2025 MPA Awards Honor Filmmaker, U.S. Policymakers, and Digital Piracy Combatant
Honorees Include Filmmaker Jon M. Chu, Sens. John Thune and Chris Coons, Rep. Darrell Issa, and IPR Center
WASHINGTON – The Motion Picture Association (MPA) today presented its 2025 MPA Awards to leaders across U.S. creative, policy, and content protection communities – all of whom play a vital role in strengthening and safeguarding the film, television, and streaming industry.
Jon M. Chu, the highly acclaimed director of “Wicked” and the upcoming “Wicked: For Good,” received the 2025 MPA Creator Award. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) all received 2025 MPA Industry Champion Awards. Ivan Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), received the 2025 MPA Creative Protector Award.
The MPA presented the awards to its honorees at a ceremony tonight at the association’s global headquarters in Washington, DC.
“Tonight, we bring Hollywood and Washington together to honor leaders who produce, promote, and protect the backbone of film and television — great stories and the people who tell them,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA. “This year’s MPA Awards recognize key lawmakers and filmmakers with a hand in strengthening our iconic American industry through smart policies, effective content security, and gravity-defying creativity. I couldn’t be happier to celebrate these remarkable honorees.”
A visionary director and acclaimed filmmaker, Chu boasts an impressive, ever-expanding filmography. Beyond conjuring up a box-office smash hit and cultural phenomenon in “Wicked,” his resume includes widely celebrated films such as “In the Heights” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” Chu’s signature creative style, paired with his adoration for larger-than-life narratives, draws in audiences from around the globe.
“Creators tell extraordinary stories that transcend our very screens. They spark imaginations, inspire future generations, and connect communities worldwide. Thank you to the MPA for this prestigious honor and for acknowledging the creative community I’m so proud to be a part of,” said Chu.
The film, television, and streaming industry continues to elevate the audience experience in no small part from legislation championed by Senator Thune. His leadership has been integral to advance policies that promote innovation, enhance consumer choice, and power investment in the American economy.
“Innovation and competition are incredibly important for consumers, which is why I’ve worked to ensure policies are put in place that support a competitive media landscape. I am honored to receive this award from the Motion Picture Association,” said Senator Thune.
Senator Coons has long understood the cultural significance and economic might of the U.S. film and television industry. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Coons advocates for measures that support intellectual property laws and defend copyrighted works from piracy.
“Our creative community tells Americans’ stories – bringing us together through heartbreak and joy while adding billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs to our economy,” said Senator Coons. “That’s why I’ve worked across the aisle to foster innovation and defend robust intellectual property rights, so that work can’t be undercut or pirated. I’m honored to accept this award and will continue fighting to protect American creativity and the jobs that support it.”
Chairman Issa received recognition for his efforts to strengthen copyright protections, spur innovation, and preserve free expression. He oversees the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
“My thanks to the MPA not only for this honor, but also for what it stands for: a commitment to the rights of creators and the best ways to safeguard their work, dreams, and ideas,” said Rep. Issa. “With the right policies and an environment of cross-sector coordination, we can ensure that creators are free to challenge the limitless possibility of human creativity.”
The IPR Center leads the government’s response against IP theft and illicit trade. Arvelo and the center work alongside the MPA and its anti-piracy coalition, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), to combat digital piracy operations.
“I am proud to accept this recognition on behalf of the IPR Center, which not only commends the center’s efforts to extinguish digital piracy but highlights a longstanding partnership with the MPA,” Arvelo said. “Our collaboration with the association and creative industries alike helps build towards a safer environment for creators and further protect the U.S. creative economy.”
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About The Motion Picture Association
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) serves as the leading voice and advocate of the motion picture, home video, and television industries. It works in every corner of the globe to advance the creative industry, protect its members’ content across all screens, defend the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and support innovative distribution models that bring an expansion of viewing choices to audiences around the world. Its member studios are: Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO.
Media Contact
Tom Zigo, Motion Picture Association