Motion Picture Directors Association

The Motion Picture Directors Association (MPDA) was an American non-profit fraternal organization formed by twenty-six film directors on June 18, 1915 in Los Angeles, California. The organization selected a headquarters to be built there in 1921.

Its articles of incorporation stated as that the organization existed to:

The following year MPDA members helped their fellow directors working in New York City to form their own branch association. It was officially incorporated in January 1917 with Allan Dwan elected as its first head.

Lois Weber (1879-1939) was the only woman granted membership in the Motion Picture Directors Association.

The organization lasted until 1936 when members of the MPDA helped create the Screen Directors Guild, an official craft union.

Some of the founders and early members of the MPDA were:

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