SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2026: Dates, Tickets & Visitor Guide

SCAD Savannah Film Festival is the city's biggest week for movie lovers, with premieres, visiting stars, and panels in historic downtown theaters. The short answer: the 2026 festival runs Saturday, October 24 through Saturday, October 31, its 29th year. Passes are on sale now, and individual tickets go on sale Friday, October 2. Popular screenings sell out fast, so plan ahead.

TL;DR: SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2026

• Dates: October 24-31, 2026, eight days ending on Halloween.
• Tickets: passes are on sale now. Individual event tickets go on sale October 2 at filmfest.scad.edu or in person at the SCAD Box Office, 216 E. Broughton St.
• Main venues: Trustees Theater on Broughton Street and the Lucas Theatre for the Arts on Abercorn Street, plus other SCAD spaces downtown.
• Sold out? A standby line has let people buy rush tickets for unfilled seats shortly before showtime. Arrive early.
• Pass pickup: starts Wednesday, October 21, at Festival HQ inside Press café at Jen Library, 201 E. Broughton St.
• Book lodging now: the festival overlaps Halloween weekend, one of the busiest stretches of the fall.

When Is the SCAD Savannah Film Festival in 2026?

The 2026 festival runs October 24-31, per SCAD's announcement, which was also covered by The Savannah Tribune and Variety. It opens on a Saturday and closes on Halloween, which also falls on a Saturday this year.

That timing matters for planning. The final weekend is film-festival crowds stacked on top of Halloween crowds. If you want the festival with less competition for dinner tables and hotel rooms, the midweek days are your best bet.

For the rest of the month's events, see our Savannah in October guide.

What Happens at the Festival?

SCAD describes the festival as an eight-day, university-led event with exclusive screenings, competition films, features, documentaries, shorts, and animated films. It also offers panel discussions, master classes, and workshops.

Several recurring programs are run with entertainment trade outlets. Past lineups have included Variety's Artisans to Watch, The Hollywood Reporter's Docs to Watch, and Entertainment Weekly's Breaking Big panel. The festival also draws big names. 2025 honorees and guests included Brendan Fraser, Oscar Isaac, Spike Lee, and Kristen Stewart.

The 2026 lineup and honorees are announced on the official festival site. Check it before you commit to specific nights, since gala evenings are the hardest tickets to get.

How Do You Get Tickets?

There are two ways in: passes and individual tickets.

Passes are on sale now. SCAD says passes cover many or all screenings and events, depending on the tier, and give you the best chance of getting into the events you want. Some pass categories can sell out, so check current tiers and prices on the festival's tickets page.

Individual tickets go on sale Friday, October 2, online at filmfest.scad.edu or in person at the SCAD Box Office at 216 E. Broughton St. Evening galas and tribute screenings have historically sold out within minutes. Have your account set up before sales open, and be ready at the posted on-sale time.

Passholders pick up passes starting Wednesday, October 21, at Festival HQ, located inside Press café at Jen Library, 201 E. Broughton St.

What If a Screening Is Sold Out?

Don't give up. In past years, sold-out screenings have gone to standby. Theater staff count empty seats shortly before showtime, about 15 minutes out, then sell rush tickets to people in the standby line on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rush seats are limited, so line up early. The festival also suggests arriving at least 30 minutes before any event, since doors usually open 30-45 minutes ahead and sometimes earlier. Ticket inventory can shift, so keep checking online if a show you want is gone.

Local tip: Build your festival day around Broughton Street. Trustees Theater, the SCAD Box Office, and Festival HQ at Jen Library sit within a block of each other. The Lucas Theatre is a short walk east on Reynolds Square. Park once in a downtown garage in the morning and walk between screenings instead of fighting for street parking during Halloween week.

Where Are the Festival Venues?

The two flagship venues are restored historic theaters:

• Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., an Art Deco house built in 1946 that seats more than 1,100.
• Lucas Theatre for the Arts, 32 Abercorn St., a 1921 movie palace with about 1,200 seats.

Other programming has used SCAD spaces such as the SCAD Museum of Art, Press café, and Gutstein Gallery. If you have downtime between screenings, our SCAD Museum of Art guide covers what to see there. For more on the theaters themselves, see our Savannah theatre guide.

Where Should You Eat Between Screenings?

You want places close to the theaters that won't make you late for a 7 p.m. showing.

• Quick treat: Leopold's Ice Cream sits at 212 E. Broughton St., a few doors from Trustees Theater. The line can be long in the evening, so go early.
• Coffee: The Coffee Fox on West Broughton Street works for a morning or mid-afternoon stop.
• Pre-show dinner: The Olde Pink House is on Reynolds Square, steps from the Lucas Theatre. Reserve well ahead for festival week.
• Casual daytime: The Collins Quarter on Bull Street is a reliable brunch or lunch stop.

Confirm current hours before you go, since restaurants adjust for events. For a fuller list, browse our Savannah restaurants directory.

Where Should You Stay?

Stay in the Historic District if you can. It keeps the theaters, restaurants, and ghost tours within walking distance, and October parking downtown is tight.

The Marshall House, at 123 E. Broughton St., is about as close to the festival as you can get. Perry Lane Hotel is a short walk south. Compare areas in our where to stay in Savannah guide, or browse the full hotels directory. Rates rise during festival and Halloween week, so confirm prices directly with each property.

What Else Is There to Do During Festival Week?

Most screenings are in the afternoon and evening, which leaves mornings and late nights open.

• Ghost tours: late October is peak season for them. Our ghost tour comparison helps you pick one, and our Savannah Halloween guide covers the closing weekend.
• Film locations: fit the theme with a walk past famous shooting sites from our movies filmed in Savannah guide.

Bottom Line: SCAD Savannah Film Festival 2026

The 29th SCAD Savannah Film Festival runs October 24-31, 2026, centered on the Trustees Theater and the Lucas Theatre downtown. Buy a pass now if you want guaranteed access. Otherwise, be online when individual tickets go on sale October 2, and use the standby line as a backup for sold-out shows. Stay in the Historic District, book dinner early, and expect the final weekend to be packed with Halloween crowds. Check filmfest.scad.edu for the 2026 lineup, pass prices, and schedule updates before you finalize plans.