The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will present filmmaker Jon M. Chu with the esteemed Vanguard Director Award during the 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival. The ceremony is scheduled for October 26, when Chu will also discuss his career, upcoming project Wicked: For Good, and feature selected clips from his body of work.
Now in its 28th year, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival runs from October 25 through November 1, celebrating innovative cinema and visual storytelling. Chu’s recognition as a Vanguard Director highlights his significant impact on modern filmmaking, making the event a notable gathering of filmmakers and students alike.
Jon M. Chu’s Role as a Transformative Storyteller
Christina Routhier, senior executive director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, praised Chu’s impressive contributions to cinema by saying,
“Jon M. Chu embodies what it means to be a Vanguard,”
and added,
“From guiding global icons with a steady, inspired hand, to collaborating with authors, designers, and musicians at the highest level, Chu’s vision turns cultural moments into cinematic milestones.”
She emphasized the value Chu brings to SCAD students, noting,
“For SCAD students, his career is a masterclass in how storytelling shapes culture, with this conversation offering an inside look into his groundbreaking contributions to worldwide cinema. We are excited to honor a storyteller whose artistry will continue to inspire audiences and empower the next generation of filmmakers.”
Upcoming Events at Prominent Film Festivals
Beyond the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, several other film festivals this fall will spotlight important cinematic works and creators. The Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival will open on October 13 in Culver City with Yanuni, a documentary produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Richard Ladkani. The film explores the Amazon’s natural beauty and the critical environmental threats faced by its Indigenous communities. It follows Indigenous leader Juma Xipaia’s determined fight to protect her tribal lands amid grave dangers.
The festival’s closing film, Manas, directed by Mariana Brennand, tells a heartfelt story of sisterhood and resilience set in northeastern Brazil, exploring family bonds in the face of hardship.
Honoring Guillermo del Toro Through a Comprehensive Retrospective
Beyond Fest, running from September 23 to October 8 in Hollywood, is celebrating Guillermo del Toro with a 12-film retrospective titled Está Vivo: The Gods and Monsters of Guillermo del Toro. The series, presented in partnership with the American Cinematheque, features restored, director’s cut, and rare 35mm screenings highlighting his career from his debut film Cronos to his latest, Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light.
Del Toro will participate in curated programming blocks where he will share personal stories behind his films. The retrospective’s themes will include monsters, humanity, and imagination, providing fans an intimate view of his creative process ahead of his upcoming film, Frankenstein.
Evrim Ersoy, Beyond Fest’s head of programming, remarked,
“Guillermo del Toro’s films have inspired generations of filmmakers and audiences alike in a way unlike any other artist we’ve experienced,”
and further stated,
“To welcome him and celebrate his artistic vision on this scale truly honors who he is as both a creative force of nature and a proudly obsessive servant of Cinema.”
The festival opens with a triple feature including In The Mood For Love, followed by screenings of The Shape of Water and a new version of Nightmare Alley supervised by del Toro himself. Additional blocks will showcase Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Blade II, Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, Mimic, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio.
Documentary ‘TORN’ Addresses the Israel-Palestine Conflict Through Posters
Nim Shapira’s documentary TORN: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on NYC Streets will open in theatres in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, expanding nationwide via GATHR’s Direct to Audience platform.
The film unpacks the emotionally charged grassroots poster campaign spotlighting the 251 hostages taken by Hamas, which led to activists on both sides removing each other’s posters in a symbolic street conflict. Shapira described the project as,
“a film about consequences – the unintended, the human, the deeply personal,”
adding,
“My hope is that audiences will see their own reflections in the people on screen and perhaps discover a renewed capacity for empathy, even in the most divisive of conflicts.”
SCAD AnimationFest to Feature Industry Leaders and Award Honorees
The SCAD AnimationFest returns to the university’s SCADshow theater from September 25-27, showcasing a rich lineup of films, television projects, panels, and special guests. The festival will include insights from executives and creators from Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Disney Branded Television, Disney Jr., Netflix, and Warner Bros. Animation, engaging current and former SCAD film students.
Special honors will be bestowed upon Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, creators of Phineas and Ferb, alongside Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, directors of KPop Demon Hunters, recognizing their outstanding contributions to animation.
Emerging Cinematographers Receive Recognition at Annual Awards
At the 27th Annual Emerging Cinematographer Awards, Johanna Coelho and Sandra Valde-Hansen will be acknowledged for their exemplary work in film and television. Coelho will receive the Distinguished Filmmaker Award, while Valde-Hansen will be given the American Society of Cinematographers Mentor Award, presented by cinematographer Stephen Lighthill.
Both cinematographers will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on September 28, with a luncheon taking place on September 26 at the ASC Clubhouse. Coelho is currently working on HBO MAX’s The Pitt and has credits on ABC’s The Rookie and the film All Happy Families. Valde-Hansen’s portfolio includes The Summer I Turned Pretty, Plan B, Now Apocalypse, Kaboom, and White Bird in a Blizzard.
Additionally, the International Cinematographers Guild will screen films by their eight honorees, selected from over 100 submissions. These include Isaac Banks’ The Trophy King, John B. Barrett’s Recall, Daniel Cotroneo’s Yae: Blind Samurai Woman, Eythan Maidhof’s Class Clown, Mariscela Beatríz Méndez’s The Middle, Josh Pickering‘s Boundless | HomeAid, Steven Jacob Russell’s Hammer, and Alexa Wolf’s To Fade Away. The event will be held at the Television Academy Saban Media Center Wolf Theatre.
The Significance of Honoring Visionaries Like Jon M. Chu
Recognizing Jon M. Chu with the Vanguard Director Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival underscores the evolving landscape of storytelling in cinema and its cultural resonance. Chu’s career illustrates how filmmakers can influence and inspire not only audiences but the creative futures of emerging artists. This award, coupled with the festival’s enriching programs, signals a growing commitment to celebrating innovation and mentorship in the film industry.
With Chu’s continued projects and the prominence of festivals highlighting diverse voices and stories—from the Amazon to Hollywood retrospectives—the cinematic world is poised to deepen its impact by empowering creators who bridge cultural narratives with artistic vision. The SCAD Savannah Film Festival will remain a vital platform where such contributions are acknowledged and where future filmmakers can draw inspiration.
