The MPI Original short film Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up, written and directed by MPI filmmaker Trần Hoàng Calvin, will have two festival screenings in the coming months. 

The story follows the Clifford family, who hope to start a new life by selling their dilapidated farm. But when the discovery of an endangered bird on the property threatens to collapse the sale, their son Andy must decide whether to make the bird’s presence known—or to shoot, shovel, and shut up.

The film will screen on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. during a special preview of the Oneota Film Festival in Calmar, Iowa. The preview program offers audiences an early look at films selected for the festival and highlights distinctive voices in independent filmmaking. Learn more here.

Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up will also screen on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the New Generation Filmmakers Forum in Chicago, Illinois. The forum is a highly regarded program dedicated to showcasing exceptional emerging filmmakers and innovative short-form storytelling. Following the screening, Trần will join audiences for a post-screening Q&A to discuss the film and his creative process. Get your tickets here.