Filmgoers attending the 13th annual Savannah Film Festival when it premiers Oct. 30 at Trustees Theater with a special screening of Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan,” starring Natalie Portman as a prima ballerina, will be treated to the clarity and brilliance of the new Sony 4K projector, which allows digital cinema packages to be screened year-round.
“The [Sony] is truly a world class projector,” said Len Cripe, managing director of the film festival and director of the theater, “and it will allow us to screen films that otherwise would not be seen at our festival.”
The film festival, the largest hosted by a university, continues to expand its reach in the movie making industry, drawing feature films generating Academy Award buzz ahead of season, A-list actors, directors, producers, editors and casting directors.
In addition to “Black Swan,” evening film events include:
- The Nicole Kidman/Aaron Eckhart drama “Rabbit Hole.”
- “Conviction,” starring Hillary Swank.
- Sean Penn and Naomi Watt’s film about the outing of CIA-agent Valerie Plame , “Fair Game.”
- The under-wraps Director’s Choice.
- The end-of-a-romance “Blue Valentine,” starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and
- The James Franco vehicle “127 Hours” about the hiker who cut off his own arm to free himself from a fallen boulder.
Among this year’s celebrity roster: festival honorees Liam Neeson, Sir Ian McKellan and Isabella Rosselini; directors Edward Burns, Tony Goldwyn, and actor Vincent D’Onofrio, who will show his first feature film effort behind the camera, “Don’t go into the Woods.”
Though the Savannah Film Festival has grown in size and stature, it remains committed to its original intent, to showcase the enormous resources—primarily SCAD students—available to filmmakers.
Cripe, who has managed the festival for 11 years, doesn’t get starstruck, but he does get excited about the filmmakers sharing their time with student.
“The festival provides dozens of formal and informal networking, master classes and supplemental training sessions that are only available to SCAD students,” said Cripe.
Coffee Talks allow students to listen in and participate in conversations with industry professionals around key topics, such as the state of film journalism, low-budget filmmaking, and American cinema. Film students get the opportunity to pitch crime thrillers and dramas to potential backers, and departmental lectures give students personal instruction by the top people in the field.
“One of the most important aspects of the film festival is its ability to open doors for students,” said Cripe. “There are creative professionals visiting SCAD. [Students] should make an effort to meet them, network with them and learn from them.”
District will be bringing you continuing coverage throughout the week from all of these events and more.
Contact Amy Paige Condon.