S.C. YOUNG FILMMAKERS ON THE BIG SCREEN:
High School Filmmakers Showcased Original Short Films on May 2

Film lovers, families, and supporters of emerging talent enjoyed a special screening of the South Carolina Young Filmmakers Project Top Ten finalists, on May 2 at 2pm at Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8 Theater. The event was followed by a live announcement of the winners and reception.

The celebration showcased the inventive storytelling and filmmaking of the next generation of South Carolina creators, as audiences experienced ten distinct voices and styles in rapid succession — from comedy to animation to drama.

“This event was a reminder that great storytelling starts here, with vision, craft, and imagination,” said Matt Storm, Director of the South Carolina Film Commission. “We’re thrilled to bring these short films to the big screen and honor the young filmmakers who made them.”

The finalists were selected through the South Carolina Young Filmmakers Project, a program from the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College that supports and spotlights the work of homegrown, emerging filmmakers.

The winners were:

FIRST PLACE:
The Attention Span of a Goldfish
Allison-Ann Crotwell
River Bluff High School
Lexington, SC
A tired, football obsessed dad tries to construct a toy plane for his daughter. Meanwhile, his lazy pet goldfish gets trapped under a megaphone, forced to problem solve and find a way out on his own - a literal fish out of water story.

SECOND PLACE:
Battle Of The Stands
Gabriel Shepherd Celorio, Lila Harmon, Nico Stewart, Logan Weiser
South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
Greenville, SC
When a rock band, The ROX opens a lemonade stand to fundraise, a rival jazz band, The Jetts, open a sweet tea stand out of spite. After things get heated, both leaders need to confront old arguments to save what they love the most - music.

THIRD PLACE:
Inkwell Hearts
Collin Allen, Damon Anderson
Allen Academy (Homeschool)
Florence, SC
An animation/live action film about a character that jumps off set to find her true love and disrupts the film she is supposed to star in.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Man in the Mirror
Elizabeth Mendoza Salcido, Gavin Beers, Avery Cox, Avery Merriman, Isaac Bassham
Anderson 1 and 2 Career and Technology Center
Williamston, SC
A Man struggling with his inner self, starting in a hole and winning back power in his life.

Say A Command
Adrian Sanchez, Layla Vicino, Jaden Casey, Giannes Soto, Jared Adams
Fountain Inn High School
Fountain Inn, SC
While getting chased by the cops, an energetic thief discovers a megaphone with the power to do whatever you say…but the megaphone doesn't always work the way he wants.

The other Top Ten Finalists were (in alphabetical order):

Phantom Projections
Savannah Bundy, Ava McElroy
South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities 
Mauldin, SC
An aspiring filmmaker is forced to confront her insecurities.

Rewind
Erik Zapata
Anderson 1 and 2 Career and Technology Center
Williamston, SC
A film director is stuck in a time loop where every time someone speaks into a megaphone the scene rewinds, but something is different with the scene.

Spotlight
Aurora Trautman, Hamilton Waters
South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
Anderson, SC
Keira prepares to give the biggest speech of her life, but when cloaked figures thrust her on a treacherous journey of self discovery, will she stutter or stand tall in the face of fear?

The Voice Within
Olivia Reddin
River Bluff High School
Lexington, SC
When overwhelming stress takes over, two individuals inner voice find a way to be heard; leading them both to ask for help that they’ve been afraid to seek. 

What Is This Thing?
Isabella Fabbio
Center for Advanced Technical Studies
Irmo, SC
While rummaging through an attic, a group of friends find a mysterious device and wonder what it could possibly be.