More than 65 filmmakers gathered at the Velvet Martini Lounge in Studio City, California, for MPI’s Annual Oscars Watch Party, bringing together a wide mix of creatives from across Los Angeles for a night built around film, conversation, and connection.

As the Academy Awards played, the room stayed active with conversations about current projects, new ideas, and potential collaborations. Filmmakers reconnected with familiar faces while others were introduced to the MPI network for the first time.

MPI also shared updates on upcoming workshops and programming, giving attendees a clear look at what is ahead. The evening included a welcome for Matthew Middendorf as MPI’s director of finance, who also won the ballot competition for the second year in a row with the most accurate Oscar predictions. The night wrapped up with a raffle featuring items from the Academy Museum, which added a fun and memorable close to the event.

With a strong turnout, new connections, and continued engagement from returning filmmakers, the evening highlighted the ongoing growth of MPI’s Los Angeles community.

Interested in joining future events and connecting with MPI filmmakers? Join the filmmaker network here.