Indie Grits was born in 2007, charging blindly and passionately onto the scene, with a do-it-yourself attitude. Propelled by a far-flung artistic vision, festival organizers sought to break down the walls intimidating Southern media makers by creating exhibition opportunities for work often overlooked elsewhere. The spirit of Indie Grits comes from the heart of its host, the Nickelodeon Theatre–South Carolina’s only non-profit, art house theatre–affectionately known as “The Nick.”

The Nick serves as the festival’s anchor in historic downtown Columbia. More than a film festival full of youthful audacity, Indie Grits, now in its ninth year, is a showcase for the very best of the Southeast’s cinematic, artistic, culinary and musical talent.