Fall brings beautiful weather, lively streets, and one of Savannah’s biggest cultural events of the year. The SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2026, October 24 through 31, offers eight days of films, special guests, panels, and events in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District.
Now in its 29th year, the festival attracts filmmakers, industry professionals, students, and movie lovers from around the world. More than 100 films are typically selected each year, ranging from major studio releases and independent features to documentaries, animation, and shorts. Many screenings offer Savannah audiences an early look at films before their theatrical release.
But the festival is also a wonderful excuse for a fall getaway. Historic theaters and other venues throughout downtown Savannah make it easy to combine screenings with sightseeing, dining, shopping, and leisurely walks through some of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods.
Experience the SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2026
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival has become an important stop on the road to awards season. During its history, the festival has screened hundreds of Academy Award-nominated films while welcoming acclaimed actors, directors, writers, producers, and other film professionals.
Festival events include screenings, panels, workshops, conversations with filmmakers, and appearances by honored guests. Previous programs have also included popular series highlighting documentaries, animation, and the behind-the-scenes artists whose work brings movies to life.
The full 2026 schedule and honored guests will be announced closer to the festival. Passes are already available, while tickets for individual screenings and events go on sale October 2nd.
Explore Savannah Between Screenings
One of the pleasures of attending the festival is that the experience extends well beyond the movies.
Screenings and events take place at historic university venues around Savannah, including Trustees Theater, Lucas Theatre for the Arts, SCAD Museum of Art, Press Café, and Gutstein Gallery. Their locations make it easy to step outside a screening and find yourself surrounded by Savannah’s architecture, restaurants, shops, and famous squares..
Leave some room in your itinerary for an unhurried lunch, a museum visit, or a stroll beneath the live oaks. You might explore River Street and the waterfront, browse the shops along Broughton Street, or spend a quiet morning walking through Forsyth Park before heading to your next film.
Make It a Fall Getaway to Savannah
Late October is an especially fun time to experience Savannah. The Historic District is filled with fall activity, and the city’s famous history and ghost stories seem particularly appropriate as Halloween approaches.
Rather than rushing from screening to screening, give yourself time to enjoy Savannah as part of the festival experience. Choose a few must-see films, then leave enough space in your schedule for a great dinner, a historic house tour, or simply discovering another corner of the city on foot.
Stay at McMillan Inn During the Film Festival
Located in Savannah’s Historic District just two blocks from Forsyth Park, McMillan Inn makes a comfortable home base for a film-filled fall getaway. Many downtown attractions and festival venues are nearby, allowing you to spend less time in the car and more time experiencing Savannah.
Start your morning with breakfast at the inn, head out for a day of films and sightseeing, then return to relax by the pool or unwind amid the Victorian charm of our 1888 Italianate home.
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2026 runs October 24 through 31. With eight days of movies and events plus everything Savannah offers in the fall, it’s a perfect opportunity to turn your love of film into a memorable getaway.