Toby Fell-Holden is a writer-director and Screen Star of Tomorrow whose work blends psychological drama with subversive genre storytelling. His acclaimed shorts include Balcony, winner of over 30 awards, including the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and an MPI-supported short Little Shadow, which was BAFTA-longlisted. Previously, he was lead director on BBC’s The Break II, a Sundance Labs finalist, a 1497 mentor, and the recipient of an Academy Fellowship.

Caroline Friend is a filmmaker focused on powerful true stories, including her recent MPI-produced short Poisoned Skies. Her short film Under Darkness premiered at Telluride, won the Horizon Award at Sundance, and was a Student Academy Award finalist. A graduate of USC with degrees in Film Production and History, Caroline’s work has been recognized by the Directors Guild of America and the Television Academy.

Tim Hedberg is a bilingual filmmaker and founder of Motivo Media, creating documentaries, narratives, and global campaigns centered on freedom and human dignity. His work has screened at major festivals and appeared in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Wired. Raised in Caracas and based in Seattle, he also teaches film at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala and speaks internationally. Tim co-directed the MPI Original short The Art of Inflation together with MPI filmmaker Brett Wietecha.

Monica Cecilia Lucas is a former Washington insider turned TV drama and rom-com writer. She graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and has earned multiple honors, including the Inevitable Foundation’s Visionary Fellowship. A 2025 Mentorship Matters fellow and an official selection for this year’s Women’s List, she has written for PocketFM and Crazy Maple (ReelShorts) and worked as both a showrunner’s assistant and production assistant. Her first short film, funded by a Netflix grant, recently premiered at the Academy Museum. Monica joined the 2021 Short Film Lab, gained hands-on experience as a production assistant on several MPI Originals, expanded her skills through multiple MPI workshops, and ultimately became a 2025 Short Film Lab grant winner.

Cyrus Saidi is an Iranian-Canadian filmmaker and talent manager whose work blends eastern and western influences. His debut documentary feature What We Started earned widespread praise and featured major electronic music artists. Based in Los Angeles, he has produced TV specials, music videos, and commercial work for top brands and award-winning talent. Cyrus Saidi and Monica Cecilia Lucas are writing partners who met at a past MPI Advanced Filmmaker Summit and whose credits include Little Brother.

Tanner Mobley is a Los Angeles–based writer, director, and producer. He serves as VP of Development and Production at Millennium Media, overseeing acquisitions, development, packaging, and production. His work spans multiple facets of the filmmaking process. His MPI Original short film Pocket Change, co-written and directed with fellow MPI filmmaker Heston Roewe, premiered this year, screening at top festivals including HollyShorts and the Indy Shorts Film Festival.

Laura Waters Hinson is an award-winning filmmaker and American University professor whose work has screened globally and on major broadcast platforms. Her recent short film The Test won six festival awards and qualified for the 2024 Oscars. A longtime MPI collaborator, Laura served as the director of MPI’s documentary feature Project Home and wrote and directed the MPI Original short comedy Moving Violation, starring Milana Vayntrub (Werewolves Within), which won Best Narrative Short at the 2018 DC Independent Film Festival.

Brett Wietecha is a writer, director, and producer known for cinematic storytelling across narrative, branded, and large-scale productions. He recently co-directed the MPI Original short film The Art of Inflation in Colombia, leading a 200-person team. His work spans international production and collaborations with organizations such as the Seattle Seahawks and The Economist.

Heston Roewe is a West Hollywood–based screenwriter, director, and editor with credits for Millennium Media, Netflix, Sony, and Happy Madison. A multi-award-winning editor, he has earned Promax and Clio honors as well as a Golden Trailer nomination. This year, he made his co-directorial debut with the MPI Original film Pocket Change.