Sumter Arts

With a vibrant arts scene encompassing visual and performing arts from classical to cutting-edge, Sumter is home to some of the most exciting events in the Southeast.  The 2007 Sumter Film Festivals will emphasize the creative use of mobile video, digital and standard video technology.

Sumter's Videophone Film Festival

“What I Did Last Summer”

The festival will encourage filmmakers from throughout SC to produce videos documenting their most recent summer vacations.  This is a statewide competition and is open to all age groups, an ideal “family” project!  The competition is open to amateur and professional filmmakers, students, parents, grandparents or anyone else who would like to document and share what they did during their recent summer vacations.  This project will include a videophone category as well as categories for standard video technology.  Statewide competition open to all age groups.

Call for entries:  04/23/07

Deadline for entries:  08/31/07

Festival/Screenings:  09/14-15/07

“Downtown Sumter:  As I See It”

The competition will require participants to create a 2 to 5 minute film/video about what most affects and interests them about Sumter’s newly revitalized downtown district.  The competition is open to all ages and skill levels and is designed to promote the creative use of film and video to document, through the eyes of Sumter-area residents, the dramatic changes occurring in and around Sumter’s historic downtown district.  Dates for this event will be coordinated with the Downtown Promotions Committee.

“Sumter's 'Recycled Film' Festival”

The festival’s theme and concept parallels the theme of Sumter’s Accessibility2007 exhibition:  “Green-Art—the Art of Recycling and the Environment.”   International competition open to those 14 years and above.

Call for entries: 02/02/07

Deadline for entries:  09/07/07

Festival/Screenings: 10/08-14/07.

This video project will be a component of Accessibility2007

Awards:  Awards for all projects are pending.

Festival Guidelines: Guidelines for the Video Festivals and other city-wide art events can be found on the new city of Sumter Art Page at http://www.sumtersc.gov/visitingus/sumterartsscene.aspx

Information:  For specific details, guidelines and festival dates please contact Booth Chilcutt, Cultural Director-city of Sumter, SC at 803-436-2616 or bchilcutt@sumter-sc.com