Credit: Getty Images for SCAD Savannah Film Festival

The 26th-annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival began on Saturday, Oct. 21 with an entertaining line-up of screenings and discussions.

Jimmy Chin attends the Opening Night screening of NYAD at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival on October 21, 2023 in Savannah, Georgia Credit: Getty Images for SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Director Jimmy Chin hit the red carpet for his screening of NYAD, a sportsdrama film about swimmer Diana Nyad staring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster. “This script and this story was hugely inspiring to us for a number of reasons, one of which is that we’ve never gotten to tell that story through a women’s experience,” Chin said. “Ultimately what’s at the heart of this film is a story about friendship.”


SCAD 2012 Alumni Maria Garcia also made a red carpet appearance. She designed the “Star Power” streetscapes, projection mapping, and photo sets for this year’s film festival opening and closing celebrations. In 20022, Garcia won a Creative Arts Emmy for outstanding production design for a variety special for the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show.

“Its a beautiful moment for me, I love being in Savannah, being back here is a little surreal, but it’s super exciting,” Garcia said of her return visit. 

Marcia Garcia attends the SCAD Savannah Film Festival on October 21, 2023 in Savannah, Georgia. Credit: Getty Images for SCAD Savannah Film Festival

Bob and Erin Odenkirk celebrated the release of their book “Zilot & Other Important Rhymes” with a book signing and conversation.

Additional guests in attendance were actress Lorraine Bracco, actor Lucas Grabeel, writer Taylor Turner (Intermedium), and actor Emily Keefe (Intermedium).
 With the the first weekend underway, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival has more stars expected to come this week.

For more information, visit: filmfest.scad.edu

This article appears in Connect Savannah | October, 2023.