Film photos catch the nostalgia of SAVFF 2019
by Ben Krueger
The 22nd annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival drew to a close Saturday, Nov. 2, with the audible sighs of audience members attending “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” – the final gala screening of the jam-packed week.
The curtains opened one last time for Tom Hanks to portray a beloved household name, Mr. Rogers, in a heartwarming story about kindness and family. It was the end to all of the festival’s events such as celebrity guests, panels and a long lineup of movies.
As a dedicated moviegoer, I started my film fest journey weeks before, waiting in line at the Savannah Box Office on Broughton St. I arrived around 5:45 a.m. to the surprise of a decently long line containing SCAD students more eager for tickets than myself. A few hours later, I had tickets to every anticipated screening of the year – completely worth the loss of sleep.
The festival opened with a bang, showing “Forrest Gump” in honor of its 25th anniversary. Bookended by Tom Hanks films, attendees crossed their fingers for an appearance by Hanks himself, but he never showed. Every night, gala screenings graced the screens of the Lucas and Trustees Theaters, with lines forming hours before showtime.
In some cases, screenings would fill to max capacity, leaving ticket holders to claim their refund – getting to your film early was key. The impact of the festival on Savannah was clear when walking within a three block radius of Trustees. Whether driving around in circles searching for a parking spot or grabbing a bite before a showing, the festival attracts thousands of tourists from around the world.
Standing in line, I conversed with friendly faces from the UK, California, New Jersey and Atlanta. For students in film and television and performing arts this was an opportunity to build new connections. Stars such as Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Kaluuya, Olivia Wilde, Aldis Hodge, Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, Jharrel Jerome, Mena Massoud and Camila Morrone accepted awards and spoke on panels throughout the week offering insight to their experiences in the industry.
“Elisabeth Moss poses in front of the Trustees Theater, Thursday, October 31, 2019.” [Ben Krueger/scaddistrict.com] 
“Alexandra Marvar in Handmaids attire at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Thursday, October 31, 2019.” [Ben Krueger/scaddistrict.com]
A spike in visitors was in part to Halloween, which brought costumed guests to the area. As in previous years, the festival’s featured films are starting their awards circuit with sights set to the Oscars. The Savannah Film Festival is a way for directors, writers, actors and filmmakers to show their stories to the public, receive instant feedback from the audience and explain their process. Most importantly, it was a week of creatives appreciating and loving cinema together.
