Six MPI short films are heading to the Catalina Film Festival, taking place on picturesque Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. Ranked among the top 1% of film festivals worldwide on FilmFreeway, Catalina has also been named one of MovieMaker magazine’s “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.”

The festival director noted that accepting six MPI films represents one of the festival’s strongest showings from a single film institute or school in its 16-year history, alongside submissions from institutions including USC, AFI, UCLA, and Chapman University’s Dodge College.

The MPI Original short film Pocket Change, written and directed by MPI filmmakers Heston Roewe and Tanner Mobley, will screen on Friday, September 25, at 12:30 p.m. as part of the “Pressure Points” block. The film received nominations for Best Ensemble Cast, Narrative Short and Best Cinematography, Narrative Short.

On Saturday, September 26, three more MPI short films will screen in person. Poisoned Skies, written and directed by MPI filmmaker Caroline Friend, will screen at 11:30 a.m. as part of the “Love, Loss, and Other Complications” block. MPI Original documentary short Skyward: The Sport Rocketry Revolution, co-directed by MPI filmmaker Matthew Middendorf and Kaitlyn Krikorian, will screen at 1 p.m. as part of the “Hard Roads / Hard Choices” block, followed by Grind at 1:30 p.m. as part of the “Home Is a Verb” block. Poisoned Skies received four nominations: Best Director, Narrative Short; Best Lead Actress, Narrative Short; Best Cinematography, Narrative Short; and Best Editing, Short. Get your tickets for the in-person screenings here.

Two more MPI Originals will be available to watch virtually from September 25 through October 5. The One-Minute Problem, written and directed by MPI filmmaker Nick Delgado, received nominations for Best Ensemble Cast, Narrative Short and Best Director, Virtual Cinema. MPI Original documentary short Remnants, directed by MPI filmmaker Michael Catenacci and produced by MPI filmmaker Matt Pirrall, will also screen virtually during the festival.

Get your tickets to watch The One-Minute Problem here and Remnants here.