The South Carolina Young Filmmakers Project is an annual media competition open to all high school and middle school students who want to take their stories from script to screen, and learn about the industry and careers along the way.

To participate, students 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 guitar pick as a prop.

The top ten scorers will screen at a special screening in Columbia, where winners will be announced. First Prize receives $500, Second Prize $300, and Third Prize $200.

Online entry form must be submitted and received by midnight ET, March 18, 2024. Contest rules, entry form & all other information can be found here.

Launched in 2013, this premier creative competition is designed to ignite the development of media arts skills and spotlight the next generation of Palmetto State filmmakers.

“There are so many career opportunities when it comes to video content,” said Matt Storm, Director of the South Carolina Film Commission. “We want to give these high school students an understanding of what those opportunities are, and the skills to take advantage of them.”

Films will be judged by a panel of industry judges. Criteria includes quality of script and story; production value; design and style; and overall impact.

Winners will be announced in the Spring.

As part of its training and professional development efforts, the South Carolina Film Commission presents a series of production seminars and other training programs each year. All programs are provided to South Carolina residents at no charge and on a regular basis by action of the S.C. Motion Picture Incentive Act, passed by the state legislature in 2004. Click here to join our email list for announcements and registration links for upcoming seminars.