SUBMISSIONS DUE AUG. 3
The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College invite South Carolina filmmakers to apply for INDIE GRANTS, production grants for narrative short film projects.
The program produces South Carolina short films with high production value and inventive storytelling, with professional development and workforce training for the state’s production industry at its core. Past projects have been official selections of top film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, American Black Film Festival, Palm Springs, Austin Film Festival, FantasticFest, Cucalorus, Tall Grass, Slamdance, Stiges, Oxford, Nashville Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Indie Memphis, DragonCon, and many more.
The 2026 funding cycle is now open. Submission requirements and link to application are below.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 11:59 pm ET on AUGUST 3, 2026.
VIEW SELECTION SCORING RUBRIC HERE. More info on scoring and selection process is below. Applications are submitted through Submittable and require a free, easy-to-use account. Please thoroughly review all info here, the INDIE GRANTS FAQ page, and the APPLICATION/TERMS & CONDITIONS before applying.
INDIE GRANTS funding can range from $25,000 to $45,000 to cover the full production of short film projects, including post-production. Selected grant recipients are expected to manage their productions with a high level of professionalism, quality, and practicality throughout the process. Creative thinking, cost-efficiency, smart management of funds, and pooling of resources are key.
Exact funding amounts are based on the needs of the selected projects, amount of funding available through the INDIE GRANTS program, and other factors solely at the discretion of INDIE GRANTS, the South Carolina Film Commission, Trident Technical College, and their panel of independent industry evaluators. (VIEW SCORING RUBRIC here and see more info on the selection process below.)
Your submission must include the following:
SCREENPLAY
Narrative short film script in industry standard format as PDF (max 15-pages, not including title page).
PROJECT DECK (LOOK BOOK & PRODUCTION STRATEGY)
A PDF Deck for the project outlining your creative and logistical approaches to the film is required. A common method with film decks and pitches is to have these questions in mind as you’re developing:
WHAT is the story, and WHAT is this short film going to be like?
WHY does it need to be told, and WHY are you the one to do it?
HOW will you tell the story and execute it from a creative, staffing, and technological/production perspective?
WHO is the audience, and how will your film reach them?
Part of the Deck should detail the Director’s vision for the film, including elements like comparable films, setting/locations, cinematography, production design, mood, tone, impact, etc. This is the 'Look Book' portion. Use it as an opportunity to help the evaluators understand what your film will look and feel like.
The second half of your Deck should detail preliminary ‘Production Strategy,’ with the following information:
Where in South Carolina you'd like to shoot and why, including preliminary location and scouting strategy.
Estimated number of shoot days, with preliminary shoot schedule if available.
Bios with credits and work samples from your core team: Writer, Director, (or Writer/Director), Producer, and Line Producer. VIDEO WORK SAMPLES from narrative pieces you have previously completed MUST BE INCLUDED.
Bios and optional work samples for key collaborators you already have in place. Ideally at least two of these key collaborators would be attached to the project when submitting (tentatively or otherwise), as they indicate readiness and professionalism of the project: DP, AD, Prod Designer/Art Director, VFX Supervisor, Editor, Composer.
If your project requires visual effects, stunt sequences, or similar, references for how you’ll execute those elements must be included. This could be test footage, samples, pre-vis, or similar.
Casting strategy and actor references.
Other production strategies you have, such as sourcing out key gear, crew, and other vendors.
Film festival plan and any other marketing and distribution strategies.
Any other info you'd like the evaluators to consider.
We know personnel, locations, schedule, and other components could change due to availability and other factors. Just tell us what your current plan is, knowing you'll make adjustments as needed.
Exact format and structure of the Deck is up to you. Check out samples of Decks from previous Indie Grants projects here.
PRODUCTION BUDGET
A preliminary budget for your project as a PDF reflecting how you would produce your film within the above funding range. If selected, we understand actual costs for individual items may change, but you must be able to fully complete the film within the agree-upon grant amount. (Please note: INDIE GRANTS project are encouraged to raise additional funds from other sources. If that’s the case include that in your overall budget, with a noted explanation.) SAMPLE BUDGETS are provided for your reference, based on crew size and structure INDIE GRANTS short films have typically followed. Download Excel and MovieMagic budget samples here.
You’re welcome to use these sample budgets as templates but they are FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. You are NOT required to structure your project as this budget does. Make adjustments that best fit your particular project, with smart allocation of potential grant funds. The more judicious and reasonable you are with your budget and your overall requested amount, the more likely you are to receive funding and support.
Include fees for a reasonable amount of paid prep for department heads, key crew, and production office.
Remember that this is a micro-budgeted short. Adapt as needed. Necessity is mother of invention. More often than not, elements in your script you think are essential are not. Less is more.
Payment to TTC student crew must be included in the production budget — $100 per student per shoot day. Projects employ roughly 4-8 students depending on the project’s needs. Students are to be used as PAs or utilities working under professional keys and crews and are good candidates for most departments, including Camera, G/E, AD [Set PA], Sound, Production Office, Locations, Crafties, Costumes, Set Dec, Props, and HMU. TTC student crew may also do prep work on a volunteer basis at the discretion and availability of the individual student. If a project is shooting outside of the Charleston area, gas stipends and some form of meal provision for the students should be included in the budget.
ELIGIBILITY
Please carefully review the below to make sure your project is eligible for INDIE GRANTS before beginning the process. Only submissions that meet all this criteria will be considered.
Only life-action, narrative short film projects are eligible for INDIE GRANTS.
All submitting team members must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission.
SOUTH CAROLINA ELIGIBILITY: One of the submitting team members MUST BE A CURRENT SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT, or LEGITIMATELY A ‘HOME-GROWN’ SOUTH CAROLINA FILMMAKER. This person MUST BE LISTED AS THE MAIN APPLICANT.
If the MAIN APPLICANT not have a current South Carolina address they will be asked to describe in detail how they, and the team if applicable, are home-grown South Carolina filmmakers (max 500 words). Home-grown means the individual spent significant, formative years in the state; maintains true connections to the state; and has been actively involved in its production community and community as a whole.
An individual may be the MAIN APPLICANT on only one submitted project per cycle. An individual can also only be listed as specific position-holder on one project; for instance, an individual can be the writer on only one project, the director on only one project, etc. An individual may be listed on up to two different submitting teams, as long as they are listed as different positions in those teams.
It is strongly recommended that at least three separate individuals make up each submitting team and hold the positions that requires. Two-person teams may be considered, with the expectation the project will fill any remaining positions before officially selected.
SELECTION PROCESS
Three independent industry veterans serve as the Selection Panel. They begin by reviewing and scoring each eligible submission using this RUBRIC. Each Panelist can score a project up to 150 points, for a possible total of 450.
Once the projects are scored a short list is compiled consisting of the top15-20% scoring Projects, depending on the size of the submissions pool. Panelists then gather for an in-depth discussion on those projects. Any Panelist can request additional projects be included as ‘wild cards’ - projects that may not have made the short list by scoring but a Panelist believes merits additional consideration.
Based on the Panel’s discussion, they select roughly 3-5 top projects. Staff then interviews those teams and discuss their projects, strategies, etc., and report back to the Panelists. Final selections are made based on the initial scoring, interviews, and Panelists’ discussions.
READY TO SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT? CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION
INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Email INDIE GRANTS Producer Brad Jayne with any questions about your project or the process. And learn more about INDIE GRANTS here: