2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees Include Rose Byrne, Oscar Isaac, Dylan O’Brien and Tessa Thompson
Award presentations to take place alongside screenings of Frankenstein, Hedda, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Is This Thing On?, The Life of Chuck, Nouvelle Vague, Sinners, The Smashing Machine, Train Dreams, and Twinless.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has announced its first list of honorees for the 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival, taking place October 25–November 1. As the nation’s largest university-run film festival, SCAD celebrates a dynamic lineup of acclaimed filmmakers, actors, and producers whose work has shaped the year in cinema.
“The 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival brings together a constellation of cinematic luminaries whose work has captivated audiences and shaped the cultural landscape,” said Christina Routhier, Senior Executive Director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. “From visionary directors to the most compelling performances of the season, these honorees exemplify the artistry that define today’s moviemaking. For our students, this festival is more than a celebration — it’s an unparalleled opportunity to engage with and learn from the very creators whose work inspires them. The presence of these individuals in Savannah offers a rare glimpse into the creative process and serves as a catalyst for the next generation of storytellers from our university.”
This year’s honorees will participate in awards presentations, moderated conversations, and master classes with SCAD students, offering a unique opportunity to connect with some of the most celebrated individuals working in the entertainment industry. These honorees include:
Will Arnett will receive the Luminary Award at a screening of Is This Thing On?
Rose Byrne will receive the Luminary Award at a screening of If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Miles Caton will receive the Rising Star Award at a screening of Sinners
Zoey Deutch will receive the Breakthrough Performance Award at a screening of Nouvelle Vague
Joel Edgerton will receive the Vanguard Award at a screening of Train Dreams
Mark Hamill will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at a screening of The Life of Chuck
Oscar Isaac will receive the Icon Award at a screening of Frankenstein
Dylan O’Brien will receive the Lumiere Award at a screening of Twinless
Benny Safdie will receive the Maverick Director Award at a screening of The Smashing Machine
Tessa Thompson will receive the Distinguished Performance Award at a screening of Hedda
These recipients join previously announced honorees Jennifer Lopez, who is receiving the Virtuoso Award and Jon M. Chu, who is receiving the Vanguard Director Award.
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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