How do you celebrate Georgia Day in Savannah, the first city in the last of the 13 original colonies? By commemorating some of its most distinguished women from history and modernity, of course! The Savannah Women of Vision dedication ceremony at Arnold Hall is open to the public. 

When SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace noticed the lack of women in the 1930s’ Works Progress Administration mural in Arnold Hall’s theater, she decided it was time to elevate the traditionally underrepresented demographic. The Savannah Women of Vision portrait installation celebrates the remarkable ideas, insightful leadership and distinguished service of 10 women who have profoundly sculpted the city of Savannah and beyond.

Carved cameos paying tribute to each of the following honorees will permanently line the walls in Arnold Hall’s theater:

• Mary Musgrove Matthews Bosomworth
• Abigail Minis
• Mother Mathilda Beasley
• Juliette Gordon Low
• Flannery O’Connor
• Nancy N. Lewis
• Emma Morel Adler
• Frances Wong
• Alice Andrews Jepson
• Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears

The larger-than-life portraits honoring these women were created by none other than SCAD alumnus Michael Porten (B.F.A., illustration; M.F.A., painting). But Porten isn’t the only alum taking part in this historic event; the following alumnae will speak during the ceremony:

• Susan Laney (B.F.A., photography)
• Meredith Sutton (B.F.A., metals and jewelry)
• Clare Ward (B.F.A., performing arts)
• Nontra Yantaprasert (B.F.A., fashion)
• Zoe Leung (B.F.A., historic preservation)
• Osayi Endolyn (M.F.A., writing)
• Ayeola Johnson (M.A., arts administration)
• Felicia Bell (M.A., historic preservation)
• Capucine Gros (B.F.A., painting)
• Amy Lind (B.F.A., illustration)
• Elva Jiang (B.F.A., fashion, fashion marketing and management)

SCAD invites the public to join the celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 at Arnold Hall, located at 1810 Bull St.

Atlanta, get ready for a celebration of creativity and innovation in television and media production! Of course, we’re talking about the fourth annual aTVfest in Atlanta’s thriving midtown. Tickets for the events, workshops and lectures go on sale today at the SCADshow Box Office.

From Thursday, Feb. 4 to Sunday, Feb. 7, the festival will host premiere screenings and panels covering the following iconic television comedies, dramas and animation features:

• A&E's "Bates Motel"
• ABC's "American Crime," "The Catch," "Grey's Anatomy" and "How To Get Away With Murder"
• Cinemax's "Banshee"
• Comedy Central's "Futurama"
• FOX's "Family Guy," "Gotham," "Lucifer" and "Sleepy Hollow"
• HBO documentaries "Class Divide" and "Mavis"
• HGTV's "Ellen's Design Challenge"
• Hulu's "The Path"
• Lifetime's "Devious Maids"
• NBC's "Grimm"
• Nickelodeon's "The Loud House"

Mindy Kaling from Hulu’s “The Mindy Project” will return to the festival, along with her writing team, to screen an episode of her show and participate in a panel discussion. These events will take place at the SCADshow Theater, the Digital Media Center and the main SCAD Atlanta campus at 1600 Peachtree St. NW

A juried showcase will include dramas, comedies, web productions and more from SCAD’s school of digital media. Visit the festival website for more updates.

The top three finalists for the SCAD Snapchat geofilter contest are in! Take a look at the submissions below and vote for which design you want to see turned into the official SCAD geofilter. You'll see the winning sketch refined on Snapchat and in use on SCAD's must-follow Snapchat: @scaddotedu. Voting ends this Friday, Dec. 18.

Option 1: SCAD Bee Marquee

Option 2: Colorful SCAD

Option 3: SCAD World

Attention, Atlanta shoppers! Just in time for the holiday shopping rush, there’s a new shopSCAD in town — inside a reimagined Airstream, circa 1966.

Dubbed shopSCAD on-the-Go, this Mid-century mobile micro-boutique is parked on the front lawn of SCAD Atlanta’s 1600 Peachtree building. And with a six-foot-wide, double-sided neon arrow mounted on top, the shop is hard to miss!

Just like shopSCAD’s locations in Savannah and Lacoste, shopSCAD on-the-Go is full of one-of-a-kind jewelry, handbags, fine art, home goods, and cool SCAD gear — all created by SCAD students, alumni, and faculty.

