinear storytelling, surrealism, and speculative fiction to challenge dominant narratives. She is passionate about mentorship and accessibility in filmmaking and is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices—both on screen and behind the camera.

Brian Groh is a Missouri-born writer whose early works emerged from the underground Los Angeles theater scene. His character-driven, award-winning short films have screened at festivals including Sundance, Austin, Palm Springs, Denver SeriesFest and have also been recognized as a Vimeo Staff Pick. He has written for producers and studios, and his feature with Shout! Studios is in the final stages of development. Brian is represented by Epicenter LA.

Jerod Ra’Del Hollyfield is an associate professor of media arts at Middle Tennessee State University, where his research focuses on Hollywood cinema within a settler-colonial context. His book, Framing Empire: Postcolonial Adaptations of Victorian Literature in Hollywood, was released in 2018 by Edinburgh University Press. He is also a filmmaker whose work—largely set in the American South—has screened at the Sidewalk Film Festival, Indie Memphis, and the Nashville Film Festival, among others. He is also the executive director of the Southern Oasis Film Festival in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Julien Lasseur is a producer and director well-traveled on the short film festival circuit, with multiple awards and numerous “Official Selection” laurels attached to his films (Austin Film Festival, Camden International, Palm Springs International, Mill Valley, Heartland). In 2014, out of over 5,000 submissions, Julien reached the top 10 finalists in HBO’s Project Greenlight director competition. The following year, he produced the Emmy-nominated web series Everyone’s Crazy But Us for Funny Or Die. Since 2016, Julien has co-founded a successful production team that creates commercial campaigns for brands such as Mercedes, Hyundai, 7UP, and Ram Trucks. In 2019, he won Best Director at Denver’s SeriesFest for his major directorial debut, a web series titled Palomino & Swissy with Adaptive Studios. In 2025, Julien’s film Somebody Cares premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Monica Lucas began her career in Washington, DC, working at the Department of State and as an activist for various nonprofits and think tanks. She left DC after the 2016 election and got her MFA in writing for screen and television from USC. Since then, Monica has worked as a writers’ assistant on shows for Amazon and Netflix and as a PA for several MPI Original films. Her work has earned her recognition as a recipient of the Inevitable Foundation’s Accelerate Fellowship and inaugural Visionary Fellowship. She was a member of the 2024 Artist Disruptors Fellowship and is part of the 2025 Mentorship Matters cohort. She also participated in the 2023 Story Incubator Lab and was the 2021 JHRTS Feature Drama Winner. In addition to screenwriting, she has also written for narrative podcasts and games and is currently developing her first short film. Monica is represented by RBEL Agency and Elevate.

Sarah Morford is a writer, filmmaker, and actor drawn to stories of faith, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit. Before turning to filmmaking, she worked in human genomics and preventive healthcare, driven by a commitment to alternative care solutions where traditional systems fall short. That experience—along with a deep personal connection to illness and recovery—fuels her passion for stories of perseverance, where characters push back against unseen forces to reclaim their place in the world. As a member of SAG-AFTRA, Sarah has built a diverse body of work spanning independent films and commercial campaigns, bringing a performer’s instinct for storytelling to her work behind the camera. Whether writing fiction or developing films, she gravitates toward character-driven, emotionally charged narratives that challenge perspectives and leave a lasting impact.

Jon Schafer is a graduate of the USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with a degree in film and television production. He currently serves as the director of development at Tower Way, the production company helmed by Scott Veltri. In this role, he develops and produces a diverse slate of scripted and unscripted projects across film and television. Jon is deeply committed to MPI’s mission of promoting freedom through film. Through MPI’s programs, he has sharpened his filmmaking skills and built meaningful relationships within the MPI community. His participation includes the Moving Picturecraft cinematography workshop, the Theory and Fundamentals workshop, the Rising Executive Summit, and most recently, the Advanced Filmmaker Summit.

Eric Thompson has been working in film crews since the age of 19, gaining both practical experience and a deep understanding of filmmaking. A Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer, he has created several original projects, including the short films The Veil (Grand Jury Prize Winner—CFC), Stevie (Dances With Films, HollyShorts Film Festival), and Flanders (Winner of Night of Comedy Shorts). He currently has a feature screenplay optioned with Lionsgate Studios.

Kiera Williams is a purpose-driven filmmaker and alumna of the MPI’s HCLP and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Gold Rising Program. Raised in four states and twelve cities, her diverse background shapes her work, which explores themes of grief, mental health, reconciliation, and spiritual freedom. She participated in the Soho House Creative Mentorship Program and was selected for the Oxford Centre for Fantasy Writing Fellowship in 2022. In 2023, she completed a screenwriting fellowship with Martin Blueberry. Kiera has worked on award-winning films, including as assistant director on the bilingual international projects Alone Alone Alone on a Wide Wide Sea and Key Lime Pie. She was a featured speaker at the inaugural Bloomberg Screentime conference, discussing her short film Glass. Kiera’s goal as a storyteller is to inspire audiences to reflect on their lives and purposes.