12th Annual Savannah Film Festival Gala and Special Guests
Savannah, GA—The 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, will take place from Saturday, October 31-Saturday, November 7.
Films to receive special gala screenings will include Jean-Marc Vallée’s “The Young Victoriaâ€; Oren Moverman’s “The Messenger,†with Moverman and stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster in attendance; Grant Heslov’s “The Men Who Stare at Goatsâ€; Pedro Almodovar’s “Broken Embracesâ€; Lone Sherfig’s “An Educationâ€; the United States premieres of James Ivory’s “The City of Your Final Destination,†with Ivory in attendance, and Nick Moran’s “Telstar,†with Moran and star Con O’Neill in attendance; Jodie Markell’s “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond†(from a screenplay by Tennessee Williams); Cannes Palme d’Or winner Michael Haneke’s “The White Ribbonâ€; and Lee Daniels’ “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,†winner of the Grand-Jury Prize at Sundance and the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Daniels and star Gabourey Sidibe will be in attendance.
Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson (“Pieces of April,†“Vicki Cristina Barcelonaâ€) will receive an Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award after a screening of Woody Allen’s “Whatever Worksâ€. Emmy and Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson (“Cheers,†“The People vs. Larry Flyntâ€) and Ben Foster (“3:10 to Yumaâ€) will also receive Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards prior to their screening of “The Messenger.†Emmy Rossum (“The Phantom of the Operaâ€) will receive the Young Hollywood Award prior to a screening of her film “Dare,†and Jeremy Renner will receive the Spotlight Award for his performance in “The Hurt Locker,†which will also screen at the festival. Scott Caan (“Ocean’s 11â€), the writer and star of “Mercy,†one of the festival’s competition films, also will attend.
Past festival guests and honorees include Peter O’Toole, Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Sidney Lumet, Kathleen Turner, Norman Jewison, Tommy Lee Jones, John Waters, David Benioff, John Sayles, Brett Ratner, Charlie Rose, George Segal, James Franco, James Ivory, Jeff Daniels, Alec Baldwin, Peter Bart, Army Archerd, Roger Ebert, Terrence Malick, Sydney Pollack, the Redgrave siblings—Vanessa, Lynn and Corin—Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Malcolm McDowell and Milos Forman, among others.
In addition to the special screenings, the festival will showcase 22 professional films (features, documentaries, shorts and animation) and 12 student films in competition. The jurors for the competition are actress Patti D’Arbanville (“Rescue Meâ€), actress/producer Rita Gam, writer/director Ingrid Rockefeller, writer/director Michael Sucsy (Emmy-Award winning “Grey Gardensâ€) and writer/director David Twohy (“Pitch Blackâ€).
For more information on the festival and a complete schedule of events, visit www.scad.edu/filmfest
St Vincent’s Tour & Tea in Savannah 2009
St. Vincent’s Academy will once again host the popular St Vincent’s Tour & Tea in Savannah on Saturday October 17, 2009. This is a popular self-guided tour of the original 1845 Convent building and eight private homes in the historic district.
This year’s tour of homes promises to be a look inside nine beautiful homes in Savannah’s Historic District. Some of the residences reflect their 19th century origin in architectural style, interiors and furnishings, while others offer an exciting contemporary approach to Savannah downtown living.
The centerpiece of the fall tour of homes is the elegant tea which will be served on the grounds of the Convent. Academy students will serve tea with delicious homemade confections and traditional tea sandwiches.
St. Vincent’s has enjoyed an enduring relationship with St. Joseph’s since 1875, when the Sisters of Mercy established St. Joseph’s Hospital in downtown Savannah. Proceeds from the Tour & Tea benefit the preservation and restoration of the historic Convent.
Discover why native this annual event has been called “the best tour in Savannah.â€
Saturday, October 17, 2009 only
Tour Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tickets on sale now!
Tickets: $40 per person (includes Tea at the Convent) plus handling charge for online and phone orders. Buy your tickets early and save $5.00! Tickets purchased by October 7 are just $35.
1. Purchase tickets online until noon on Friday, October 16.
2. Call (912) 819-7880 until noon on Friday, October 16 to purchase tickets by phone.
3. Purchase tickets at any of the following Savannah businesses. Click here for a link to the list.
4. Purchase tickets on the day of the tour: On October 17, go to the tour ticket office (Walsh Hall at St. Vincent’s, located at the corner of Lincoln and Harris Streets in downtown Savannah) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.