Highlights include:

• Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets using found vintage objects by Bazz de Grant's Nicolás Bazzani (M.F.A., product design) and his wife Thea Grant
• Handcrafted wooden trees by Martha Enzmann (M.F.A., painting)
• Dopp kits, leather and canvas bags by Fleabags’ Shira Entis (M.F.A., fashion)
• Holiday tea towels by Meg Sutton (B.F.A., graphic design)
• Geometric vases by Bucky Clarke (B.F.A., graphic design)
• Soy holiday candles by Nicole Edge (B.F.A., fashion; B.F.A., sequential art)
• Marble coasters by Katy Skelton (M.F.A., furniture design)

ShopSCAD on-the-Go is open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Dec. 24.

SCAD Savannah needs a Snapchat Geofilter and we want the talented YOU to design it! Follow the directions below to submit an incredible design full of SCAD spirit. The winner will not only have bragging rights to creating the FIRST ever official SCAD Snapchat Geofilter, but will also receive a feature on our blog! We can’t wait to see what you will create.

Directions on how to submit:

1. Follow scaddotedu on Snapchat.
2. Watch SCAD’s snap story.
3. Snap back a geofilter design doodle by 12 p.m. Saturday, December 12.
4. Set the time to 10 seconds.

Qualifications:

• Must be following scaddotedu on Snapchat throughout entire contest period
• Must be able to professionally recreate the initially designed sketch in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
• Must create an original and innovative design

If not able to do the above an automatic disqualification will occur.

Important dates:

Friday, December 11 at 12 p.m. submit your sketched designs to SCAD via Snapchat by Saturday, December 12 at 12 p.m.

Monday, December 14 top 3 designs will be announced on SCAD’s Twitter and Instagram (@scaddotedu) as well as directly snapped at from scaddotedu.

Voting for the favorite design out of the top 3 begins Monday, December 14 at 12 p.m. hosted on the blog until Friday, December 18 at 12 p.m.

Friday, December 18 the winner will be announced by 5 pm on SCAD’s Twitter (@SCADdotedu) and Instagram (@scaddotedu) as well as directly snapped at from scaddotedu.

Monday, December 28 the winner will present the official Snapchat-ready-design to SCAD by email.

Friday, January 8 the featured blog post about the winner will be published. 

Call OFFICIAL RULES

SCAD Savannah Geofilter Snapchat Contest

NO PURCHASE OF ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE IS REQUIRED TO ENTER OR PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST.  PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST IS FREE.  PURCHASE OF THE SPONSOR’S PRODUCTS OR SERVICES WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. SPONSOR: The Savannah College of Art and Design, Inc., 342 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31402 (the “Sponsor” or “SCAD”).

2. ELIGIBILITY: The SCAD Savannah Geofilter Snapchat Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who are fifteen (15) years of age or older at the time of entry.  The Contest is void wherever prohibited or restricted by law. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. Employees, officers, directors, board members and agents of the Sponsor and its affiliates, and the immediate families (parents, siblings, children and spouse) and persons living in the same household (whether related or not) of such persons are not eligible to enter the Contest or win a prize. 

3. AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES: Participation in the Contest constitutes each entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and the Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.  Winning the Contest and receiving any prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth in these Official Rules.

4. HOW TO ENTER: The Contest begins at 12:00:01 p.m. Savannah, Georgia time (“ST”) on December 11, 2015 and ends at 11:59:59 a.m. ST on December 12, 2015 (the “Contest Period”), according to the Sponsor’s time clock.  During the Contest Period, you can enter the Contest on your web-enabled mobile device by adding SCAD on Snapchat with the username scaddotedu and viewing the story posted by SCAD that includes instructions for entering the Contest.  Then, you must snap back to such story a design doodle for a SCAD Savannah Snapchat geofilter template (each such design doodle, an “Entry”).  Entries must be received during the Contest Period to be eligible. Only one Entry per eligible entrant is allowed during the Contest Period.  Entries will not be acknowledged.  Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means and Entries that subvert the entry process are void.  When using your mobile device, note that data fees may apply.  See your wireless provider for pricing plan details.   

A Snapchat account is required for entry. You may download the Snapchat app for free at snapchat.com.  Snapchat is not affiliated with the Contest in any way and is not responsible for the administration of the Contest, determining the winner or awarding any prize. No endorsement or approval of the Contest by Snapchat is expressed or implied. 

