THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT HAS BEGUN!

THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT is a statewide filmmaking competition open to all high school and middle school students in South Carolina, from the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College. To participate, students must create a short film (two minutes max) telling a cinematic story in any genre, following all rules and this year's Creative Challenge -- use a flashlight as a prop.

Entries are due by 11:59p on February 10, 2025. They will be scored by a panel of independent judges based on the criteria described below. The Top Ten scorers will screen at a special program where winners will be announced. First Prize receives $750, Second Prize $500, and Third Prize $250.

VIEW THE OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM HERE.

The contest will also hold a YOUNG FILMMAKERS STORY CONFERENCE on Friday, Nov. 8, from 10a-11:30a at the American Theater in Charleston, part of the AfroSouth Film Festival.

This is an opportunity to meet professional filmmakers and learn more about how to make a great short film entry. And pitch your preliminary ideas to a panel of writers, directors, and producers for feedback.

Register for the STORY CONFERENCE here. Space is limited. The event is free and all are welcome. Educators are encouraged to bring their students as a field trip. Please reach out to brad@indiegrants.org for more information.

Use your imagination!  Be clever and creative!  Most importantly, tell a great story!

To enter, follow these instructions:

CREATIVE CHALLENGE:
Each short film entry must include this specific prop – FLASHLIGHT. Be creative with it! Use it in a way that naturally fits into your story…or inspires it!  

CONTEST RULES:
1. Each entrant must be a high school or middle school student (grades 6-12) living in South Carolina during the 2024-25 school year.  
2. Each entrant may only enter once.
3. Groups of students are encouraged to work together on film entries and submit as a team.
4. Films must be at least 30-seconds long and no longer than two minutes (not including credits).
5. All entries must follow the Creative Challenge and incorporate the assigned prop (flashlight) into the story. There must be at least one 3-second shot of a flashlight in each film. How creatively and thoughtfully each film follows the Creative Challenge will be part of how the judges score the entries (see ‘JUDGING CRITERIA’ below).
6. The entering students must be the primary creator of their entry, originating the story, characters, visual elements, and all other fundamental components of each film. Entrants are allowed outside help (filmmaking is a collaborative process, after all), but student participants must be the writer, director, and primary creative force.
7. BE SAFE.  Safety in the production world is paramount and all contest participants must be conscientious when shooting their entries. This includes having legal, written permission from property owners or managers of any location where you shoot.  (Download example of a general location release here, or use your own.)  Always review safety guidelines and protocols before shooting or producing any video project. 

SUBMIT YOUR FILM VIA THE OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM HERE. Your online entry form must be submitted and received by midnight ET, February 10, 2025. (You will need to create a free, easy-to-use SUBMITTABLE account at that link to submit your entry.)

JUDGING CRITERIA:
Films will be judged by a panel of independent judges on the following. View detailed rubric here.

  • Script and Story

  • Approach to the Creative Challenge (use of a flashlight as a prop)

  • Production Value

  • Design, including graphics, special effects, production design, sets, costumes, etc.

  • Overall Impact

CONTENT:
If your film deals with sensitive topics, please be aware that tension and conflict can be portrayed without use of violence, weapons and/or explicit language. You may choose to explore these themes but please note, only projects that do so with respect for their audience will be considered as top contenders. Given recent events related to school shootings, NO GUNS are allowed in YFP short film entries. 

CHECK OUT THE YFP ‘CORE CONCEPTS’ VIDEO HERE, where previous winning films are shown and dissected to help make yours one of the next!

Get links, guides, and tutorials on set safety, screenwriting, storyboarding, camerawork, lighting, editing, sound effects, music and more at the YFP RESOURCE PAGE.

Contact info@indiegrants.org with questions. Sign-up for our email list here for updates.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
The following terms and conditions govern the submission of each short film Entry to the South Carolina Young Filmmakers Project filmmaking contest. By submitting an Entry, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, Contest Rules, and the decisions of the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College, Indie Grants, and their judges, and that you and your Entry satisfy all eligibility requirements. If under 18 years of age, you guarantee that you have received expressed permission from a parent or guardian to participate in the contest, and to adhere to all terms and conditions. 

By entering, you promise that you are the primary creator of your Entry, and that all creative and story elements (photography, characters, script, etc.), were created by you as a high school or middle school student, and/or other student collaborators.

It is your sole responsibility to secure authorization and/or permission from 1) the copyright owner(s) of any and all trademarked and/or copyrighted content or materials included within the submitted Entry; 2) the property owners or managers of any locations used; and 3) each person that appears in your Entry. Copies of such authorizations and permissions must be submitted upon request. By submitting an Entry, you represent that the Entry is your original creation and is your sole and exclusive intellectual property.

You maintain ownership of your Entry and are responsible for its production. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College and Indie Grants for any action, claim, or liability brought by any person or organization against the indemnities due to or arising out of your Entry, including but not limited to trademark, copyright, or any other intellectual property rights, right of publicity, right of privacy or defamation. You agree that the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College, and Indie Grants will have no liability for any loss, injury, or damage to property or to person resulting from the production of your Entry.

You agree that the decisions of the judges when it comes to placement of your Entry is final, and that awarding of prizes, placement, and qualification are at the sole discretion of the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College, Indie Grants, and their judges. Entries that do not follow all Contest Rules, Guidelines and Terms & Conditions may be disqualified at any time.

You agree to allow Indie Grants, the South Carolina Film Commission, and Trident Technical College to exhibit, display, and in any other way use your Entry as part of contest screenings, programs, on-line presence, and any other promotional purposes, in perpetuity, including any likenesses and appearances of individuals and content in your Entry. You also allow those parties to use your image captured during official contest events (such as screenings) for promotional purposes. 

You agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College, and Indie Grants from all claims that any advertising, presentation, web content, or any other material subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of the three named entities infringes on the right of Entrant’s work as contained in this Entry.