SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – The SCAD Savannah Film Festival wrapped up Saturday night after an eight-day celebration that brought film stars, directors and musicians to inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
Throughout the week, celebrities including Miles Teller, Dakota Fanning, Sydney Sweeney and Rian Johnson made their way to Savannah, making a huge impact on students at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Final red carpet draws major stars
At the final red carpet of the 2025 SCAD Festival, Rian Johnson, director of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Dakota Fanning, one of the co-stars in the “Twilight” saga, and Inga Lilleaas were all in attendance.
Fanning, a Georgia native, said she was excited to be back in her home state.
“So nice. Savannah is such a beautiful town, and it was such a beautiful day, and so many awesome people that I’ve met, and the students, and getting invited here is just really, really lovely,” Fanning said.
Director shares experience with iconic franchise
Johnson described what it was like stepping into the Star Wars franchise.
“It’s something that means so much to me, and so at first it was a little scary, and then once I dove in and started working with everyone on it, and like in the Star Wars group, suddenly it was just, oh my god, I’m a kid again playing with my Star Wars toys,” Johnson said.
Johnson also shared advice for aspiring directors about the film industry.
“It can seem daunting going out into the industry and trying to overcome all the hurdles and the physical stuff of getting your movie made. Just remember that what you’re searching for is your voice, and once you find that, that’s the most important thing to making all the other stuff happen,” Johnson said.
Our team at WTOC spoke to multiple SCAD students said throughout the week who told us how grateful they are for the opportunity to be around and hear from some of their idols.
Copyright 2025 WTOC. All rights reserved.