To be eligible to win the Contest, each entrant must be able to recreate their Entry into a Snapchat geofilter (the “Deliverable”) using the photo editing program of their choice.  The Deliverable must be in .png format, have a width of 1080 pixels and a height of 1920 pixels and be under 300KB.  The Deliverable must also meet Snapchat’s Geofilter Submission Guidelines and must appear identical to the Entry as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion.  As used herein, the term “Submission” means, with respect to any entrant, such entrant’s Entry and, if applicable, Deliverable, individually and collectively.         

By entering, you represent and warrant the following with respect to your Submission: (a) you are the sole and exclusive owner of the Submission and the contents and elements thereof; (b) the Submission is your own creation and is one hundred percent (100%) original; and (c) the Submission will not infringe on any rights of any third parties. By submitting your Submission, you also represent, warrant and agree that your Submission conforms to the Guidelines and Content Restrictions set forth below (collectively, the “Guidelines and Restrictions”) and that the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may deem you or your Submission ineligible and disqualify you from the Contest if it believes that your Submission fails to conform to the Guidelines and Restrictions.

By entering the Contest, each entrant grants to the Sponsor a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, copy, modify, publish, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, translate, adapt, edit (including for length), display and otherwise exploit such Submission in whole or in part, on a worldwide basis, and to incorporate it into other works, in any form, media or technology now known or later developed, including for promotional or marketing purposes without additional compensation, notification, permission or approval. If requested, each entrant will sign any documentation that may be required for the Sponsor or its designees to make use of the non-exclusive rights entrant is granting to use the Submission.

In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the entrant who has submitted any Submission, the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the Snapchat account used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant and must comply with these Official Rules. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Each entrant may be required to show proof of being an authorized account holder.

By entering, entrants agree to comply with these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements. The Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility of all entrants. Incomplete Submissions, and Submissions submitted by entrants who do not meet the eligibility requirements (including all requirements with respect to age and residence) are void. The Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for lost, late, stolen, damaged, incomplete, invalid, un-intelligible, garbled, delayed or misdirected Submissions, for technical failures of any kind, or any human error which may occur in the receipt or processing of Submissions. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify the scheduling of the Contest without prior notification.

5. GUIDELINES AND CONTENT RESTRICTIONS:

(a)            The Submission must be an original work of authorship by the entrant and the entrant must own all right, title and interest in and to the Submission;

(b)            The entrant must have acquired permissions from individuals included in any Submission subject to the terms of these Terms and Conditions;

(c)            If any identifiable person appearing in the Submission is under the age of majority in his/her state of residence, the parent or legal guardian is required to provide permission;

(d)            The Submission must not contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement;

(e)            The Submission must not disparage the Sponsor or any other person or party affiliated with the Contest;

(f)            The Submission must not contain brand names or trademarks other than those owned by the Sponsor, which entrant has a limited license to use to incorporate in his/her Submission in the Contest;

(g)            The Submission must not contain images, footage or artwork not created by entrant;

(h)           The Submission must not contain material that is offensive, inappropriate, profane, lewd, indecent, obscene, hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous;

(i)             The Submission must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; and

(j)             The Submission must not contain material that violates or is contrary to any applicable laws or regulations.

The Sponsor reserves the right to require proof of any permissions in a form acceptable to the Sponsor from any entrant at any time.

6. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION:  After the conclusion of the Contest Period, a panel of qualified judges determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion will select three finalists from among all of the eligible Entries, based upon application of the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):

a)              Creativity (34%)

b)              Originality (33%);

c)              Relevance to the theme of the Contest (33%)

The three entrants who submitted the Entries with the highest scores based on this criteria, as determined by the judges in their sole discretion, will be deemed the finalists.  In the event of a tie, the entrant whose Entry received the highest score for “Creativity,” as determined by the judges, in their sole discretion, will be deemed a finalist.  The Sponsor reserves the right to extend the Contest Period, the right to select fewer than three (3) finalists and the right to cancel the Contest and not award any prizes if, in its sole discretion, there are not a sufficient number of eligible and qualified Entries received during the Contest Period.  The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest.

