Later this month, a veritable parade of A-list movie stars and filmmakers will head south to collect honors at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the nation’s largest university-run film festival, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Among them: Will Arnett (writer/star of Searchlight’s Is This Thing On?) and Rose Byrne (star of A24’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) for the Luminary Award; Miles Caton (star of Warners’ Sinners) for the Rising Star Award; Zoey Deutch (star of Netflix’s Nouvelle Vague) for the Breakthrough Performance Award; Joel Edgerton (star of Netflix’s Train Dreams) for the Vanguard Award; Mark Hamill (star of Neon’s The Life of Chuck) for the Lifetime Achievement Award; Oscar Isaac (star of Netflix’s Frankenstein) for the Icon Award; Dylan O’Brien (star of Roadside’s Twinless) for the Lumiere Award; Benny Safdie (writer/director of A24’s The Smashing Machine) for the Maverick Director Award; and Tessa Thompson (star/producer of Amazon/MGM’s Hedda) for the Distinguished Performance Award.
They join previously announced honorees Hannah Beachler (production designer of Warners’ Sinners); Craig Brewer (writer/director of Focus’ Song Sung Blue); Jon M. Chu (director of Universal’s Wicked); Rian Johnson (writer/director of Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery); Jennifer Lopez (star of Roadside’s Kiss of the Spider Woman); and Miles Teller (star of A24’s Eternity).
And another wave of honorees is expected to be announced soon.
“The 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival brings together a constellation of cinematic luminaries whose work has captivated audiences and shaped the cultural landscape,” Christina Routhier, the festival’s senior executive director, said in a statement. “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.”
At this year’s edition of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, which will run Oct. 25-Nov. 1, the honorees will participate in award presentations, moderated conversations and master classes with SCAD students.
