Savannah Film Festival Presents Emmy Rossum With the Young Hollywood Award Nov. 2

November 3, 2009

Followed by special screening of her new film "Dare"

Also presented: an early preview of "The City Of Your Final Destination" with a special appearance by director James Ivory;

A special screening of "Valentino: The Last Emperor" followed by a conversation with filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer and Vogue Editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley;

The 2009 Competition for Narrative Feature with Scott Caan in attendance for the screening of his film "Mercy"

SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, presented Emmy Rossum with the Young Hollywood Award on Nov. 2.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091103/DC04251 )

"I'm extremely honored to be given this award," said Rossum. "This award and the incredible student films shown here at the festival show that SCAD has an eye on the future of film, as well as an appreciation of its past. I'm delighted to be here to accept this."

Rossum's starring performance as Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" in 2004 earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. Her acting performance in "Songcatcher" earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance. Other past film credits include the Clint Eastwood-directed drama "Mystic River," "Poseidon," "The Day After Tomorrow" with Jake Gyllenhaal, "Dragonball" and "Happy Now."

At age 7, Rossum began singing at the Metropolitan Opera, and she has since performed with such musical talents as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Dolly Parton. In 2007, Rossum recorded her first album for Geffen Records, "Inside Out." She wrote and recorded all her own songs. She is currently working on her second album.

Following the presentation, film festival attendees were treated to a late night special screening of the independent drama, "Dare," starring Rossum. "Dare" follows three teenagers through their last semester of school, who make a last-ditch effort to shake things up by taking the biggest risks of their lives before they actually have to start living as adults. "Dare" will be released theatrically by Image Entertainment Nov. 13.

The day began with a special screening of "Valentino: The Last Emperor," the acclaimed portrait of Valentino Garavani, the man behind the legendary couture label Valentino. The film focuses on the period between Valentino's 70th birthday and his final couture show. After the film, director Matt Tyrnauer joined Vogue Editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley for an in-depth look at the making of the film.

Attendees were also treated to a special screening of "The City of Your Final Destination," with an appearance by the multi-Academy Award-nominated director, James Ivory. Directed by Ivory and written by his longtime collaborator Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, "The City of Your Destination" stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Laura Linney. It tells the story of a young American academic who attempts to persuade the reluctant heirs of a celebrated Uruguayan novelist to allow him to write an authorized biography of the writer, who has recently died.

Throughout the day there were also narrative feature competition screenings. Among those films competing was "Mercy," written and starring Scott Caan, who made a special appearance at the Festival. "Mercy" centers around a successful but cynical young writer who writes about love but does not really believe in it until he meets someone who turns his world upside down. Playing Caan's on-screen father is his real father, Academy Award-nominated actor James Caan.

For more information, visit www.scad.edu/filmfest.

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The Savannah College of Art and Design is the most comprehensive art and design university in the world, offering more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design university. SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees in distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers students a choice of degree programs in 46 majors and more than 50 minors at locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, in Lacoste, France, online through SCAD eLearning, and soon in Hong Kong.

The diverse student body of more than 9,500 comes from all 50 United States and nearly 100 countries worldwide. The education and career preparation of each student is nurtured and cultivated by a faculty of more than 600 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and valuable professional experience. Through individual attention in an inspiring university environment, and with advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources, SCAD is uniquely qualified to provide an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation. SCAD has garnered acclaim from respected organizations and publications, including the Los Angeles Times, American Institute of Architects, DesignIntelligence and U.S. News & World Report.

For more information, visit scad.edu.

SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design; Savannah Film Festival