News and Media

Published: Nov 5, 2009

SAVANNAH, Ga. — On Nov. 4 at the 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, presented by the Savannah College of Art and Design, Patricia Clarkson was honored with an Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award. The award, presented at Trustees Theater, recognized her performance in Woody Allen's "Whatever Works," which screened earlier that day.

"The glorious thing about our business is you never accomplish anything alone and I want to pay tribute to the marvelous filmmakers who I've worked with," said Clarkson. "To the students, you rock, and give me hope for the future."

As an Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress, Clarkson takes on roles as varied as the platform in which she plays them. It is that multi-faceted approach that has made her one of today's most respected actresses.

She last appeared in Allen's "Whatever Works" alongside Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood. Additionally, Clarkson stars in a romantic drama "Cairo Time," which recently won the Best Canadian Feature award at the 34th Toronto International Film Festival. In early 2010, Clarkson will be seen in Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated "Shutter Island" alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Clarkson's continuous innovative work in independent film earned her the Independent Award for Acting Excellence at the 2009 ShoWest Awards. In 2003, her role in "Pieces of April" earned her nominations for Academy, Golden Globe, SAG, Broadcast Film Critics and Independent Spirit awards. The National Board of Review and the National Society of Film Critics named her Best Supporting Actress of the Year for her work in "Pieces of April" and "The Station Agent."

On television, Clarkson won an Emmy in 2002 and 2006 for her guest-starring role on HBO's acclaimed drama "Six Feet Under."

Prior to the tribute, the Silver Screen Society presented the Best Short Film award to Shane Ladd, a SCAD film and television alumnus, and the Silver Screen Award to Kate Fitzpatrick, an undergraduate film and television student at the university.

The night topped off with film festival attendees viewing Pedro Almodovar's "Broken Embraces," starring Penelope Cruz and Lluis Homar.

For more information, visit www.scad.edu/filmfest.

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