Welcome to the "Slamdance of the South!"

Experience the magic of independent cinema at the South Carolina Underground Film Festival (SCUFF), an IMDb-qualifying event that embraces all genres of independent film. Join us in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, for three thrilling days filled with indie films from around the globe. SCUFF offers a unique opportunity for fans and filmmakers to come together, connect, and revel in the world of obscure and independent cinema..

Our special guests such as filmmaker Mark Borchardt (American Movie) have come to SCUFF and shared inspiring stories with our attendees.

Experience the best in independent cinema from around the world and support local filmmaking in South Carolina at the South Carolina Underground Film Festival (SCUFF). Filmmakers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, are invited to showcase their works and compete for awards in various categories.

SCUFF welcomes all types of films, from the unconventional to the mainstream. Whether it's drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi, action, animation, music videos, documentaries, or films with LGBT themes, we want to see it all. We celebrate the diversity of independent filmmaking and aim to provide a platform for films that may not have the opportunity to be shown at other festivals. Join us and be part of an inclusive and vibrant filmmaking community at SCUFF!

Are you worried that your film might be too daring for our festival? If that's the case, then we definitely want to see it! Does your film challenge social norms? Would other festivals dismiss the idea of your film making the cut? Then we want your movie!

After the screenings, we'll have Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, giving you the chance to engage with our audience. The festival will culminate on the third night with a grand awards ceremony where we'll present SCUFF awards! Stay updated by following us on Facebook as we continue to share exciting announcements leading up to the festival! Best of luck, and we're eagerly anticipating your creation!

SCUFF is dedicated to promoting and nurturing independent films and filmmakers. We aim to introduce a whole new realm of cinema to the world that they wouldn't encounter elsewhere. Our goal is to draw a large audience to all the screenings and to create a vibrant and festive atmosphere for both the attendees and visiting filmmakers.

Awards & Prizes

SCUFFY is our mascot, a miner always digging for new films and screenplays. SCUFFY Awards will be given out in many categories. Our SCUFFY awards were designed and sculpted by special effects artist Tony Rosen who is most famous for creating the Annabelle doll used in the films "The Conjuring" and "Annabelle".

Official Sponsor Final Draft scriptwriting software will present software to the winners of the best un-produced screenplay categories.

Winners will receive a 4-month InkTip Pro Membership. As an InkTip Pro Member, thousands of filmmakers can find and read your scripts, and you'll be able to pitch directly to production companies every week. With over 3,000 options and 400 movies made, InkTip is the place for independent film.

Trophies and awards will be given for:

Jury Award
Best Feature film
Best Short film
Best Documentary
Best Un-produced Screenplay (short and feature)
Best Produced Screenplay (short and feature)
Best SC Film
Best SC Filmmaker
Best Foreign Film
Audience Choice Award
Honorable Mention Awards

Filmmakers who have their film chosen as an official selection will be given 2 free VIP passes to the fest!

We are an IMDB accredited event.

Rules & Terms

All filmmakers who have films chosen as official selections will get two (2) free 3-day VIP passes to the festival. Additional passes can be purchased if needed. Filmmakers who have film chosen as an official selection must provide a HD digital download for exhibition by October 25th. If not received by then, then your film will be removed from the screening schedule.

The 2024 festival is for films produced January 2021 or after.

If the film is not in English, then it must have English subtitles

​All submissions are screened and evaluated by the SCUFF Preview and Selection Jury, appointed by the festival steering committee. Judges decisions are Final.

The submission of a film to the SCUFF will be considered to be an acknowledgement of the festival rules.

​SCUFF will determine the date and time when submissions will be shown and while every effort will be made to follow screening times as printed in the festival program, SCUFF cannot be held accountable for changes to the schedule after the festival line-up is announced.

The Festival will not be responsible for the cost of receiving any additional materials i.e. DVDs, posters, photos, etc.

SCUFF reserves the right to refuse to screen any submission deemed by the festival to be overly offensive, violent or racist.

89 Reviews
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Networking
  • JoJo Scanlon

    We are extremely grateful to have our project BRUTUS at SCUFF, and we're equally as grateful to have taken home Best Animation!!

    SCUFF is a super fun festival. Everything happened at a locally owned and operated movie theater which made it feel like we were just taking a typical day to go see some movies with friends... Except they were OUR movies! Staff was super warm, Tommy and Tracey were both very attentive and sweet and I felt very at home with both of them.

    As far as networking goes, SCUFF does an amazing job of bringing in people from all around the world-- not just South Carolina. That being said, we did meet a lot of local filmmakers and actors and felt very included in the local film scene, even if it was just for a weekend.

    The only thing I had a gripe with (and it's such a small small small thing) is that there wasn't an area for filmmakers to talk and network. Usually, we just stood in the hallway between theaters. But like I said earlier, the festival was held at a locally owned and operated movie theater which was still showing movies when we were there. It would have been nice to have a few tables or a little corner where we could rendezvous with people we wanted to follow up with.

    With all that said, I highly recommend the South Carolina Underground Film Festival and I would encourage anyone who's considering it to apply. Hollywood-level films with Southern hospitality and a great atmosphere!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your kind words! So glad you could attend and congrats on Brutus! Hope to see you back soon!

  • RFR Talent Management

    Fantastic festival. With the size of the festival the ability to network with local filmmakers was much easier than a huge festival. Great lineup of quality films! Well done! Bravo!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you! Hope to see you back!

  • Natsuki Umeda

    It's a great film festival. I was disappointed that I couldn't participate.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you! Hopefully you will be able to attend soon!

  • Anders Elsrud Hultgreen

    I had a great pleasure of be selected to this year South Carolina Underground Film Festival.
    Unfortunately I was not able to go there in person. I wish I could go.
    The dialogue with the festival was great and the festival did a great promotion of my film.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Congrats on your film and thank you for your review!

  • Matt Webb

    Loved meeting these folks and attending this festival.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    We loved meeting you as well!