As announced in IndieWire, the MPI Original short film Poisoned Skies will premiere at the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase during the preeminent Cannes Film Festival, one of the most recognized platforms for rising filmmakers worldwide. Presented by IndieWire and sponsored by the nonprofit Gold House, the event will take place at the Palais des Festivals on Wednesday, May 20, at 6 p.m. and will feature short films from student and emerging filmmakers across the globe.

Written and directed by MPI filmmaker Caroline Friend, Poisoned Skies is set in 1954 and follows an ambitious scientist on the verge of presenting groundbreaking pollution research. As she prepares to share her findings, she becomes the target of a mining company responsible for a deadly smog disaster, forcing her to confront a difficult moral decision. Inspired by true events, the film explores the tension between scientific discovery, corporate pressure, and personal responsibility.

Caroline will attend the festival and looks forward to sharing more about the film.

Developed through the MPI Short Film Lab and produced through MPI’s Production Lab, Poisoned Skies will be presented alongside films from leading film schools and emerging creators from around the world, offering a global audience the opportunity to engage with its story.

Watch the trailer below—we hope to see you at the festival.