The SCAD Savannah Film Festival was founded and is hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design to bring film industry talent and expertise to the students of SCAD and the greater Savannah community, in a relaxed environment that promotes education and a spirit of collaboration.

The festival enters its 23rd year with expanded shorts programming, additional slots for narrative and documentary features, and expanded international programming, in its continued pursuit of showcasing excellence in film making, while offering a diverse and enriching experience for the more than 63,000 attendees.

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival supports the spirit of independent film making by offering emerging talents a reprieve from the huge number of submission fees they face in their quest for exposure. The festival waives submission fees for student films until March 15, yearly. Animated shorts are also afforded a window of waived submission fees until April 1. Waivers for other categories are granted by invitation only.

One of the few film festivals founded by an arts college, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival showcases the very best in independent filmmaking, from feature-length films to two-minute shorts, running the gamut of cinematic creativity. Feature length films with compelling stories and shorts with a innovative approaches keep audiences engaged and hungry for more.

The beautifully restored Trustees Theater, built in 1946 in the heart of historic downtown Savannah, and part of the SCAD campus since 1998, is the premier venue for the festival, with a seating capacity of more than 1,100. Around the corner is the Lucas Theatre for the Arts, built in 1926, and serving as the companion festival theater, also seating close to 1,200. Both theaters feature Sony 4K digital projection, Spectral 240 silver screens for pristine 2D/3D imagery, as well as 35mm projection, and 7.1 Dolby Digital surround sound and RealD 3D capabilities at the Trustees Theater, projected by one of the top teams in film festival projection around the globe.

In addition to the competition films, the festival also screens award-winning studio releases ahead of their theatrical run. The festival honors leaders in the film industry, from directors and producers to actors, screenwriters, entertainment journalists and editors, before the evening gala screenings. Previous festival honorees include Hugh Jackman, Daniel Kaluuya, Elisabeth Moss, Alan Silvestri, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Alexander Payne, Mahershala Ali, Molly Shannon, Meg Ryan, Jeremy Irons, Gena Rowlands, Olivia Wilde, John Goodman, Matt Dillon, Stan Lee, Diane Lane, Lily Tomlin, Oliver Stone, Ray Liotta, Aaron Eckhart, Geoffrey Fletcher, Ellen Barkin, Liam Neeson, Sir Ian McKellen, Isabella Rossellini, Woody Harrelson, Arthur Penn, Michael Douglas, Roger Ebert, Kathleen Turner, Norm Jewison, Sidney Lumet, and Peter O'Toole just to name a few.

Savannah becomes a film lover's paradise during this week long event, with plenty of opportunities to take in the sights of one of the world's most beautiful cities. The festival offers a series of panels and workshops, informal coffee talks, with daytime and evening showings of narrative, animated and feature films. Master class workshops are presented by industry insiders who give pointers on everything from special effects to selling a film. Filmmakers selected for competition receive complimentary passes to attend the festival and are treated to unparalleled hospitality, including panel discussion participation and engaging networking opportunities.

Awards & Prizes

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival awards "best of" category awards in every category.

Rules & Terms

PREMIERE STATUS
We are always on the lookout for premieres, so please keep us informed of previous screenings or premiere status. While the festival always considers films that have screened at other film festivals, or are in the process of being picked up for distribution, the festival refrains from programming films for competition that have already been released theatrically or have DVD sales or online streaming prior to the completion of the 2020 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

FILM COMPLETION DATE: ALL films submitted for consideration must have been filmed and completed AFTER June 30, 2019. No exceptions will be considered.

WORKS IN PROGRESS ARE CONSIDERED, however, a second, FINAL screener can only be submitted ONCE, after the initial submission, and ONLY at the request of the festival, by July 31st. Please submit films in their most final, complete state, regardless of status. All films selected for competition MUST PROVIDE a direct, password-protected VIMEO LINK upon acceptance for judging purposes.

All entries must be submitted as an online screener. NO DVDS or Blu-Ray pre-screeners please. If password protected, please make sure password is typed correctly. We will NOT notify you if your password does not work. Please insure that it does.

All entries must either be in the English language or be subtitled in the English language.

Third parties submitting films on behalf of their clients must include the filmmaker's contact information within the submission. If selected, the festival will contact the filmmaker directly.

DEADLINES
All film submissions must be uploaded by the particular discount deadline, ie. for student films entering their film on FilmFreeway before March 15 to qualify for the waiver, or animation before April 1. Online screeners MUST be uploaded ON or BEFORE the deadline, or the entry will be disqualified and required to submit with the proper submission fees.