The finalists will be announced by the Sponsor via Twitter (@SCADdotedu) and Instagram (@scaddotedu).  In addition, the Sponsor will notify each finalist on Snapchat via direct snap from scaddotedu.   The finalists’ Entries will be judged by members of the public during a voting period commencing on December 14, 2015 at 12:00:01 p.m. ST and ending on December 18, 2015 at 11:59:59 a.m. ST (the “Voting Period”).  The Voting Period may be extended and/or delayed in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.  The public will judge the finalists’ Entries using the same Judging Criteria as set forth above by visiting the Sponsor’s blog site www.scad.edu/blog. Each voter will be limited to a total of one vote per day during the Voting Period. The application of the Judging Criteria shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the judges and the online voters.  The total number of online votes submitted for each finalist Entry will be calculated by the Sponsor. The one (1) Entry with the most online votes will be determined to be the winning Entry, and the entrant who submitted such Entry shall be the potential winner.  In the event of a tie, the Contest judges in their sole and absolute discretion will determine the potential winner.  Finalists are prohibited from obtaining votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means. False or deceptive acts or votes, or votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be void.  The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to nullify all votes obtained via such means and to disqualify finalists responsible for such means from further voting or participation in the Contest.

On or about 5:00 p.m. ST on the last day of the Voting Period, the potential winner will be notified through direct snap on Snapchat.  The Sponsor (scaddotedu) will send a direct snap to the Snapchat username of the potential winner (the “Winner Notification”).  The potential winner must then follow the instructions provided in the Winner Notification or the prize will be forfeited in its entirety.  [The potential winner must be a follower of scaddotedu to receive the Winner Notification. / A mutual following between the Sponsor and the potential winner on Snapchat is required to facilitate notification.]  The potential winner will be required to send an email to a representative of the Sponsor for instructions on how to create and submit the Deliverable and may be required to submit a valid email address, mailing address, telephone number and/or other information.  Except where prohibited, each potential winner (or such potential winner’s parent/legal guardian if a minor in his/her state of residence) must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release, which must be in form and substance satisfactory to the Sponsor and received by the Sponsor via email within 24 hours of the time that the Sponsor sends the Winner Notification to such potential winner.

Upon following the instructions provided in the Winner Notification and signing and returning the affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release, the potential winner must follow the Sponsor’s instructions to recreate the Entry into the Deliverable using the photo editing program of the potential winner’s choice.  The potential winner must submit to the Sponsor via email no later than no later than December 28, 2015 (the “Submission Deadline”) the Deliverable, which Deliverable must meet all requirements of and comply in all respects with these Official Rules. 

If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to execute and return the affidavit of eligibility and liability and publicity release or provide any other requested information within the required time period (as applicable), fails to submit the Deliverable in accordance with these Official Rules on or before the Submission Deadline or does not comply with these Official Rules, such potential winner will be disqualified and forfeit the prize.  In addition, if the Sponsor in its sole discretion determines that the Deliverable does not comply with these Official Rules or does not sufficiently recreate the winning Entry, the Sponsor will disqualify the potential winner and the potential winner will forfeit the prize. If a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, the Sponsor may, but shall not be required to, select an alternate potential winner from among the remaining finalists based upon the next most online votes. Only two (2) alternate potential winners may be determined, after which the applicable prize will remain unawarded.  The potential winner who complies with all of the foregoing requirements will be the “Winner”.  The Winner will be announced by the Sponsor via Twitter (@SCADdotedu) and Instagram (@scaddotedu).

7. PRIZE:

The Winner’s Deliverable will be submitted to Snapchat and, upon Snapchat’s approval, will be used on Snapchat as the geofilter for SCAD’s Savannah campus for a period of at least 90 days, following which period SCAD may remove and/or change the geofilter in its sole discretion.  In addition, on or about January 8, 2016, SCAD will feature a blog post about the Winner on its blog, www.scad.edu/blog; provided that the Winner cooperates with SCAD and provides all information requested by SCAD for such blog post. 

8. GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating in the Contest and/or by accepting a prize, participants: (a) agree to be bound by these Official Rules, the decisions of the Sponsor and/or its designees and (b) agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor, Snapchat and their respective affiliates, together with their respective employees, directors, officers, board members, licensees, licensors, shareholders, members, attorneys and agents including, without limitation, any person or entity associated with the production, judging or administration of the Contest (collectively, the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses caused by, arising out of, in connection with, or related to their participation in the Contest and/or their use or misuse of any prize.  By accepting a prize, the Winner consents to the use of his/her name and/or likeness (voice, biographical information, city and state of residence, statements (including, but not limited to, any statements in any Submission), Snapchat username, photograph, and recordings) for advertising and promotional purposes (including, but not limited to, use on the Sponsor’s web site without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law). The Sponsor reserves the right to make changes or additions to these Official Rules and/or extend the dates of the Contest for any reason at any time. The Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

The Contest is a skill contest designed to increase consumer awareness of and interest in SCAD. The Contest may not be used for any form of gambling.  In the event that the Contest is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, the Sponsor reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Contest, or to disqualify entrants residing in the affected geographic areas. In such event, the Released Parties shall have no liability to any entrants who are disqualified due to such an action.

9. RELEASE. All decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding; and entrants agree to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Contest or these Official Rules, except where prohibited by law. By accepting a prize, each Winner agrees to release the Released Parties from any and all liability, loss or damage arising from or in connection with awarding, receipt and/or use or misuse of any prize. The Sponsor reserves the right to use the Contest for publicity purposes in any media and to use the name, screen name/handle/username, likeness, and hometown name and/or prize information of selected entrants as part of that publicity, without any compensation or prior review unless prohibited by law.  The Contest is void outside the US and where prohibited or restricted by law, and subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or violating these Official Rules. The Released Parties shall not be liable for: (a) late, lost, delayed, stolen, misdirected, postage due, incomplete, unreadable, inaccurate, garbled or unintelligible Submissions or communications, regardless of the method of transmission; (b) telephone system, telephone or computer hardware, network, server, internet service provider, website, satellite, cable, software or other technical or computer malfunctions, lost connections, disconnections, delays or transmission errors; (c) data corruption, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alteration of Submission or other materials; (d) any injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by a prize or resulting from acceptance, possession or use of a prize, or from participation in the Contest; or (e) any printing, typographical, administrative or technological errors in any materials associated with the Contest. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Contest should any unauthorized intervention or other cause beyond the Sponsor’s control corrupt the administration, security or judging of the Contest. The Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines such entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest in any way by cheating, deception, or any other unfair playing practice that annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other entrants or representatives of the Sponsor.

10. USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION: In order to participate in the Contest, participants will be required and requested to supply certain information about themselves. The Sponsor has specified which information is mandatory in order to participate in the Contest. Any information provided to the Sponsor will be used by the Sponsor for the purposes of administering the Contest and for marketing purposes, but will not be sold or rented to third parties. The personal information will be collected, processed and used in accordance with the Sponsor’s privacy policy, which can be found at http://www.scad.edu/content/privacy-and-terms-use.  By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to the Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and that they have read and accepted such privacy policy.  In addition, personal information may be used by the Sponsor to contact you after the Contest is over to provide you with information about the Sponsor and its activities and other promotions. 

11. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATIONS OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

12. DISPUTES: Each entrant agrees that (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and any judicial proceeding shall take place in a federal or state court in Savannah, Georgia; (b) any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (c) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, and consequential damages, and any other damages (other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses) and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and the Sponsor in connection with the Contest shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Georgia or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Georgia.

13. WINNER’S LIST/OFFICIAL RULES: For the name of the Winner or a copy of the Official Rules, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Savannah College of Art and Design, SCAD Savannah Geofilter Snapchat Contest Winner's List/Official Rules, 342 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31402, to be received no later than the date that is 60 days after the end of the Contest Period. The name of the Winner will be sent once the Winner has been verified and prizes have been awarded.

© 2015 The Savannah College of Art and Design, Inc.  All rights reserved.

The 2015 Savannah Film Festival might be over, but it’s hard to forget its final days — the talented stars, engaging screenings, packed theaters, incredible awards and constant applause.

Meg Ryan received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award and made her directorial debut with the screening of ‘Ithaca.’ After the showing, the entire attending cast took the stage to answer questions from the audience. The panel ended with a standing ovation from the room.

This year, the star-studded Gala Screenings weren’t the only must-see films. More than 20 documentaries screened and included panel discussions with the brainpower behind the films. Some of the top stories shown included producer Kristin Davis’s and composer Jack Douglas’s “Gardeners of Eden”; SCAD’s very own “Ovation for Oscar”; and, on the last day, the awe-inspiring "He Named Me Malala" screened, spreading chills and hope throughout the audience.

