SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announced Animation Showcase

The festival will host six animated film screenings and honor director Chris Sanders with a top animation award.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Animation

SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announced Animation Showcase

Live Poll

Do you believe annual film festivals provide significant value to your local community?

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival has unveiled its animation programming, which includes a showcase of six major animated films. Additionally, director Chris Sanders will be honored with the Icon of Animation Award during the event.

Why it matters

The festival highlights the evolving craft of animation by bridging the gap between student talent and industry professionals. It serves as a major platform for both celebrated directors and alumni to share their creative processes with an annual audience of 63,000.

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival attracts 63,000 attendees annually during its 8-day run. The showcase features six films including Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Piece By Piece, Transformers One, and The Wild Robot.

The players

Chris Sanders

He is an acclaimed director and animator who will receive the Icon of Animation Award at the festival.

Jason Mayer

He is a SCAD alumnus who will participate in a panel discussion regarding creative talent in the animation industry.

Emily Wimer

She is a SCAD alumna who will contribute to the animation studio panel session.

Jinguang Huang

He is a SCAD alumnus and professional participant in the upcoming DreamWorks Animation panel.

DreamWorks Animation

This is a prominent film production company whose alumni will be featured in a panel discussion at the festival.

The details

Six filmmakers will present their creative processes during the festival's pixels and pencils showcase to illustrate the labor behind modern animation. SCAD alumni Jason Mayer, Emily Wimer, and Jinguang Huang will also hold a panel to discuss the creative talent fueling DreamWorks Animation.

26-28 September 2026: The SCAD AnimationFest took place in Atlanta.
23 October 2026: Variety will release its third annual 10 artisans to watch list.
27 October 2026: The festival will screen How to Train Your Dragon.
30 October 2026: SCAD alumni from DreamWorks Animation will participate in a panel.

Industry Dynamics

This programming extends the educational and professional networking mission established by the SCAD AnimationFest. By connecting university alumni with major studio projects, the festival reinforces Savannah as a vital hub for the pipeline of emerging talent entering Hollywood.

Attendees can access the animation showcase and panels throughout the 8-day festival in Savannah. Fans looking to follow emerging talent should monitor the Variety 10 artisans to watch list set for release on 23 October.

The takeaway

The intersection of academic training and major studio work provides a unique look at the technical effort behind modern animated features. Aspiring animators can gain significant insight by observing the creative processes presented by industry veterans and successful alumni.

What happens next

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival will hold its screening of How to Train Your Dragon on 27 October 2026, followed by a DreamWorks Animation alumni panel on 30 October 2026.