Champions Of The Golden Valley directed by Ben Sturgulewski
Champions Of The Golden Valley directed by Ben Sturgulewski

After screening 162 films, the 27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival announced the award winners with Los Frikis directed by Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson winning Best Narrative Feature and Champions Of The Golden Valley, directed by Ben Sturgulewski winning Best Documentary Feature.

This year, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival also honored Amy Adams (Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award), Marisa Abela (Next Gen Award), Pamela Anderson (Marquee Award), Jerry Bruckheimer (Legend of Entertainment Award), Jodie Comer (Etoile Award), Kevin Costner (Legend of Cinema Award), Kieran Culkin (Virtuoso Award), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award), Karla Sofía Gascón (Distinguished Performance Award), Kathryn Hahn (Spotlight in Television Award), Jharrel Jerome (Lumiere Award), Felicity Jones (Spotlight Award), Pablo Larraín (Auteur Award), Richard Linklater (Lifetime Achievement in Screenwriting Award), Natasha Lyonne (Maverick Award), Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Award), Isabela Merced (Rising Star Award), Steve McQueen (Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award), Demi Moore (Icon Award), Lupita Nyong´o (Virtuosos Award), Margaret Qualley (Luminary Award), Jason Reitman (Vanguard Director Award), Daisy Ridley (Lumiere Award), RaMell Ross (Breakthrough Director Award), Zoe Saldaña (Vanguard Award), Chris Sanders (Icon of Animation Award), and Sebastian Stan (Maverick Award).

The Piano Lesson was honored with the Ensemble Award, with attendees at the Festival including Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Skylar Aleece Smith, John David Washington and Malcom Washington. Variety in partnership with the SCAD Savannah Film Festival feted Colleen Atwood with the Variety Creative Impact Award in Costume Design Award at a screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Entertainment Weekly also announced their Breaking Big honorees for 2024, which include Austin Abrams, Monica Barbaro, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Ethan Herisse, Ebony Obsidian and Savannah Lee Smith.

Winners of 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival

Professional Competition

Best Animated Short – The Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess, directed by Anna-Ester Volozh
Honorable Mention: Monsoon Blue, directed by Jay Hiukit Wong, and Ellis Kayin Chan

Best Documentary Feature – Champions Of The Golden Valley, directed by Ben Sturgulewski
Best Narrative Short – The Masterpiece, directed by Àlex Lora
Best Narrative Feature – Los Frikis, directed by Michael Schwartz & Tyler Nilson
Best Director – The Ride Ahead, directed by Samuel Habib & Dan Habib

Special Jury Recognition for Cinematography – After Annecy, directed by Rebecca Holstein
Special Jury Recognition: Spotlight Performance: Amrit Kaur, The Queen Of My Dreams

SAVFF LGBTQIA+ Short Film Competition

Presented by Amazon MGM Studios

Best LGBTQIA+ Short: RIPE!, directed by Tusk (Olivia Mitchell and Kerry Furrh)
Audience Award Winner: Re-Entry, directed by Ariel Mahler

Student Competition

Best Narrative Student Short – El Alma de la Sed, directed by Colleen Ryan, Savannah College of Art and Design
Honorable Mention: Desync, directed by Minerva Marie Navasca, Sheridan College

Best Student Animated Short – High Diver, directed by Oscar Bittner, Filmakademie Baden Württemberg
Special Jury Honorable Mention: The Nectar Instead for Excellence in Craftsmanship, directed by Yoo Lee, University of Southern California

Best Student Documentary Short – Failure to Fail, directed by Haley Breese, Savannah College of Art and Design

The Inaugural Katie Spikes Legacy Award Scholarship

Katie Spikes was a senior story editor for CBS 60 Minutes and a beloved friend of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival for many years after her passing in 2023 the Katie Spikes Legacy Scholarship was created to honor excellence in filmmaking by a SCAD student.

Award Winner – Failure to Fail, directed by Haley Breese, Savannah College of Art and Design

Global Shorts Forum

Best Latin Lens: ¡salsa!, directed by Antonina Kerguelen Roman

Best Visions de France: Yuck!, directed by Loïc Espuche
Honorable Mention for Social Impact: Monochrome, directed by Cedric Prevost

Best Global Short: Little Queen, directed by Julien Guetta

Shorts Spotlight

Best Comic Distortions: Idiomatic, directed by Phil Dunster
Best After Dark Horror Short: Wake, directed by Sean Carter
Best Femme Forward: Vlog, directed by Yvonne Strahovski
Best Shorts Spotlight: A Family Portrait, Queens, directed by Billy Silva
Best Professional Documentary Short: Good Enough Ancestor, Directed by Cynthia Wade
Honorable Mention: I’m Still Here: A Life on Dynamite Hill, directed by Stephen Stinson and Sam Miller
Jury Award Honorable Mention: Les Bêtes for Craftsmanship in Animation

Share ...

Subscribe for Blog Updates

Sign up for our latest updates.

Please follow us to get updates online.