Writing by Katelyn Myrick, Photos by Katelyn Myrick
From Harry Potter to Shakespeare and Thor, the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Acting and Directing Award, Kenneth Branagh, has spent a lifetime blessing our screens. His new film, “Belfast,” not only captured his true story successfully through the eyes of a child, but had a humor that was successful with a daunting storyline as well.
In his speech, Baragh thanks SCAD and his fans as well as the city of Savannah. He says in his experience Savannah is a city that’s “throbbing in creativity, vitality, and generosity.” He exclaimed his excitement when he got to spend some time with SCAD acting students and talked about their talent as being “most impressive with their energy, concentration, intelligence and playfulness, but seriousness for the work.”
Branagh was honorable, gracious and thankful for everyone that contributed to his success in and out of the industry. Thanking his fans, he acknowledged the audience for being the reason he makes work saying he can make any film, but it’s worth nothing if there wasn’t an audience. He highlighted and brought attention to the changing times saying because of what’s happening it’s not easy and coming together inspires him. “A good deed in a naughty world,” he said.
Branagh grew up in a place that he said rained a lot, but the sunshine was from the people. “Belfast” is a true story from his childhood, about a community that held each other and was there for each other in trying times. It seemed as if everybody knew everybody, but things changed forever not only for his life but for many others also. Holding on to this story for 50 years, Branagh explained how the lockdown brought the noise of this tale back to him and that he felt it was finally time to tell his story.
