COLUMBIA, S.C. — A night of glitz, creativity, and community spirit lit up the Nickelodeon Theatre as Columbia held its first-ever Columbia Cell-A-Brates Cinema smartphone film competition. Instead of high-end cameras or specialty equipment, all contestants needed to produce their short films was the smartphone in their pocket.

The inaugural event invited residents to create short films using only their mobile devices, giving filmmakers of all experience levels an accessible way to bring their visions to life.

“It was actually really easy doing the transition,” said filmmaker and applicant Grace Goethe. “I was really surprised; this is actually easier than using an actual camera.”

Participants were encouraged to film around Columbia’s rivers or highlight the city’s history. For many, it

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