SAVANNAH, GEORGIA (Sept. 30, 2025) — The Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) 28th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival today announced its Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night Gala Presentations. The festival will open on Saturday, Oct. 25 with a screening of Eternity. Star Miles Teller will receive the Distinguished Performance Award, while his co-star and festival honored guest Da’Vine Joy Randolph will join him onstage. Song Sung Blue will screen as the Centerpiece Gala, with director Craig Brewer to receive the Spotlight Director Award. On Saturday, Nov. 1 the festival will close with director Rian Johnson receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award at a screening of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
“This year’s opening, centerpiece, and closing night selections capture the breadth of cinema’s power to entertain, move, and challenge audiences,” said SCAD Savannah Film Festival executive director Christina Routhier. “Together, these films reflect the extraordinary artistry shaping the contemporary landscape while offering SCAD students and the Savannah community an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with the visionary talent behind and in front of the camera. As both a celebration of storytelling and an extension of SCAD’s world-class education in film and television, these marquee screenings embody the festival’s mission to inspire, connect, and prepare the next generation of creative leaders.”
OPENING NIGHT FILM — Saturday, Oct. 25
Eternity — In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) is faced with an impossible choice between the man she spent her life with (Miles Teller) and her first love (Callum Turner), who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive. The A24 film is directed by David Freyne.
Miles Teller will receive the Distinguished Performance Award, presented by co-star and festival honored guest Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Most recently, Teller starred in and served as executive producer on The Gorge. His other film credits include Top Gun: Maverick, The Offer, Spiderhead, Too Old To Die Young, Thank You for Your Service, Only the Brave, War Dogs, Bleed for This, Rabbit Hole, That Awkward Moment, the sci-fi franchise Divergent, Project X, Footloose, Whiplash (which earned Teller a Gotham Award nomination for Best Actor), and The Spectacular Now (which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and earned him the Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting). He recently wrapped production on James Gray’s Paper Tiger, co-starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.
CENTERPIECE FILM — Thursday, Oct. 30
Song Sung Blue — Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. The Focus Features film is directed and written by Craig Brewer.
Brewer will receive the Spotlight Director Award. As a director, Brewer is renowned for his gritty, music-driven storytelling, beginning with his breakout hit Hustle & Flow. His other credits include Black Snake Moan, Dolemite Is My Name, Coming 2 America, and Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM — Saturday, Nov. 1
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — World-renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns for his most dangerous case yet. The ensemble cast includes Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. The Netflix film is directed and written by Rian Johnson.
Johnson will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award. Rian Johnson is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker known for Knives Out, Glass Onion, Looper, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Additionally, Johnson has co-created the hit series Poker Face and executive produced 3 Body Problem through his company T-Street.
Festival passes for 2025 are available now. Individual event tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 3.
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