Different chills occurred Friday night with this year’s continuation of the After Dark Series. The line of people eager to enjoy the thrilling stories trailed outside and wrapped around the block. The series showcased the heart-racing “Room,” “Bram Stroker’s Dracula” (which SCAD sound design professor David Stone worked on), and the darkly twisted “Goodnight Mommy.”

Elizabeth Olsen walked the red carpet on closing night before the highly anticipated screening of ‘I Saw the Light.’ After the applause died down, Olsen and writer, director, producer Marc Abraham discussed their work with the audience.

The festival continued its legacy of celebrating the spirit of the film industry, sharing beautiful stories worth telling. Although this year’s event has come and gone, we all look forward to what the next holds. 

With the 18th annual Savannah Film Festival coming to a close, we wanted to take a look back at the winners of last year's festival. Fifty-five films competed for more than $80,000 in cash and prizes. Below are the winners of the three student awards.

Student Awards

• HBO Films Student Competition Award 2014 — "Sweet Corn," a 20-minute dramatic comedy about a stubborn old farmer who takes extraordinary measures to save his corn field and ends up with some surprising results.
• Best SCAD Student Competition Award — "Southsouthwest," a 14-minute drama about a photo enthusiast tormented by local bullies who faces a test of courage his ailing grandfather's camera is stolen and placed at the top of a fire tower.
• Silver Screen Society Award — "Southsouthwest"

The 18th annual Savannah Film Festival hosted by SCAD is underway, celebrating creativity in film with exclusive screenings and discussions with industry professionals. The red carpet and opening night reception welcomed actress Olivia Wilde and director Reed Morano ("Meadowland"), Vasant and Champa Patel ("Meet the Patels"), director Hank Bedford ("Dixieland") and many others.

After a screening of the striking and emotional film "Suffragette," director Sarah Gavron and producer Alison Owen participated in a Q&A session with the audience as part of the Savannah Film Festival Conversation Series. Prior to a screening of her film "Meadowland," Wilde received the Spotlight Award at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.

On the second night of the festival, actress Saoirse Ronan was welcomed to the red carpet prior to a screening of her new film "Brooklyn." After the show, The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg moderated "An Evening with Saoirse Ronan" and a Q&A session with the audience.

The opening weekend events are just a prelude to the exciting experience the rest of Film Fest has to offer. The schedule for upcoming events can be found on the Film Festival website.

The 18th annual Savannah Film Festival is finally here! From Oct. 24-31, industry professionals from all fields of the film, television and digital media businesses will participate in panel and Q&A discussions alongside film screenings. Here are 18 fun facts about the festival.

1. The first Savannah Film Festival launched in 1998.
2. The festival is hosted by SCAD every year.
3. More than 1,000 films have screened at the festival since it began.
4. All films screen out of two historic theaters: The Trustees Theater and Lucas Theatre for the Arts. In addition, some features screen at the SCAD Museum of Art.
5. The Trustees Theater originally opened in 1946. The theater operates year-round as a large venue for the performing arts department, in addition to hosting lectures, live performances, concerts and films.
6. The Lucas Theatre was built in 1921 by Arthur Lucas and architect C.K. Howell. Lucas owned more than 20 theaters across the South, but the Lucas Theatre in Savannah is the only to bear his name.
7. The festival has honored more than 70 award-winning film industry professionals, including Ellen Barkin, Aaron Eckhart, Liam Neeson, Michael Douglas, Woody Harrelson and Emmy Rossum.
8. More than 50 films screened during the festival have gone on to receive Oscar nominations.
9. Last year, The "Docs to Watch" series launched, focusing on must-see documentaries. The series continues this year with nine titles.
10. The festival has welcomed over 500,000 patrons and guests to SCAD and Savannah.
11. More than 50,000 attended last year's festival.
12. There are 118 films screening this year.
13. As part of the annual competition screening event, 85 films will compete to win more than $80,000 in cash and prizes.
14. There are more films produced and directed by women than men being shown at this year's festival.
15. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Meg Ryan, makes her directing debut with the film "Ithaca."
16. Olivia Wilde, this year's Spotlight Award recipient, will make her next on-screen appearance in the drama "Meadowland," scheduled for release this month.
17. Alfie Allen is this year's Rising Star Award recipient. Last year's recipients were Asa Butterfield and Analeigh Tipton.
18. Volunteer students staff the festival, providing excellent opportunities for networking within the film industry.

