SCAD President Paula Wallace introduced Bobby Zarem, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.Photo by Jessi Gilbert
Actor Liam Neeson, wearing a I❤BZ hat, prepares to present the award to Zarem.Photo by Jessi GilbertAs filmgoers walked into Trustees Theater, they were given black caps with “I ❤ BZ” embroidered on the front.
Bobby Zarem was to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award before the screening of the Director’s Choice film Nov. 3. Bobby Zarem, as SCAD President Paula Wallace described him before presenting the award, is known as “the father of the PR revolution.”
He was also the brains behind the “I ❤ NY” campaign. Zarem was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, and had dreams at a young age of Savannah being just like Hollywood.
Zarem and Wallace admiring the sea of hats in the audience.Photo by Jessi Gilbert
Zarem begins his speech.Photo by Jessi GilbertHe was introduced on stage after a short film about his career, which concluded with short clips of past Savannah Film Festival award winners thanking Zarem.
Wallace and Liam Neeson presented the award to Zarem and the crowd put on their hats, and rose to their feet in applause.
He began his speech with, “I feel like I’ve laid down 60 years ago and woke up just now.” He went on to speak about his dreams of Savannah and movie stars, and went on to say, “it’s everything I fantasized.”
The crowd goes wild for Zarem.Photo by Jessi Gilbert