Savannah Film Festival

Olivia Wilde

The Savannah College of Art and Design opened the eighteenth annual Savannah Film Festival by celebrating  cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging filmmakers. SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace met with Olivia  Wilde, star and producer of "Meadowland," to congratulate her on receiving the Spotlight Award, presented just prior to the films screening at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts. Earlier that evening, Wilde walked the red carpet with "Meadowland"  director and cinematographer Reed Morano. It was a night of powerful women in Savannah, with "Suffragette" director Sarah Gavron and producer Alison Owen participating in a Savannah Film Festival audience Q&A directly following the film. Among the diverse film industry professionals in attendance for the  screening were "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" star Alexander Skarsgård and fashion model Alexa Chung. Owen, mother of actor Alfie Allen, who is also attending the festival, will also be on hand to see her son receive the Rising Star Award at the historic Trustees Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

Guests in attendance for the Savannah Film Festival Opening night included honoree Olivia Wilde (Spotlight Award), along with Alexander Skarsgård (“The Diary of a Teenage Girl”), Alexa Chung, Reed Morano (“Meadowland”) Sarah Gavron and Alison Owen (“Suffragette”) and ‎President and Founder of SCAD, Paula Wallace. Also in attendance were Docs To Watch directors Matthew Heineman (“Cartel Land”) and Crystal Moselle (“The Wolfpack”).

Olivia Wilde was honored at Opening Night of the Savannah Film Festival, receiving the Spotlight Award for her outstanding contributions to the art of filmmaking. The evening featured two screenings; “Suffragette” opened the evening, with a Q+A with the film’s director Sarah Gavron and producer Alison Owen, followed by a screening of “Meadowland” and a Q+A with the film’s star and producer Olivia Wilde and director/cinematographer Reed Morano, moderated by Variety's Malina Saval.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presents the 2015 Savannah Film Festival, which celebrates cinematic creativity from award-winning professionals and emerging filmmakers. The 18th annual festival, held in downtown Savannah, Georgia, runs from Saturday, Oct. 24, to Saturday, Oct. 31.

Description - SAVANNAH, GA - OCTOBER 24: Honoree Olivia Wilde speaks on stage during her Spotlight Award Presentation during 18th Annual Savannah Film Festival Presented by SCAD at Trustees Theater on October 24, 2015 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SCAD)
Photo Credit - Getty Images for SCAD

Description - SAVANNAH, GA - OCTOBER 24: Director Reed Morano speaks on stage for Olivia Wilde Spotlight Award Presentation during 18th Annual Savannah Film Festival Presented by SCAD at Trustees Theater on October 24, 2015 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SCAD)
Photo Credit - Getty Images for SCAD