South Carolina Young Filmmakers Project is a grant from the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College that funds high school students across South Carolina to create original short films as part of a statewide filmmaking competition. The project introduces the next generation to professional video production skills and careers in the film industry.

Students must create a short film of up to two minutes incorporating a required creative challenge element; the 2025-2026 cycle required use of a megaphone as a prop. Entries for the 2025-2026 cycle were due February 16, 2026. Independent judges evaluate submissions on specified criteria, and finalists are publicly announced.

YOUNG FILMMAKERS — Indie Grants **THE 2026 YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT IS NOW CLOSED. CHECK BACK HERE FOR FINALISTS INFO AND MORE UPDATES** 2025-26 YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT IS NOW OPEN THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT is a statewide filmmaking competition open to all high school students from the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College .

Designed to introduce the next generation to careers and skills in professional video production, participating 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 MEGAPHONE as a prop. Entries are due by midnight on February 16, 2026. They will be scored by a panel of independent judges based on the criteria outlined 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. Use your imagination!

Be clever and creative! Most importantly, tell a great story! To enter, VIEW THE OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM HERE.

And follow these instructions: Each short film entry must include a specific prop – any type of MEGAPHONE . Use it in a way that naturally fits into your story…or inspires it! 1.

Each entrant must be a high school (grades 9-12) living in South Carolina during the 2025-26 school year. 2. Each entrant may only enter once.

3. Groups of students are allowed to work together on 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 (MEGAPHONE) into the story.

There must be at least one 3-second shot of a any type of megaphone 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 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 9, 2026. (You will need to create a free, easy-to-use SUBMITTABLE account at that link to submit your entry.) Films will be reviewed and scored by a panel of independent judges USING THIS RUBRIC.

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. 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.

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.