Waivers are granted via invitation ONLY. NO UNSOLICITED WAIVER REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED! PLEASE DO NOT ASK. (SCAD students, SCAD alum, and festival alum, see below)

SCAD Students and SCAD and festival Alum must request waiver codes via filmfest@scad.edu prior to submitting their film through FilmFreeway. DO NOT pay the entry fee and then request a waiver, as NO REFUNDS will be given.

Failure to pay proper submission fees with your entry may result in disqualification. You will be notified of failure to pay via email and will be disqualified if payment has not been submitted within 5 business days. NO REFUNDS will be granted to any submission.

Film presentations are scheduled at the discretion of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival and are subject to change.

EXHIBITION
Regardless of original format, all competition films screen on DCP for festival presentation. DCPs with subtitles must have the subtitles embedded in the film file. Filmmakers are responsible for providing their own DCP to the festival via hard drive, thumb drive, or downloadable DCP link. DCP is the only accepted format. No other formats will be considered.

JUDGING
Films chosen for competition are judged by a select panel of jurors who are active industry professionals from various filmmaking fields. Awards are left to the sole discretion of the judges, and a committee selected by the director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival will make any necessary rulings. Awards are announced at the awards brunch at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, and all competition films are strongly encouraged to have a film representative in attendance. Selected competition films will be offered some travel expenses (refer to acceptance packet for details).

ALL FILMMAKERS will be notified on or around September 14, 2020. This is subject to change, we ask for your patience. DO NOT EMAIL FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS before Sept. 14 to "check the status of your film." Everyone will be notified in a timely fashion. Thank you!

16 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ian Hunt Duffy

    Hands down the best festival I have ever been to. Such a lovely town, filled with truly helpful and supportive staff that treat filmmakers so well. A week of amazing screenings, networking events, and fun-- it really is a must! Thanks to Shelia and everyone at the festival for 3 amazing years.

    November 2019
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  • John Gray

    This was a great experience for us from start to finish. Short filmmakers are not always treated with the same respect as feature filmmakers, but at SCAD Savannah we were welcomed and treated beautifully. The staff and volunteers are incredible, the venues are fantastic, and the lineup of films was really impressive. Best of all, the audiences are passionate and true movie lovers. Can't wait to come back here again.

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    At the SCAD Savannah Film Festival we champion all filmmakers! Thank you for your kind words John. We loved having your short play here and look forward to seeing you back in Savannah with your next film project.

  • Mark Ward

    No festival has ever treated us better. From communication to accommodation, presentation to attendance, the stellar quality of films and panels not to mention the beauty of Savannah, this experience was unforgettable. The staff and volunteers were immensely helpful and constantly present, the networking opportunities were ubiquitous, and I can't wait to submit our next work to SCAD Savannah. It's impossible to heap too much praise on this incredible event.

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    We appreciate your kind words Mark! We always strive to ensure everyone who attends the festival is treated with the widest range of engaging opportunities! We look forward to seeing your next film project!

  • Ksenia Ivanova

    SCAD Savannah Film Festival is one of the best festivals I’ve ever attended if not the best one. I felt incredible support to the independent filmmakers; the events are so well organized, and SCAD shows the best movies from all around the world. There are many festivals that are a business, and there are just a few festivals that really care about films and filmmakers, especially the young professionals, and SCAD is a rare case. Moreover, Savannah is a beautiful city filled with creative energy. I was honored to be part of this amazing film event and I strongly recommend to submit to this festival.

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Ksenia - thank you for your kind words! We pride ourselves on providing the best experience and support to independent filmmakers and are thrilled you were able to join us. We love to champion all filmmakers, not just big business! Congratulations on your award and think of us with your next film project.

  • Katie McEntire Wiatt

    SCAD Savannah is truly an outstanding festival. The panels, special events, screenings and more made it was one of the best festivals we have attended. The staff, volunteers, and students go above and beyond in making this festival a wonderful experience from beginning to end. The communication before and during the festival was excellent. The hospitality was world class and beyond our expectation. Our screening was very well attended and we could not have asked for a better audience. We cannot recommend SCAD Savannah high enough. We can't wait to return with a future film!

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    It was a pleasure having you here with us Katie in Savannah! We are thrilled you had a positive festival experience and look forward to your next documentary!