South Carolina Film Commission launches 2023 Young Filmmakers Project for high school students
January 18, 2023
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College have opened the 2023 Young Filmmakers Project, an annual statewide filmmaking contest for high school students who want to take their stories from script to screen.
Launched in 2013, the creative competition is designed to ignite the development of media arts skills and spotlight the next generation of Palmetto State filmmakers. The contest is open to all high school students (grades 9-12), including public, private, and homeschooled students.
“Media production is growing in South Carolina, with our professional crews working on large film and TV projects with the likes of Netflix, HBO, and more,” said Matt Storm, Director of the South Carolina Film Commission. “Young Filmmakers is a way to give students a platform to develop and show off their skills and expose them to career opportunities in this field.”
To participate in the Young Filmmakers Project, students must create a short film (two minutes or less) telling a cinematic story in any genre, following all rules and each year’s unique “creative challenge.” The 2023 creative challenge is to use playing cards as a prop in a way that naturally fits in the story.
“Production is based on a mix of technical skills and creative problem solving,” said Glenn Seale, Dean of Film, Media, and Visual Arts at Trident Tech. “The creative challenge is a big part of that. How will each team incorporate and execute that parameter in their films and stories?”
Films are judged by a panel of independent judges from the industry. Criteria include quality of script and story; production value; design and style; and overall impact.
The top 10 films will screen at an awards ceremony this spring. First prize receives $500, second prize $300, and third prize $200.
Online entry forms must be received by midnight on March 27, 2023. Contest rules, entry forms, and all other information are available at indiegrants.org/young-filmmakers.
Check out the 2022 Young Filmmaker finalists and winners here. View the 2021 Top 12 virtual screening with Q&A with the filmmakers here. Video clips and artwork are available upon request.
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