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Columbia, S.C. – After a record number of entries, the finalists in the South Carolina Film Commission’s 2025 Young Filmmakers Project have been announced. They represent every corner of the state, including Anderson, Florence, Fountain Inn, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Summerville, Irmo and Williamston.

South Carolina Young Filmmakers is an annual filmmaking competition for South Carolina students in grades six to twelve. Entrants submit two-minute short films and are required to incorporate a specific prop into their two-minute short films. This year, that prop was a flashlight.

“It’s exciting every year to see what these students come up with,” said Matt Storm, Director of the South Carolina Film Commission. “This year was one of the best, with real creativity and ingenuity throughout all the entries.”

The finalist films will screen at a special screening on Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m. at Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8 in Columbia. The event will include Q&A with the young filmmakers, an announcement of winners, and a brief reception. The screening is free and open to the public. First Prize receives $750, Second Prize $500, and Third Prize $250.

“Understanding video content is such an important skillset,” said Glenn Seale, Dean of Film, Media and Visual Arts at Trident Technical College in North Charleston, one of the contest’s main partners. “It’s used in all industries across the globe, and this is a way to introduce those career opportunities to South Carolina’s next generation.”

The 2025 S.C. Young Filmmakers Project Finalists are:

• 15 Minutes Later…Or Thank God It Swallowed the Flashlight | Calvin Landreth & Salvatore Biscotto
  Anderson 1 & 2 Career & Technology Center, Anderson
  
  
• All The Colors of Dreams | Aiden Kneece
  Palmetto High School, Williamston
  
  
• Beacon | Hayes Gladden
  Rock Hill High School, Rock Hill
  
  
• FLASHNIGHT | Ethan Lopez
  Homeschool, Greenville
  
  
• Master of Puppets | Whittaker Simon
  South Carolina Governor’s School of Arts & Humanities, Greenville
  
  
• Memory Reel | William Austin
  Fine Arts Center/Wade Hampton High School, Greenville 
  
  
• Nightguard | Collin Allen
  Homeschool, Florence
  
  
• Revelation | Adrian Sanchez, Jaiden Casey, Layla Vicino
  Fountain Inn High School, Fountain Inn
  
  
• Shadow Puppets | Christian Young
  Vines & Branches Home Educators, Myrtle Beach
  
  
• Sol Sisters | Dana Dueñas Tafur and Michael Fortkort
  Pinewood Preparatory School, Summerville
  
  
• The Giraffe and the Monkey | Millie Grugan, Sarah Kelley, Tatum Rose Bronson
  South Carolina Governor’s School of Arts & Humanities, Greenville
  
  
• The Secret Scratch | Enzo Leventis-Cox
  Paul’s School, Irmo
  
  
• Wake Up | Isaiah Hartzell
  Anderson 1 & 2 Career & Technology Center, Anderson

For more information on the contest visit https://www.indiegrants.org/young-filmmakers. 

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