South Carolina launches student film festival, NextLens

South Carolina ETV has launched a new online film festival called NextLens. It aims to showcase the work of college and high school filmmakers from South Carolina. The festival kicked off on March 3 and features eight short films created by students from various colleges and universities. The films selected were judged by a team from SCETV. They aimed to highlight the best student works and promote young filmmakers. Ty Moody from SCETV explained that the festival helps support the next generation in their career development. She expressed excitement about its future, hoping it will continue for years to come. The festival also aims to amplify young voices in media. According to SCETV Communications Coordinator Landon Masters, these films represent the future of storytelling. They provide a platform for young filmmakers who might not otherwise reach a wider audience. One featured filmmaker is Leah Pedersen, who created a documentary about a local kite surfer. She expressed joy in having her work recognized publicly after transitioning from a previous career in finance to filmmaking. Another participant, Grant Nettles, presented a fan film that creatively combines elements of video games and cinematic storytelling. Jonathan Yi, another student filmmaker, submitted a comedy short film made in just 48 hours. His film explores themes of social pressure and creativity. Yi hopes to help build a stronger filmmaking community in South Carolina. Looking ahead, SCETV plans to continue the NextLens festival next spring. Submissions will open in fall 2025. The aim is to further amplify the voices of young filmmakers and share their stories with a broader audience.