For more information, visit the website.
Picnic in the Park with Johnny Mercer – Savannah, GA
“Too Marvelous For Wordsâ€; Picnic in the Park with Johnny Mercer
Savannah native Johnny Mercer will be the theme of this year’s Picnic in the Park, taking place in Forsyth Park on Sun., Oct. 4, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will include a Mercer themed picnic contest and a live Big Band with four popular Savannah vocalists, performing Mercer’s classic songs in honor of the Johnny Mercer Centennial.
This year picnic contestants should theme their spreads on “Johnny Mercer, The Man and His Songsâ€. Prizes are awarded to first, second and third place, as well as one prize for Best Family. The judges will look for incorporation of the Johnny Mercer theme including the creative use of materials, decorative objects, costuming and menu. Picnics are judged on overall layout and design, and innovative display is valued over extravagance. In the case of the family category, judges look for a picnic that clearly displays everyone’s involvement, regardless of age.
Picnic contest registration is free, but required, and entries with large tents or displays are asked to choose a spot on the sides of the park. No grills, please.
Johnny Mercer’s legacy will be embodied by the sounds of The Savannah Arts Academy Orchestra and the Savannah Arts Academy Skyelite Jazzband who will open the show. Expect Mercer favorites like “I Remember Youâ€, “Satin Dollâ€, and “Something’s Gotta Giveâ€. The entertainment continues with The Picnic in the Park Mercer Band featuring vocalists Trae Gurley, Roger Moss, Gina Rene’ and Huxsie Scott. They will perform two sets beginning at 7 p.m.; picnic contest winners will be announced during their intermission.
Picnic in the Park is free and open to the public, and made possible by the City of Savannah in collaboration with the Johnny Mercer Centennial Committee.
Picnic in the Park Schedule of Events
(Times are approximate)
3:00 – 5:00 PM – Picnic Competition Registration
5:00 – 6:30 PM – Picnic Competition Judging
4:30 – 5:15 PM – Savannah Arts Academy Orchestra Performance
5:45 – 6:30 PM – Savannah Arts Academy Skyelite Jazz Band Performance
7:00 – 9:00 PM – Picnic in the Park Mercer Band & Vocalists
City’s Gallery S.P.A.C.E. Seeks Artists for 2010 Exhibitions
The City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs is seeking artists to exhibit at Gallery S.P.A.C.E. in 2010. Gallery S.P.A.C.E. serves the Savannah community with exhibitions and educational programming that strengthen awareness and stimulate dialogue through artistic expression.
The 1,700 square-foot gallery at S.P.A.C.E. (Savannah’s Place for Art, Cultural and Education) is a community venue for the promotion of and education about the visual arts, via the display of contemporary art, design and fine crafts by local and regional artists. A full year of exhibitions is augmented with lectures, gallery tours, workshops and other programs to enhance the educational experience.
Exhibiting at Gallery S.P.A.C.E. provides artists with an opportunity for a public reception, promotion, and exhibition experience, as well as exposure to Savannah’s visual art community. In conjunction with an exhibition, artists are required to develop and present a learning opportunity to the public such as a workshop, lecture or demonstration.
All media will be considered for either solo or group exhibition, including video and installation pieces. Proposals should be professionally presented and should include a cover letter; a resume; an artist statement; a previous exhibition record; 10-12 digital images of work to be considered; and a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your proposal returned.
The deadline for submissions is October 30 at 4 p.m. Proposals should be submitted to Debra Zumstein, Arts Programs Coordinator, City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs, 9 W. Henry St., Savannah, GA 31401. Proposal guidelines are available online at www.savannahga.gov/arts or by calling (912) 651-6783.
The Gallery S.P.A.C.E. 2009 exhibition schedule includes: Elaine George-Asaro, The Links “New Beginnings” Youth Art Exhibition; the Creative Force Artist Collective “Seeing Sounds”; printmaker Jennifer Jenkins; video installation, Open Seas; the Landings Art Association; stained glass artist Erica Rollings; painter Ching Levy; and the 3rd Annual National Arts Program.
