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    History of the Film Festival

    For over 20 years, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has hosted its wildly popular annual film festival. Welcoming some of the industry’s best actors, writers, directors, and producers, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival is one of the country’s most engaging showcases of independent and student film. This October, Savannah will welcome thousands of guests from around the world for this celebration of film.

    The Festival Today

    The festival has grown to host dozens of exciting interviews and featured screenings at two of SCAD’s historic theaters, the Trustees Theater and the Lucas Theatre for the Arts. You’ll also find extensive panels and workshops from rising stars and students of film in the nearby Gutstein Gallery, as well as lectures and master classes from visiting artists and creative professionals in the SCAD Museum of Art.  While you fill your afternoons with screenings, you can enjoy all of the meet-and-greet opportunities, and even see the juried competition for student film.

    SCAD Savannah – Fall 2017 – Savannah Film Q&A with actor John Boyega – Lucas Theatre. Photography Courtesy of SCAD.

    Who Might You See?

    Interacting with actors, writers, and producers is a huge component of the film festival. Previous guests of the festival include Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, John Boyega, Zoey Deutch, Roger Ebert, Peter O’Toole, Tommy Lee Jones, Norman Jewison, Ellen Burstyn, Oliver Stone, Liam Neeson, Miloš Forman, Michael Douglas, Woody Harrelson, John Goodman, Claire Danes, James Gandolfini and many others. It’s rare to find an environment where so many lovers of film can interact with the makers in so many different ways, all while enjoying dozens of features together. For the film lover, especially for those in the southeast, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival is a must-see event.

    The Big Screen and a Bigger Turnout

    Depending on what you want to see, you can purchase a viewing package suitable for your experience. Packages range from day passes that allow you to view screenings before the evening events, all the way to exclusive VIP packages that include workshops with the industry’s best creators. But these tickets always sell quickly. In fact, if you’re remotely considering the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, you should go ahead and purchase your tickets now. With an average attendance of more than 50,000, every program is expected to not only be full of people, but full of entertainment and inspiration for what is to come in the film world. If you’re lucky enough to snag an invite to one of the VIP after parties, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience!

    What to Expect at This Year’s Festival

    This year, the film festival runs from October 27-November 3. Though the details are largely secret until its arrival, you can surely expect that the students and faculty at SCAD will out-do themselves, as they do each year. With the growth of film production in Georgia, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival has only gained popularity. If you’re interested in the film industry, there’s no better place to be at the end of October.

    Schedule, Tickets & More Information

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