South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

09/21/2026 | Press release | Archived content

SC Young Filmmakers Project invites high school students to compete for cash prizes and industry recognition

Columbia, S.C. - The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College have opened submissions for the South Carolina Young Filmmakers Project. This annual competition challenges high school students from across the state to showcase their cinematic storytelling skills, gain professional exposure, and compete for cash rewards and screenwriting software.
Entries are due by midnight on February 22, 2027. To participate, students must create an original short film (two minutes or less). As part of this year's Creative Challenge, all submissions must feature an hourglass as a prop within the film.
Short film entries will be scored by a panel of independent judges composed of industry professionals evaluating criteria such as story development, creative use of the required prop, production value, and overall impact.
"Video production plays a vital role in the global economy," said Glenn Seale, Dean of Film, Media, and Visual Arts at Trident Technical College. "It's essential across multiple industries, including entertainment, advertising, education, healthcare, and technology. This competition gives students a direct window into how these professional worlds operate."
Matt Storm, Director of the South Carolina Film Commission, echoed the importance of early workforce exposure. "Media production is growing rapidly, with professional crews working on major film and television projects.
Young Filmmakers is a way to give students a platform to develop and show off their skills and expose them to career opportunities in the field."
To support students ahead of the submission deadline, high schoolers and educators from across the state are invited to attend the Young Filmmakers Story Conference on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Meeting Street Visitors Center in Charleston.
The event is a featured part of the AfroSouth Film Festival's "Kreative Kitchen" programming for young creators. Attendees will learn effective pitch techniques, analyze sample films, and have the opportunity to pitch their short film concepts to a panel of professional writers and filmmakers for expert feedback. The program is free and open to the public. Register at indiegrants.org/2026-yfp-pitch.
This year's SC Young Filmmakers Project features an enhanced prize package to support students' future creative endeavors:
  • First Prize receives $750, Second Prize receives $500, and Third Prize receives $250. The Top Three winners also receive a lifetime license to Arc Studio Pro screenwriting software.
  • The Top Ten Finalists will have their films played at a theatrical screening and reception in Spring 2027 and will receive one year of Arc Studio Pro software alongside additional prizes.
Find complete submission guidelines, official rules, and access to the entry portal at indiegrants.org/young-filmmakers.
The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College collaborate on a series of training and grant initiatives, including Indie Grants, designed to bolster the state's professional production workforce and support independent filmmakers at all levels of education and experience.
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South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism published this content on September 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 01, 2026 at 17:15 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]