The Indie Grits Film Festival — the Southeast’s premiere film and culture festival for DIY media-makers — is seeking film submissions for its eighth annual event in Columbia, SC, from April 11 – 20, 2014, in five categories: feature, short, experimental, animated and student films.
Indie Grits invites all levels of filmmakers and films with ties to Southeastern culture. With an independent mentality and far-reaching artistic scope, the juried festival is especially receptive to first-time media makers and prides itself in providing exhibition opportunities for work often overlooked elsewhere. Movie Maker magazine has named Indie Grits one of the world’s 20 coolest film festivals, and last year, Indie Grits drew more than 8,000 attendees.
Hosted by the Nickelodeon Theatre, South Carolina’s longest running art-house cinema, on Main Street in South Carolina’s capital city, the Indie Grits Film Festival features ten days of the best DIY film, music, food and outside-the-box artistic performances from SC and the Southeast.
“Our staff and an army of film-loving volunteers from the Columbia area make this festival happen,” said new festival Co-Director Seth Gadsden. “Indie Grits is moving toward the cutting edge of contemporary visual culture, whether that’s through filmmaking, art, or design. We welcome media-makers who exude a visual swagger that says, ‘We take risks, and we’re bold.’”
Accepted entries will be eligible for $4,000 in juried cash prizes including the Helen Hill Memorial Award for female filmmakers and Top Grit for best festival entry. Indie Grits staff strive to give filmmakers the best experience possible, offering filmmaker-only events and help with accommodations and transportation.
“Indie Grits does everything it can to make filmmakers feel important,” said Micah Troublefield, winner of 2013’s Local Grit award. “You’re welcomed with open arms by people who really love what they do, and I’m surprised how many talented filmmakers I still keep in touch with after meeting at last year’s festival. I also wish I could go to an Indie Grits closing party every weekend. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
For more information, and for submission guidelines, visit www.indiegrits.com, visit the festival’s submission site on Withoutabox.com or contact Seth Gadsden, festival co-director at Seth@IndieGrits.com. Follow @IndieGrits on Twitter and Facebook