The Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival is accepting filmmaker applications until Dec. 31, 2013. If selected, filmmakers will get the opportunity to create a film adaptation of an award-winning short story by a South Carolina writer and compete for juried prizes on festival night, June 14, 2014.

“This festival is an amazing opportunity for independent, South Carolina filmmakers,” says Chris White, co-director of this year’s festival. “Expecting Goodness connects filmmakers, writers and the community like no other festival I know.”

Hub City, HUB BUB, and the Expecting Goodness co-directors are excited about what they have in the works for Expecting Goodness 2014. In its first two years, the festival grew exponentially, moving from The Showroom to a sold-out festival day at Chapman Cultural Center’s David Reid Theater.

This year, Contec, Inc of Spartanburg signed on early to be the festival’s headline sponsor, which will help the project grow even further and offer more to the community.

“Having a big-name sponsor like Contec support the festival from day one is exciting,” said Emily Reach White, co-director of the Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival. “It allows us to pursue some creative ideas for the project that we wouldn’t have been able to support otherwise.”

The organizers are working to expand the festival and welcome filmmakers from across the state by offering more screenings, more perks, and more prizes for 11 juried prizes in all. Their goal is to be the most hospitable, filmmaker-friendly festival in the state.

“Filmmakers who participate in the Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival not only get to work with great stories,” says Cate Ryba, Executive Director at HUB-BUB “they also get the full organizational and promotional support of HUB-BUB, which means the chance to screen new work in front of hundreds of people.”

In order to be eligible to participate, filmmakers must be South Carolina residents who are 18 and older. Filmmakers must be able to fully commit to the project and meet all of the stated deadlines. In addition, filmmakers must be responsible for their own equipment, materials and production costs.

To learn more about the festival and the eligibility requirements for filmmakers, go to expectinggoodness.com/application/

The Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival showcases emerging South Carolina writers and filmmakers, engaging and educating the community and generating enthusiasm for film.

HUB-BUB offers more than 100 events of art, culture, and entertainment every year. Its mission is to build community through dynamic arts and ideas in downtown Spartanburg, S. C. The Hub City Writers Project has published more than 400 writers in 60 books, renovated two historic buildings and given away more than $15,000 in scholarships to emerging writers.

– article submitted

by Emily Reach White