The MPI Original short film Grind, written, directed, and produced by MPI filmmaker Mark Apicella, continues to gain recognition on the festival circuit. Most recently, the film was awarded Best Short Film at the Riverside International Film Festival in Southern California.

Developed in the MPI Short Film Lab and produced through the MPI Production Lab, Grind follows the story of John, an aspiring sneaker designer in East Los Angeles, who lands the opportunity of a lifetime to be featured in his idol’s pop-up shop—only to have his best friend and business partner threaten to derail everything by promising John’s design to a gang with their own agenda.

Watch the trailer below and learn more about the film at grindfilm.com.