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.
INDIE GRANTS produces high-quality short films with a reputation for professionalism, practicality, and inventive storytelling. Past projects have been official selections of top film festivals like 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, LA Film Festival, DragonCon, and hundreds more.
Recent collaborators include Oscar-winning Cinematographer Russell Carpenter (Avatar: The Way of Water, Titanic), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect, Perfect Harmony), Madeleine McGraw (Black Phone, Outcast), Jackie Hoffman (Glass Onion, Only Murders In The Building), AJ Bowen (You’re Next, The Sacrament), Peter Simonite (The Perfect Guy, Tree of Life), and writer Brad Land (Goat).
The 2023 funding cycle is now open. Submission requirements and link to application are below.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 11:59 pm ET on JULY 31, 2023.
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 $20,000 to $35,000 to cover the full production of short film projects, including post. INDIE GRANTS projects are expected to manage their productions with a high level of professionalism and production value throughout. 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.
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. 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 you 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.
Preliminary location and scouting strategy.
Estimated number of shoot days, with prelim shoot schedule if available.
Bios with credits and work samples from your core team: Writer, Director, (or Writer/Director), Producer, and Line Producer. WORK SAMPLES FOR EACH MUST BE INCLUDED.
Bios and optional work samples for key collaborators you may already have in place, such as DP, Production Designer, AD, Costumer, etc. (It's fine if you don't have these; if so describe your intended process for securing them.)
Casting strategy and actor references.
Other production strategies, such as sourcing out key gear, crew, and other vendors.
Marketing and distribution strategy.
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.
NEED HELP WITH YOUR DECK?
INDIE GRANTS has teamed up with the Faber Entrepreneurship Center at UofSC’s Darla Moore School of Business to offer assistance from their students with development of Project Decks and Budgets. This resource is limited and supplied at the discretion of the individual students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Click here to request.
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, actual cost amounts may change and move among items but you must be able to fully complete the film within the agree-upon grant amount. 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.
Pay for 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, Art, 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.
IF APPLICANT IS NOT A CURRENT SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT: The application will ask you to list your South Carolina address. If you do not have a current South Carolina address, you will be asked to describe how you and your team are home-grown South Carolina filmmakers (max 500 words). At least one member of your core team must be a native South Carolina filmmaker; if not a current South Carolina resident, you can still qualify if you’re legitimately home-grown based on this explanation.
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.
Click here for more background on INDIE GRANTS. View recent INDIE GRANTS shorts here. Watch a video on the program below: