MPT recognizes the importance of local and independent filmmakers and their unique ability to capture truths about the world with artistic integrity, intelligence, and balance. MPT supports these artists and gives viewers access to their voices and viewpoints. These producers' programs provide viewers with a better understanding of the world, an open door to the arts, and actionable information to improve their daily lives.

Welcome, producers! Please scroll to the bottom of this page for special information about submitting your work or program ideas to MPT.

Local, USA: HBCU Week: Changemakers

Monday, September 8th @ 8:30 PM (premiere); Tuesday, September 9th @ 12:30 and 3:30 AM

A pair of short documentaries illustrating the power and success of peaceful protests led by students. Witness how Morehouse College's youth leaders exemplify social grace during demonstrations against social injustices in the U.S., and at Morgan State University, the untold story of how this HBCU became one of America's fastest growing universities following the largest student-led protest in Maryland.

Local, USA: HBCU Week: Innovation

Monday, September 8th @ 10:30 PM (premiere); Tuesday, September 9th @ 2:30 AM

An exploration of how HBCU programs are changing and saving lives. Howard University is making history with the only Division One swim program at an HBCU while also teaching the Black community to swim. Claflin University's SmartHOME technology connects a person's physical state to actions to help mitigate health risks, hoping to combat healthcare disparities in minority communities.

The Golden Year: Howard Women's Basketball

Thursday, September 11th @ 8:00 PM (premiere); Friday, September 12th @ 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM

Since 1974, the Howard University women's basketball program has been committed to excellence that extends beyond the court. Facing triumph and challenges, the women's basketball team continues to raise the bar - embodying the spirit of resilience, determination and pride.

Hampton University: One of the Wonders of the World

Monday, September 8th @ 9:30 PM (premiere); Tuesday, September 9th @ 1:30 and 4:00 AM

A look at the history of Virginia's Hampton University and the leadership of its iconic past-President, Dr. William R. Harvey. As Hampton University's 44-year president, Dr. Harvey left a lasting legacy as an iconic leader and advocate for HBCU education. His life-changing impact on those who came in contact with him has been recognized by Former President Barack Obama, civil rights icon Andrew Young and Gov. Douglass Wilder, among others.

The Historic HBCU Photograph

Monday, September 8th @ 9:00 PM (premiere); Tuesday, September 10th @ 1:00 AM

In 2021, the approval of a vaccine by the CDC marked a turning point in the battle against COVID-19, allowing the gradual resumption of social activities. Against this backdrop, alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country gathered for a momentous event on the steps of Morningside Park in Harlem. Inspired by the iconic 1958 photograph "A Great Day in Harlem," they came together for a historic photograph, symbolizing unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of community.  The gathering not only celebrated the resilience of HBCU alumni but also served as a powerful reminder of their historical role in advancing social justice and equality.

The Calvin Tyler Story

Friday, September 12th @ 9:35 pm; Saturday, September 13th at 1:02 AM

Biography of Calvin Tyler, a Baltimore UPS driver who worked his way up the corporate ladder to Senior Vice President of Operations and then on to the Board of Directors . A former student of Morgan State College, Tyler and his wife Tina committed $20 million in need-based scholarships to students of Morgan University, the largest-ever private donation from an alumnus to an HBCU.

History of a National Treasure - Morgan State University

Friday, September 12th @ 10:31 PM; Saturday, September 13th @ 2:00 AM and 4:05 AM

Rooted in the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act and born of the vision of five Black churchmen and former slaves who were determined to uplift their race through education, the Centenary Biblical Institute was an all-male school for clergymen in the basement of a South Baltimore church with nine students and one professor..  Launched in 1867 and – through more than 150 years of social and financial struggle – it evolved into Morgan State University, one of this nation’s most accomplished and prestigious historically black higher education institutions.

Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience

Saturday, September 13th @ 8:30 PM; Sunday, September 14th @ 1:00 AM

Today's African-American students have more opportunities to engage with mathematics than any of their predecessors had. Yet there are powerful headwinds: lingering racial prejudice and internal cultural resistance to math and STEM in the community, are just two. With a focus on the role of HBCUs in producing Black mathematicians, this film explores the pioneering stories of prominent Black scholars, scientists and educators, showing how the challenges they faced and their triumphs are reflected in the experiences of today's mid-career Black mathematicians.

Local, USA: HBCU Week: Beyond the Field

Thursday, September 11th @ 7:30 PM

Offering a unique look beyond sports, this program highlights the culture, history, and community spirit that define HBCUs.  Experience the CIAA in Maryland, a cornerstone of Black athletics history, and feel the electrifying atmosphere of Louisiana's Bayou Classic - an annual showdown between Grambling State and Southern University.

Local, USA: HBCU Week: Tradition and Competition

Thursday, September 11th @ 10:00 PM; Friday, September 12th @ 2:00 AM

Dive into HBCU football culture and witness the rivalry of Hampton and Howard, a testament to tradition and spirit, and appreciate the intensity of an NC A&T vs. NC Central game, a match steeped in proximity and pride. The program showcases the blend of camaraderie and competition that defines HBCU sports, highlighting their impact on African American communities.

The Morgan Lacrosse Story

Thursday, September 11th @ 11:00 PM; Friday, September 12th @ 3:00 AM

Set against the racially turbulent 1970s, The Morgan Lacrosse Story chronicles the accomplishments of the Morgan Bears, the nation's first and only college lacrosse team at a historically black institution. The film chronicles the accomplishments of an extraordinary group of young black men and their fearless leader who took the field in a predominantly white sport.

Shaw Rising

Saturday, September 13th @ 10:30 PM; Sunday, September 14th @ 3:00 AM

This hour-long documentary that tells the story of Shaw University and its integral place throughout American history. Despite facing vicious prejudice from in the aftermath of the Civil War, Shaw rose to become a co-educational college, a medical school, law school and divinity school. During the Civil Rights Movement, Shaw University served as the birthplace of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and continues to rise to the challenges faced by its mission today.

Barnstorming

Thursday, September 11th @ 9:00 PM (MPT2/Create)

In the 1920s and 1930s, gypsy "barnstorming" pilots would set down their single-engine planes in a field and invite farmers, townspeople and children to experience flight for the first time. In 1999, modern-day barnstormers Andrew King and Frank Pavliga revived this tradition when they landed their antique airplanes on an eastern Indiana alfalfa field and treated the farmer's two sons to their first flights. The pilots returned year after year, each time bringing with them other pilots with their own vintage airplanes. Soon, it evolved into an annual event for the entire community, with neighbors dropping by the farm to see aerial maneuvers and to enjoy a picnic, dancing, late-night stories and camping. 

Happy Campers

Friday, September 12th @ 3:00 PM

In a waterfront campground off the coast of Virginia, tenants live spitting-distance apart in rows of rust-bitten RVs. And while blue collar Inlet View is nothing like The Hamptons, beneath a few trailer park stereotypes lies an improbable utopia where anyone who makes it past the gate is welcome. Sadly, their self-created paradise has been sold to a developer, destined to become part of a portfolio of luxury getaways for "nice" families.

Local 1196: A Steelworkers Strike

Monday, September 1st @ 8:00 PM (MPT2/Create)

In March of 2021, the steelworkers of USW 1196 in Pennsylvania struck, citing unfair labor practices. "Local 1196" follows their story from the late night conversations on the picket lines to the fiery debates at the union hall to the living rooms of the members. This film gives unique insight into the daily struggles of America's blue-collar workers as days on strike turn from weeks to months.