Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore and several of Hollywood’s rising stars are among the names set to receive major recognition at the 2026 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
Mirren and Moore lead the honorees
The festival, scheduled for Oct. 24 through Oct. 31 in Savannah, Georgia, will open with A Talent for Murder, where Mirren is set to receive the Legend of Entertainment Award. Moore will be honored with the Icon Award during the Centerpiece Gala screening of The Debut.
The lineup adds significant star power to an event that has become a regular stop during awards season, bringing together established performers and emerging talent.
Six rising actors named Breaking Big honorees
Entertainment Weekly and the Savannah College of Art and Design also announced six 2026 Breaking Big honorees: Adia, India Amarteifio, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Skyler Gisondo, Tom Rhys Harries and Summer H. Howell.
The group represents projects including Carrie, Primetime, Off Campus, Clarissa and Clayface. They are scheduled to take part in an awards presentation and panel on Oct. 29.
Awards season momentum builds
The Savannah festival traditionally combines premieres, career tributes and conversations with actors and filmmakers. This year’s program will also include a closing-night presentation of Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine.
For emerging performers, the Breaking Big recognition can provide visibility at a time when studios, critics and awards voters are beginning to focus on the year’s major film releases.
Mirren and Moore, meanwhile, bring decades of acclaimed work to the festival. Their separate honors underline the event’s strategy of celebrating both established screen icons and performers at the beginning of major career breakthroughs.
The 2026 SCAD Savannah Film Festival runs Oct. 24-31, with the Breaking Big presentation scheduled for Oct. 29.