The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced the award winners for the 26th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival with Fanatic, directed by Taran Killam winning the Audience Award.

In the professional competition At The Gates, directed by Augustus Meleo Bernstein won Best Narrative Feature and Bad Press, directed by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler won Best Documentary Feature.

A key stop on the festival circuit leading up to the Academy Awards, the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival screened 167 films, including 51 narrative feature films, 16 documentary feature films, 100 short films, and eleven world premieres and four U.S. premieres.

Professional Competition

Best Animated Short – Slow Light, directed by Katarzyna Kijek and Przemysław Adamski

Best Director – Smoking Tigers, directed by So Young Shelly Yo

Best Documentary Feature – Bad Press, directed by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler

Best Documentary Short: Unique Courage – Mayan Softball Revolution, directed by Michael Zimbalist

Best Documentary Short: Lessons of Hope – Seeds of Change, directed by Maximilian Armstrong

Best Narrative Short – The Old Young Crow, directed by Liam LoPinto

Best Narrative Feature – At The Gates, directed by Augustus Meleo Bernstein

Documentary Shorts: Best of Show – Mayan Softball Revolution, directed by Michael Zimbalist

Student Competition

Best Narrative Student Short – The Fuse, directed by Kevin Haefelin

Best Student Animation – Close Your Eyes, directed by Manon Bérardengo, Audrey Defonte, Léo Depoix, Denis Koessler, Clémentine Laurent, Pierre Guislain, and Chloé Boursier

Best Student Documentary Short – Just Jacob., directed by Halle Losordo *SCAD Student Film

Documentary Shorts Jury Award – The Local Hero Award: Lessons of Hope – God’s Love Split *SCAD Student Film

Student Animated Shorts Jury Award – Excellence in 2D Animation: The Sun Is Bad, directed by Rachel Mow *SCAD Student Film

Student Narrative Shorts Jury Award – Excellence in Directing and Acting: Blue Hour, directed by J.D. Shields

Global Shorts Forum

Global Shorts Forum Best of Show – Our Males and Females, directed by Ahmad Alyaseer

Best Global Short: Beyond Identity – Hafekasi, directed by Annelise Hickey

Best Global Short: Rocking the Cradle of Civilization – In the Garden of Tulips, directed by Julia Elihu

Shorts Spotlight

Shorts Spotlight Best of Show – Mira, directed by Eva Louise Hall

Best Shorts Spotlight: A Kaleidoscope of Connections – Tom & Cinda, directed by Eva Neuwirth

Best Shorts Spotlight: Family Fun – Morning Joy, directed by John Henry Hinkel

Best Shorts Spotlight: Horrors in Plain Sight – Mira, directed by Eva Louise Hall

Shorts Spotlight Jury Award: Excellence in Craftsmanship – Lovebugs, directed by Teddy Alvarez-Nissen

SAVFF LGBTQIA+ Short Film Competition Presented by Amazon MGM Studios

Recognizing the need for more inclusive storytelling in the filmmaking industry, the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival (SAVFF) and Amazon MGM Studios have created a dedicated SAVFF LGBTQIA+ Short Film Competition. Amazon MGM Studios will donate $10,000 for the jury-awarded Best Overall Film and $5,000 for an Audience Award. Films in the program are under 40 minutes in length and represent excellence in storytelling and execution in narrative or documentary formats, reflecting unique insight into LGBTQIA+ themes, issues, or ideas.

This year’s winner for Best LGBTQIA+ Short is 100% USDA Certified Organic Homemade Tofu, directed by Gbenga Komolafe.