The new SCAD FASH museum brings a momentous cultural addition to the heart of Midtown Atlanta. The inaugural exhibition, “Oscar de la Renta,” features more than 80 garments by the late designer and Peter Copping, the creative director de la Renta hand-picked to be his successor. Many of the looks on display are on loan from celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Sarah Jessica Parker and Oprah Winfrey, as well as de la Renta’s closest friends and family members. But that’s just the beginning of the SCAD FASH experience.

Read on for 10 more fascinating details about the museum.

1. Come for the fashion, stay for the film: SCAD FASH is unique in pairing two of modern culture’s most prevalent fascinations: fashion and film. The museum will screen some of the world’s best fashion-focused flicks on an ongoing basis, and for each exhibition, SCAD will commission an exclusive accompanying film. For “Oscar de la Renta,” SCAD FASH’s state-of-the-art Film Salon (featuring a 90-inch plasma display) is showcasing “Ovation for Oscar.”
2. Even the walls are works of art: SCAD alumna Whitney Stansell (M.F.A., painting, 2008) and her husband Micah Stansell worked together to design and install the multimedia works that frame the“Oscar de la Renta” exhibition. The installation features yards upon yards of fabric in a series of undulating cloth walls, lit in color and projections in beautiful botanical motifs and sparkling compositions that create a paper-lantern effect, adding a subtle sense of movement and energy to the garments.
3. It’s a teaching museum: SCAD FASH is directly connected to 27,000 square feet of academic studio and classroom space dedicated to SCAD’s top-ranked fashion programs. Within the space, students have access to the most advanced technologies and resources, preparing them for careers in the world’s billion-dollar fashion industry. SCAD students and alumni also have a myriad of opportunities to share their work at SCAD FASH through design showcases, fashion shows, and exhibitions.
4. Attention, learners of all ages: It’s not just students of SCAD who study and learn at SCAD FASH. K-12 classes are invited to visit the museum for a one-of-a-kind experience. Educators have access to SCAD’s award-winning curriculum guides with exercises customized to each exhibition and mapped to National Visual Arts Standards to share with their students.
5. Climb the stairway to heavenly views: Every SCAD FASH visitor enters the museum by the elegant Grand Staircase leading to a magnificent terrace that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Atlanta skyline. Inspiration for the entrance’s design was drawn from Hong Kong and Lacoste, France to pay homage to SCAD FASH’s connection to the university’s global community.
6. The interiors are tailor-made:  SCAD FASH includes many custom-made touches that reflect the latest in architectural and design prowess. The state-of-the-art features include Terrazzo floors consisting of marble, quartz, granite and glass; walls detailed with everything from wood paneling to fabric to copper to Venetian plaster; and custom rough-hewn wood shelving in the Film Salon.
7. Take home a custom keepsake: Through SCAD FASH 300, visitors have a chance to expand their art collection and support the university’s mission of educating future leaders in fashion, film, and fine art. For the current “Oscar de la Renta” exhibition, SCAD commissioned Atlanta artist and SCAD graduate Lucha Rodriguez created a print inspired by the intricate patterns and dynamic use of color in de la Renta's work. These exclusive works of art are available for purchase in the Film Salon.
8. Become a quick study on all things Oscar de la Renta: Also available for purchase is the new Rizzoli book, Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style, by André Leon Talley. Designed and prepared for press by SCAD, the volume is a work of art in itself and includes Talley’s recollections of his dear friend’s life and legacy, as well as personal essays by Anna Wintour and SCAD President Paula Wallace.
9. You can look, and yes, please touch: SCAD students and faculty are invited to use the newly refurbished Fashion Resource Library that offers an up-close, tactile learning experience. The library gives students direct access to an extensive garment study collection consisting of fabric swatches, snaps, buttons, and threads, as well as a set of skins and leather samples donated by Michal Kors.
10. Now that’s vintage: The SCAD FASH Study and Conservation Lab houses selections from the SCAD Museum of Art’s permanent collection of 4,500 fashion garments, accessories, and photographs. Many of these items, some of which date back to the 16^th century, will be featured in future SCAD FASH shows. Through scheduled appointments, SCAD FASH guests are able to view items from the collection to deepen their understanding of how garments are constructed.

Click here to request more information or apply to SCAD.