2024 INDIE GRANTS
FUNDING CYCLE NOW OPEN!
SUBMISSIONS DUE AUG. 5
The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College invite South Carolina filmmakers to apply for INDIE GRANTS, production grants for narrative short film projects.
The program produces South Carolina short films with high production value and inventive storytelling. Past projects have been official selections of top film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, American Black Film Festival, Palm Springs, Austin Film Festival, FantasticFest, Cucalorus, Tall Grass, Slamdance, Stiges, Oxford, Nashville Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Indie Memphis, DragonCon, and many more.
The 2024 funding cycle is now open. Submission requirements and link to application are below.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 11:59 pm ET on AUGUST 5, 2024
Applications are submitted through Submittable and require a free, easy-to-use account. Please thoroughly review all info here, the INDIE GRANTS FAQ page, and the APPLICATION/TERMS & CONDITIONS before applying.
INDIE GRANTS funding can range from $25,000 to $45,000 to cover the full production of short film projects, including post. Selected grant recipients are expected to manage their productions with a high level of professionalism, quality, and practicality throughout the process. Creative thinking, cost-efficiency, smart management of funds, and pooling of resources are key.
Exact funding amounts are based on the needs of the selected projects, amount of funding available through the INDIE GRANTS program, and other factors solely at the discretion of INDIE GRANTS, the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College, and their panel of independent industry evaluators.
Your submission must include the following:
SCREENPLAY
Narrative short film script in industry standard format as PDF (max 15-pages, not including title page).
PROJECT DECK (LOOK BOOK & PRODUCTION STRATEGY)
A PDF Deck for the project outlining your creative and logistical approaches to the film is required. A common method with film decks and pitches is to have these questions in mind as you’re developing:
WHAT is the story, and WHAT is this short film going to be like?
WHY does it need to be told, and WHY are you the one to do it?
HOW will you tell the story and execute it from a creative, staffing, and technological/production perspective?
WHO is the audience, and how will your film reach them?
Part of the Deck should detail the Director’s vision for the film, including elements like comparable films, setting/locations, cinematography, production design, mood, tone, impact, etc. This is the 'Look Book' portion. Use it as an opportunity to help the evaluators understand what your film will look and feel like.
The second half of your Deck should detail preliminary ‘Production Strategy,’ with the following information:
Where in South Carolina you'd like to shoot and why, including preliminary location and scouting strategy.
Estimated number of shoot days, with preliminary shoot schedule if available.
Bios with credits and work samples from your core team: Writer, Director, (or Writer/Director), Producer, and Line Producer. WORK SAMPLES FOR EACH MUST BE INCLUDED.
Bios and optional work samples for key collaborators you already have in place. AT LEAST TWO of these key collaborators should be attached to the project before submitting: DP, AD, Prod Designer/Art Director, VFX Supervisor, Editor, Composer.
If your project requires visual effects, stunt sequences, or similar, references for how you’ll execute those elements must be included. This could be test footage, samples, pre-vis, or similar.
Casting strategy and actor references.
Other production strategies, such as sourcing out key gear, crew, and other vendors.
Film festival plan and any other marketing and distribution strategies.
Any other info you'd like the evaluators to consider.
We know personnel, locations, schedule, and other components could change due to availability and other factors. Just tell us what your current plan is, knowing you'll make adjustments as needed.
Exact format and structure of the Deck is up to you. Check out samples of Decks from previous Indie Grants projects here.
PRODUCTION BUDGET
A preliminary budget for your project as a PDF reflecting how you would produce your film within the above funding range. If selected, we understand actual costs for individual items may change, but you must be able to fully complete the film within the agree-upon grant amount. SAMPLE BUDGETS are provided for your reference, based on crew size and structure INDIE GRANTS short films have typically followed. Download Excel and MovieMagic budget samples here.
You’re welcome to use these sample budgets as templates but they are FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. You are NOT required to structure your project as this budget does. Make adjustments that best fit your particular project, with smart allocation of potential grant funds. The more judicious and reasonable you are with your budget and your overall requested amount, the more likely you are to receive funding and support.
Include fees for a reasonable amount of paid prep for department heads, key crew, and production office.
Remember that this is a micro-budgeted short. Adapt as needed. Necessity is mother of invention. More often than not, elements in your script you think are essential are not. Less is more.
Pay for TTC student crew must be included in the production budget — $100 per student per shoot day. Projects employ roughly 4-8 students depending on the project’s needs. Students are to be used as PAs or utilities working under professional keys and crews and are good candidates for most departments, including Camera, G/E, AD [Set PA], Sound, Production Office, Locations, Crafties, Costumes, Set Dec, Props, and HMU. TTC student crew may also do prep work on a volunteer basis at the discretion and availability of the individual student. If a project is shooting outside of the Charleston area, gas stipends and some form of meal provision for the students should be included in the budget.
IF APPLICANT IS NOT A CURRENT SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT: At least one member of your core team must be a native South Carolina filmmaker. The application will ask you to list your South Carolina address. If you do not have a current South Carolina address, you will be asked to describe how you and your team are home-grown South Carolina filmmakers (max 500 words). If not a current South Carolina resident, you can still qualify if you’re legitimately home-grown based on this explanation.
READY TO SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT? CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION
INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Email INDIE GRANTS Producer Brad Jayne with any questions about your project or the process.
Click here for more background on INDIE GRANTS. View recent INDIE GRANTS shorts here. Watch a video on the program below: