As a film enthusiast with a penchant for international cinema, I must say that this year’s festival lineup is nothing short of exhilarating! From the thought-provoking narratives of The Space Messenger and The Tempest, to the creative brilliance showcased in the Student Animation Shorts like Atomic Chicken and Have You Eaten?, it seems we have a veritable feast of cinematic delights awaiting us.
At this year’s SCAD Savannah Film Festival, which marks its 27th edition, there are several high-profile showings lined up, such as “Maria” and “Better Man.
From October 26th to November 2nd, I’ll be delighted to attend the grandest university-run film festival in the country. This event will recognize and celebrate both established filmmakers and aspiring student filmmakers. Notably, it will feature some of the biggest names in the industry – acclaimed directors, writers, and actors who have won awards for their exceptional work.
A significant event during the Academy Awards season, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival will showcase a total of 162 movies. These include 123 full-length narrative films, 31 feature-length documentaries, and 69 short films. Among them are 10 world premieres and six U.S. debuts.
The 2024 program encompasses Gala showings, Signature Screenings, Special Presentations, both professional and student competition films, the Docs to Watch and Pixels and Pencils series, along with the Behind the Lens and Below the Line panel discussions. Throughout its existence, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival has featured over 200 Academy Award-nominated movies and paid tribute to more than 150 globally acclaimed actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, and filmmakers.
Immerse yourself in the upcoming wave of groundbreaking cinema at the 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival! As announced by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace, this event will celebrate the most illustrious figures in the film industry, including Annette Bening, Lupita Nyong’o, and Richard Linklater. Not only can you meet these stars, but you’ll also get a tour of our newly expanded Savannah Film Studios backlot, complete with new streets, shops, and numerous settings for that perfect filming moment. Expect glamour, excitement, and exceptional films – we look forward to seeing you later this month at SCAD!
See the full lineup for the fest below:
At the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, there’s always a buzz as it showcases potential Oscar winners and presents a variety of movies from studios and streaming platforms before they become widely available. Here are the 15 exceptional films chosen for special screenings:
Blitz: Apple Original Films, directed by Steve McQueen
As a cinephile, I can’t resist the allure of Special Presentations, which offer a sneak peek at the most talked-about movies from renowned directors gracing the festival circuit or yet to hit theaters nationwide. In years past, these films have garnered numerous accolades, including Academy Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and other prestigious honors:
“Light All We Envision” – Janus Films and Sideshow Pictures (Directed by Payal Kapadia)
“Join me at the Unforgettable Film Festivals!”This year, I’ve curated an exclusive lineup of premieres and special screenings. Some events will even offer Q&A sessions with talented directors, writers, actors, and producers! Here’s a peek at what’s in store for you:
As a film aficionado, I’m excited about these upcoming releases:
This year’s SCAD Savannah Film Festival intends to celebrate a remarkable assembly of accomplished figures from the entertainment industry. The honorees are scheduled to take part in an awards ceremony, interactive discussions, and master classes with acting and filmmaking students from SCAD. Honorees previously announced include:
Colleen Atwood is set to be honored with the EbMaster’s Creative Impact in Costume Design Award during the screening event of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
At a screening of her 1990 movie, “The Grifters,” Annette Bening will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kieran Culkin will receive the Virtuoso Award at a screening of A Real Pain.
Colman Domingo will receive the Spotlight Award at a screening of Sing Sing.
At a showing of Emilia Pérez, Karla Sofía Gascón is set to be honored with the Distinguished Performance Award.
Jharrel Jerome will receive the Lumiere Award at a screening of Unstoppable.
At a screening of “Hit Man”, Richard Linklater is set to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Screenwriting Award.
Mikey Madison will receive the Breakthrough Award at a screening of Anora.
At the opening night gala screening of Blitz, Steve McQueen is set to be honored with the Distinguished Director’s Award for his exceptional work.
Isabela Merced will receive the Rising Star Award at a screening of Alien: Romulus.
Lupita Nyong’o will receive the Virtuoso Award at a screening of The Wild Robot.
Daisy Ridley is set to be honored with the Lumiere Award, an accolade that acknowledges her ongoing work on the films “Magpie” and “Young Woman and the Sea.
Zoe Saldaña will receive the Vanguard Award at a screening of Emilia Pérez.
Chris Sanders will receive the Icon of Animation Award at EbMaster’s Pixels and Pencils panel.
Sebastian Stan will receive the Maverick Award at a screening of A Different Man.
At the premiere showing of The Piano Lesson, the entire cast consisting of Danielle Deadwyler, John David Washington, Skyler Aleece Smith, Michael Potts, and director Malcolm Washington, will be honored with the very first Ensemble Award.
First Peek: Wicked – UniversalJoin members of the creative team behind Wicked for a special panel discussion, revealing an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming movie adaptation of this cherished musical. The panel will delve into the unique journey of transforming this beloved story for the big screen and offer a sneak peek of the breathtaking, immersive, cultural spectacle set to be released on Nov. 22. Participants in the discussion will include cinematographer Alice Brooks, editor Myron Kerstein, and costume designer Paul Tazewell.
Amazon MGM Studios Collaborates with SCAD Savannah Film Festival to Launch the SAVFF LGBTQ+ Short Film ContestRecognizing a gap in diverse storytelling within the film industry, Amazon MGM Studios and the SCAD Savannah Film Festival have joined forces to introduce the dedicated SAVFF LGBTQ+ Short Film Competition. The winning film in this contest, as selected by the jury, will receive a cash prize of $10,000, with an additional $5,000 awarded for the Audience Favorite. All entries must be short films under 40 minutes long and showcase outstanding narrative or documentary storytelling, offering fresh perspectives on LGBTQIA+ themes, problems, or concepts. The lineup for this year’s competition includes:
ALOK (Director Alex Hedison)ILY, BYE (Director Taylor James)Out of the Dark: Cal Calamia (Directors Tom Mason and Sarah Klein)Re-Entry (Director Ariel Mahler)Ripe! (Director Tusk)Stan Behavior (Director Tyler C. Peterson)
Twofold (Director Ella Greenwood)
The panel will be made up of David Canfield (Hollywood correspondent at Vanity Fair), Anthony Ramos (vice president of communications and talent at GLAAD), Adam Keen (co-head of global film publicity at Amazon MGM Studios), Rachel Shatto (editor-in-chief at Pride Media), and Seth Fradkoff (senior vice president of publicity at Amazon MGM Studios).
On October 30th, the Gutstein Gallery will host a collaborative panel talk by Amazon MGM Studios titled “Authenticity in Action: Collaborating for True Representation.” This discussion is scheduled for Wednesday.
Eleven Must-See DocumentariesThis year’s Docs to Watch lineup, our 11th annual series, will feature a roundtable discussion with the directors led by Scott Feinberg from The Hollywood Reporter. Here are the chosen films:
Black Box Diaries – MTV Documentary Films, directed by Shiori Ito
Flow – Sideshow/Janus Films, directed by Gints Zilbalodis
Evening DelightThe SCAD Savannah Film Festival’s hub for the evening’s excitement and unique films, showcasing timeless horrors and up-and-coming cult favorites carefully chosen to provoke shivers, fear, and enjoyment:
Movie Titles: Romulus (Directed by Fede Alvarez), The Substance (Directed by Coralie Fargeat), Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror (1922), Y2K (Co-directed by Kyle Mooney and Evan Winter), After Dark Shorts Program, Bisected (Directed by Danny Pineros), Les Bêtes (Directed by Michael Granberry), The Preakness (Directed by Akshay Bhatia), To Hell With You (Directed by Jason Sheedy), Creature (Directed by Bryan Wynn Sutton), Strings (Directed by Paige Archer), Wake (Directed by Sean Carter
Participate in engaging discussions and panels at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival alongside esteemed movie industry figures. Some of this year’s panel topics are:
Spotlighting trailblazers in filmmaking who overcome challenges to create impactful and moving works, the Beyond the Frame collection honors these cinematic powerhouses. The lineup includes: Beyond the Frame: Directors, featuring Marielle Heller (Nightbitch), Erica Tremblay (Fancy Dance), Jordan Weiss (Sweethearts), Kaila York (The Neighbor Who Saw Too Much), Rachel Morrison (The Fire Inside), and Sophia Takal (The Summer I Turned Pretty). Beyond the Frame: Producers, featuring Alison Owen (Back to Black), Carla Hacken (Hell or High Water), Daisy Ridley (Young Woman and the Sea, Magpie), Heather Rae (Fancy Dance), Joanna Calo (The Bear), and Laura Lewis (Tell Me Lies). Beyond the Frame: The Technical Aspects, with panelists Alice Brooks (director of photography, Wicked), Amy Williams (production designer, The Idea of You), and Laura Hudock (director of photography, Girls State).
Focusing on the unsung heroes behind the scenes of filmmaking, the “Below the Line” series spotlights talent contributions to cinema artistry, particularly in costume design and production design. Here’s a glimpse:
As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about the SCAD Alumni Voices Panel, an event that brings together accomplished graduates from the university’s esteemed film and television programs. Among the distinguished panelists are Calvin Bellas, a talented colorist, Alexis Brown, a casting assistant at The Telsey Office, Julie Diaz, a skilled supervising dialogue/ADR editor at Y2K, Chadwick Harman, a promising director at Bright Forests, Dominique Koski, coordinator at Brand Partnerships for The Gersh Agency, and Liah Corral Capra, a creative executive at Warner Bros. Discovery. Each of these individuals has made significant contributions to the industry and their insights promise to be invaluable for aspiring filmmakers like myself.
On the occasion of DreamWorks Animation’s 30th anniversary, a panel discussion will showcase talented alumni from SCAD who have made significant creative contributions at DreamWorks Animation. Among the participants are Jason Mayer (Computer Art M.F.A., 2003), currently serving as head of effects and working on Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Wild Robot; Emily Wimer (Visual Effects B.F.A., 2018), a lead lighting artist who has contributed to The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and The Wild Robot; and Jinguang Huang (Visual Effects M.F.A., 2017), a senior effects artist who has worked on Kung Fu Panda 4, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and The Wild Robot.
Experience the Premiere of ‘Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley’: A Live Podcast Recording Featuring Kris Bowers, Hosted by SCAD and Make It Universal in Collaboration with Rotten Tomatoes!
Explore the art of sound creation in Disney and Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine collaboration on October 30, featuring panelists Rob Simonsen (composer) and Craig Henighan (sound re-recording mixer and supervising sound editor). Delve into the intricate process behind the music and sound design of this iconic superhero mashup, as they share captivating clips and exclusive insights into how scoring, sound effects, and mixing combine to intensify action and emotion in blockbuster films. This event will offer a unique perspective on the complex artistry that breathes life into these beloved characters on screen and immerses audiences in their world.
Unveiling the Agents’ World: A Conversation with Gersh Agency Panel – This panel discussion will present a diverse group of agents from the Gersh Agency, sharing their perspectives on the agent’s profession, explaining their impact, responsibilities, and the vital connections they nurture between talent and key players in the entertainment industry.
The special event, dubbed the “Breaking Big Panel and Awards” by Entertainment Weekly, is being organized in collaboration with our media partner, Entertainment Weekly. Further details on participants will be shared at a future time.
10 Emerging Craftspeople to Keep an Eye On, showcased by the media partner of the festival, EbMaster. The list of participants will be revealed on October 23rd.
SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honors both established and up-and-coming filmmakers, ranging from full-length productions to brief two-minute shorts. This juried competition highlights the top professional, animated, and student films chosen from over 2,100 submissions each year. The esteemed festival judges include Brian Formo, head of studio relations and video at Letterboxd; Kate Erbland, editorial director at Indiewire; Richard Suckle, producer; Theo Rossi, actor known for Sons of Anarchy, Emily the Criminal, True Story; and Zeberiah Newman, director and producer of Relighting Candles and The Late Late Show with James Corden.
As a movie enthusiast, I’ve handpicked some remarkable narrative features that span from laughter-inducing comedies to tearjerker dramas. These films showcase the richness of storytelling, top-notch performances, and exceptional skills in direction, cinematography, and editing:
Griffin in Summer, directed by Nicholas Colia vs Los Frikis, directed by Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson vs Or Something, directed by Jeff Schroeder vs The Queen of My Dreams, directed by Fawzia Mirza:
Documentaries Offer Engrossing Narratives Going beyond basic topics, documentaries provide captivating tales that enlighten and instruct viewers with insightful and relevant perspectives.
Golden Valley Victors (by Director Ben Sturgulewski) – Could be rephrased as “Champions of the Land of Gold” or “Victors from the Golden Land
Brief MoviesThese short films, varying in topic and approach, are carefully chosen for their strong points in narrative and production quality:
Following Annecy (directed by Rebecca Holstein), Bright Forests (Chadwick Harman), Diviners (Brian Watkins), Good Boy (Tom Stuart), Motherland (Jasmin Mozaffari), Tea (Blake Winston Rice), we also have The Masterpiece, directed by Àlex Lora.
Short Documentaries I AdoreDelving into various realms such as art, history, politics, and personal narratives, these compelling short films provide an enthralling snapshot of our global tapestry:
Movie Titles with Their Respective Directors:
Short Animated Films Showcase VarietyRanging from traditional, hand-drawn characters to innovative stop-motion and computer-generated imagery, these short animated movies exhibit exceptional narrative creativity:
Land’s Affection (Travis Van Alstyne as Director)
Short Films ShowcaseFeaturing compelling narratives and budding creativity, these short movies span various genres such as live-action, storytelling, documentaries, and animations. The collection encompasses submissions from student filmmakers at SCAD and numerous global universities participating in the contest, which include:
Documentaries by Students:
Short Narrative Films by:
Short Animated Films by Students:
As a discerning film aficionado, let me share my insights about the Global Shorts Forum – an intriguing anthology of short films from around the globe, each tackling diverse themes related to global concerns. This captivating compilation offers a unique perspective on pressing world issues, inviting viewers on a thought-provoking journey.
In place of “Latin Lens Deep in My Heart is a Song (Director Jonathan Pickett)”, you could say “Deep in My Heart, a Tune by Latin Lens directed by Jonathan Pickett”.
Visions de FranceD’Oran à Almería (From Oran to Almería) (Director Lina Saïdani)Flatastic (Director Alice Saey)L’Invulnérable (The Invulnerable) (Director Lucas Bacle)Little Queen (Director Julien Guetta)Monochrome (Director Cédric Prévost)
Yuck! (Director Loïc Espuche)
Shorts SpotlightThis year’s Shorts Spotlight themes include:
Comic DistortionHow Did I Get Here (Director Kate Hamilton)I Could Dom (Director Madison Hatfield)Idiomatic (Director Phil Dunster)King Ed (Director Nick Fascitelli)Nepotism, Baby! (Director Tij D’oyen)RAT! (Director Neal Suresh Mulani)
Unsupervised (Director Jenica Bergere)
Femme ForwardA Family Portrait, Queens (Director Billy Silva)Boys Like You (Director Paul Holbrook)Dynasty and Destiny (Director Travis Lee Ratcliffe)Gigi (Director Cynthia Calvi)Holiday House (Director Alex Heller)Personal Mythologies (Director Susan O’Brien)
Vlog (Director Yvonne Strahovski)
Festival tickets for 2024 are available now.
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2024-10-04 17:21