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.

Allergic to Failure: The Robert Covington Story

Monday, February 2nd @ 9:00 PM (premiere); Tuesday, February 3rd @ 1:00 and 4:00 AM; Saturday, February 21st @ 8:00 PM; Sunday, February 22nd @ 12:00 and 3:00 AM

The powerful story of former NBA player Robert Covington, who, rooted in grit, faith, and self-belief, defied the odds by transitioning from HBCU student to a decade-long career in the highest level of professional basketball. Finding his footing at Tennessee State University, he discovered not just his basketball potential but embraced the excellence and rich legacy of HBCUs.

Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals

Wednesday, February 11th @ 10:00 PM (premiere); Thursday, February 12th @ 2:00 AM; Saturday, February 21st @ 9:00 PM; Sunday, February 22nd @ 1:00 AM; Monday, February 23rd @ 9:00 PM (MPT2/Create)

A journey through the global race for critical minerals—the metals powering our green transition – and asking who benefits and who gets left behind. Filmed across five continents, the documentary explores how the drive to decarbonize has sparked fierce geopolitical competition, while also imposing steep costs on vulnerable communities at the frontlines of extraction.  

More Deconstructing the Beatles

Saturday, February 28th @ 9:00 PM (premiere)

Acclaimed "Beatle-ologist" Scott Freiman guides you, step by step, on an educational journey through several of The Beatles’ milestone albums and the fascinating stories that accompanied them. No matter how much you know about the Beatles, there's something new here for you. Three new segments cover the creation of the A Hard Day's Night film/soundtrack; the writing and recording of the song “Penny Lane"; and the musical evolution and influence of George Harrison.

Barry Farm:  Community, Land & Justice in Washington DC

Saturday, February 21st @ 10:00 PM; Sunday, February 22nd @ 2:00 AM

During Reconstruction, free Blacks purchased land once worked on by the enslaved and built Barry Farm, one of DC's first thriving Black communities. It would become home to a sprawling public housing complex, the launching grounds for the Welfare Rights movement, and one of the birthplaces of the city's Go-Go music scene. Now, its once-again empty fields are a gold mine for developers.

The Five Demands

Sunday, February 22nd @ 6:00 PM

In April 1969, a small group of Black and Puerto Rican students shut down the City College of New York, an elite public university located in the heart of Harlem.  The CCNY strikers were the vanguard of a national Black student movement that transformed the culture, mission, and curriculum of American higher education.  For many, it was the first time they ever stepped foot on the neo-Gothic campus on a hill overlooking their neighborhood. Told through the participants' point of view, the film follows the students' struggle against the institutional racism that, for over a century, had shut out people of color from this institution and other public universities.

The Historic HBCU Photograph

Thursday, February 26th @ 10:30 PM; Friday, February 27th @ 2:30 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.

Ora et Laboroa

Saturday, March 28th @ 8:00 PM (premiere); Sunday, March 29th @ 12:00 AM & 3:00 AM

"Ora et labora" is Latin for "work and prayer," and is the motto of the Christian monastic life. Inspired by the growth of the American craft beer movement, a group of Catholic monks in Spencer, Massachusetts produces America's first "Trappist-certified" beer, a historically European tradition that signals growth opportunities for financially insecure monastic communities looking to preserve their unique way of life.

Social Security: 90 Years Strong

Saturday, March 28th @ 8:30 PM (premiere); Sunday, March 29th @ 12:30 AM & 3:30 AM

An exploration of the 90-year history and legacy of Social Security, the New Deal’s most enduring program.  Crafted by the first female cabinet member, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, the program has worked for 90 years to provide retirees, people with disabilities, and their families with basic financial security.

Deconstructing the Beatles

Even more than 50 years since the band broke up, The Beatles' influence endures, thanks to songs and records that continue to captivate audiences of all ages. As with all classic works of art, these masterpieces keep revealing new and surprising elements the closer we look. Producer/composer/entrepreneur/educator Scott Freiman dives deeply into the creative process behind these timeless records, taking us on an educational, entertaining journey through the development of the Beatles' classic songs and records, and of the band itself.

Airdate(s): 

• Ep. 1 - The Beatles Come to America - Friday, March 13th @ 8:00 PM (MPT2/Create)
• Ep. 2 - Deconstructing Rubber Soul -  Friday, March 13th @ 8:30 PM (MPT2/Create)
• Ep. 3 - A Trip through Strawberry Fields -  Friday, March 20th @ 8:00 PM (MPT2/Create)
• Ep. 4 - A Stroll Down Penny Lane -  Friday, March 20th @ 8:30 PM (MPT2/Create)
• Ep. 5 - Deconstructing A Day in the Life -  Friday, March 27th @ 8:00 PM (MPT2/Create)
• Ep. 6 - The Beatles Go East -  Friday, March 27th @ 8:30 PM (MPT2/Create)

Liberty of Conscience: The Founding of Maryland

Monday, March 16th @ 9:00 PM; Tuesday, March 17th @ 2:00 AM

The fascinating story of colonial Maryland's beginnings as America's first experiment in religious tolerance, starting with George Calvert's vision for a tolerant colony, and the complicated legacy his sons Cecilius and Leonard carried forward. The film explores the origins of how these early ideals of religious liberty took shape amid colonization, power struggles, and Indigenous displacement.

More Deconstructing the Beatles

Sunday, March 1st @ 6:30 PM (MPT2/Create); Monday, March 2nd @ 10:00 PM; Thursday, March 5th @ 9:30 PM (MPT2/Create)

Acclaimed "Beatle-ologist" Scott Freiman guides you, step by step, on an educational journey through several of The Beatles’ milestone albums and the fascinating stories that accompanied them. No matter how much you know about the Beatles, there's something new here for you. Three new segments cover the creation of the A Hard Day's Night film/soundtrack; the writing and recording of the song “Penny Lane"; and the musical evolution and influence of George Harrison.