SCAD students share their perspective about the SCAD Savannah Film Fest

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The SCAD Savannah Film Festival is nearing the curtain call on Friday, as people waiting in line, wrapped around the Lucas Theatre For The Arts, waited for their chance to meet their favorite celebrities.

Most of the line was packed with SCAD students who are working towards their own creative, artistic careers, but school work still needed to be done. First-year students Sofia Rua and Natalie Baio were finishing up homework and sitting in on a Zoom call on Friday morning outside the theatre.

“I just feel like it’s something I need to experience, not only as a film major, but, no other school has something like this,” said Rua.

“We’ve been here since 7:30 a.m. so we’ve had a couple hours,” said Baio. “I just like to dabble, like, film isn’t my major but I still enjoy to see what it’s like.”

SCAD student Melaney Wardell said the film festival isn’t just about seeing famous people up close but, more importantly, about building community -- getting to see how cinema brings people together.

“It’s really great to see it with other people who are equaling as enthusiastic,” said Wardell.

Natalia Negron said they get to meet Benny Safdie, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Friday morning featured the next generation of artists.

“I feel so proud to be able to say that I’m from here and I go here,” said Negron.

“This is exactly what I wanted to do, and I love Savannah, and SCAD is giving us the opportunity to do that,” SCAD student Justin Aquino added.

Some are making personal and professional connections in line as well, like Jax Warner alongside Wardell and many others.

“All of us were not friends before the film fest. We all met here, we all been like, ‘Ok, let’s do film fest together,” said Wardell.

There are more than 20 events scheduled to wrap up the SCAD film festival on Friday and Saturday.