SCAD Announces Honorees and Guests for 2016 Savannah Film Festival

Mahershala Ali will receive the Discovery Award on Friday, Oct. 28. He will participate in a Q&A following the screening of "Moonlight." Ali can currently be seen starring in Netflix and Marvel Entertainment's "Luke Cage." His film credits include "Kicks," "The Free State of Jones," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2," "The Place Beyond the Pines," "Go For Sisters," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." His TV credits include "House of Cards," "The Wronged Man," "The Alphas," and "The 4400."  He will next be seen in Theodore Melfi's "Hidden Figures," opposite Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, and Kevin Costner.

Sam Claflin will receive the Spotlight Award on Wednesday, Oct. 26.  Claflin will participate in a Q&A following the screening of "Me Before You" with director Thea Sharrock and producer Alison Owen. Claflin's credits include "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2," "Friday," "The Riot Club," "Love, Rosie," "The Quiet Ones," "Snow White and the Huntsman," "The Huntsman: Winter War," "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," "Mary & Martha," "White Heat," "United," "Pillars of the Earth," "Any Human Heart," and "The Lost Future." He has just finished filming "My Cousin Rachel"' alongside Rachel Weisz and Holliday Grainger and in 2017 will star in Lone Scherfig's "Their Finest" alongside Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy.

Molly Shannon will receive the Spotlight Award on Monday, Oct. 24.  She will participate in a Q&A following the screening of "Other People." Shannon spent six seasons as a member of the repertory company on "Saturday Night Live." Her other credits include "Miles," "Me & Earl & the Dying Girl," "Life After Beth," "Scary Movie 5," "Hotel Transylvania," "Bad Teacher," "Superstar," "Marie Antoinette," "Year of the Dog," "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," "Evan Almighty," "Igor," "Little Man," "Scary Movie 4," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "A Night at the Roxbury," "Analyze This," "Happiness," "Never Been Kissed," "The Good Boy!," "Serendipity," "Osmosis Jones," "The Santa Clause 2," and "Wet Hot American Summer." Her TV credits include "Raising Hope," "Enlightened," "Getting On," "Super Fun Night," "The Spoils of Babylon," "Up All Night," "The Middle," "Web Therapy," "Glee," "Neighbors from Hell," "Kath and Kim," "Cracking Up," "Will & Grace," "Sex and the City," "Seinfeld," "Pushing Daisies," and "30 Rock." Her television movies include "More of Me," "12 Days of Christmas Eve," and "The Music Man."  She can currently be seen in the HBO comedy, "Divorce," opposite Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church.  She recently wrapped production on "The Greens Are Gone," starring Catherine Keener and the late Anton Yelchin. 

Miles Teller will receive the Vanguard Award on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and participate in a Q&A following "Bleed for This" with director Ben Younger and the World Championship boxer Vinny Pazienza. Teller recently starred in "War Dogs," alongside Jonah Hill with Todd Phillips directing.  His other credits include "Rabbit Hole," "That Awkward Moment," "Divergent," "Whiplash," "The Spectacular Now," "Project X," and "Footloose." Teller recently wrapped two films, the Steven Spielberg produced "Thank You for Your Service" and "Granite Mountain" with Josh Brolin and Jeff Bridges.

CONVERSATION SERIES
The festival hosts a Conversation Series, which are moderated discussions with directors, actors and below-the-line talent whose films are receiving awards attention. The following moderated Q&A's are scheduled including: writer Eric Heissererfor "Arrival;" film critic Leonard Maltin and SCAD Cinema Circle for "La Belle et la Bete (Beauty and the Beast);" writer/producer Craig Shilowichand producer Melody C. Roscherfor "Christine;" actor Rodrigo Santoro for "Dominion;" director/actor Avan Jogia for "The Drowning;" director Matt Trynauer and producer Corey Reeser for "Jean Nouvel: Reflections;" director Damien Chazelle for "La La Land;" director David F. Sandbergfor "Lights Out;" director/writer Ricki Stern and film subjects Celeste Corcoran, Kevin Corcoran, Sydney Corcoran and Tyler Corcoran for HBO Documentary Films' "Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing;"editor Affonso Gonçalvesfor "Paterson;" director/actor Demián Bichir for "Refugio;" director and producer Roxy Shih, producer Brandon Tansley and actor Michael Nardelli for "The Tribe;" director Mike Mitchell, co-director Walt Dohrnand production designer Kendal Cronkhite for "Trolls."

WGN America will host three panels featuring its hit series during the festival. On Sunday, October 23, WGN America's "Underground" offers an exclusive first look at season two and a panel discussion with cast members Amirah Vann and Aisha Hinds, executive producer and director Anthony Hemingway, production designer Meghan Rogers and costume designer Karyn Wagner. On Wednesday, October 26, WGN America's "Outsiders" presents an exclusive first look at the second season with a panel discussion with cast member Christina Jackson, creator and executive producer Peter Mattei and executive producers Peter Tolan and Michael Wimer.  On Friday, October 28 WGN America's "Salem" season three hosts its premiere followed by a Q&A with cast members Shane West and Elise Eberle, and creators and executive producers Brannon Braga and Adam Simon.

COMPETITION SCREENINGS
In the annual competition screening event, over 155 films will match up in the categories of narrative features, documentary features, animated shorts, student shorts, and Global Shorts Forum selections.

Documentary narratives include "Happy: A Small Film with a Big Smile," "The Freedom to Marry," "Indivisible," "Olympic Pride, American Prejudice," "The Revival: Women and the Word," and "She Started It." Feature competition films include "American Fable," "Like Cotton Twines," "Po," "The Space Between," "The Sweet Life" and "Swing Away." Jury members for the competition include Andy Cohen (producer), Marvet Britto (owner of The Britto Agency), Liz Vassey (actor), John Halperin (award winning documentary producer, writer and director) Sam Lansky (Time Magazine), Josh Ludmir (VP of Business and Legal Affairs, Participant Media), Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood) and Laura Morgan (President, The Laura Morgan Group).

About the Savannah Film Festival
The festival, and the competition, provides students with opportunities as unique as the movies on the screen. It's a chance for SCAD students to exclusively connect with leaders from the entertainment industry through master classes, coffee talks, lectures and panel discussions and a chance for Savannah, a premier film hub, to promote quality movies produced by independent and studio filmmakers.

Tickets and passes are available for purchase online at savannahboxoffice.com, by telephone at 912.525.5050, or in person at the Trustees Theater, located at 216 E. Broughton St., Savannah. Visit filmfest.scad.edu for a complete list of films and screening locations or follow the festival on Facebook and on Twitter @savfilmfest and use the hashtag #SAVFF.

About SCAD
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in 42 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Hong Kong; Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning. SCAD enrolls more than 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications and collaborative projects with corporate partners.

In 2015, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD in the top four universities in the Americas and Europe. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni placement rate. In a study of Spring 2015 SCAD graduates, 98 percent were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. For more information, visit the official SCAD blog.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428662
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428663LOGO

SOURCE SCAD

Related Links

http://www.filmfest.scad.edu