SCAD Film Festival Delighted as Celebrities Make Surprise Visit

As the third SCAD Film Festival draws to a close in Lacoste, Provence, with a surprise guest appearance from UK writer and director, Martin McDonagh, English actress, screenwriter and producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, rumoured to be the next James Bond, we chat to Andra Reeve-Raab, Dean of the School of Film & Acting, SCAD, to get her thoughts on this year’s event.

For those not-in-the-know, SCAD is the Savannah College of Art and Design, a private art school with locations in Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Lacoste, France, founded in 1978. 

Since ‘discovering’ Lacoste in 2002, and renovating the once prehistoric medieval site, the small town now thrives thanks to a major investment to develop a campus there, with plans to further expand and purchase new buildings. 

This year’s event, which is free for the public to attend, included open-air screenings, one-on-one interviews, and award presentations including; British actor Miranda Richardson receiving the Etoile Award; British costume designer Janty Yates honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Costume Design Award; director, artist, and photographer Sam Taylor-Johnson received the Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award and French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet was honored with the festival’s Auteur Award. 

This year saw a special screening of Back to Black, with producer Alison Owen as well as director Taylor-Johnson. 

“What’s remarkable about SCAD is that we have every aspect of film making, from casting to colour correction and everything in between. Everything you need to create content we teach at SCAD, taught by professionals who continue to work within the industry,” said Reeve-Raab. 

“We have a very successful film festival in Savannah and TV Festival at our Atlanta campus and we decided to extend that to our international audience by creating a Film Festival in Provence. We have a huge international student body and wanted to make sure we are in the heart of France and extend that invitation to our festival to our friends across the pond.  

“Our third year has been spectacular and been an amazing opportunity for not only our students, but the community and for people visiting Provence who have made this a ‘destination festival’. 

“To be able to come and see these productions and meet the artisans who made them is like no other. We have had people that came from New York, Australia and Scotland. We love extending our network of friends and family to Lacoste.” 

Previous festival guests include Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, Golden Globe Award-winning actor and singer Keala Settle, Academy Award-nominated actor Lesley Manville, and Emmy Award-nominated French costume designer Marylin Fitoussi. 

SCAD Lacoste is a residential study-abroad location in France, offering immersion in the history and culture of Provence. Course offerings each quarter are varied to apply to all SCAD areas of study and are taught by SCAD professors.  

Lacoste is a beautifully preserved medieval village and historic destination for artists, known for its extraordinary light and exquisite pastoral setting. SCAD Lacoste structures dating from the ninth to the 19th centuries feature contemporary amenities including a library, gallery, dining hall, and housing, as well as teaching studios dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and digital imaging.  

Students interact with visiting artists, take field trips to museums and historic sites in the area, and have the opportunity to exhibit their work at a local vernissage. 

For more information visit https://www.scad.edu/academics/programs/film-and-television 

My personal highlights of SCAD 

SCAD took place over three days from June 27-29. I live in Montpellier and drove two hours by car to Lacoste. It is the perfect time to travel to Provence because the lavender fields are in full bloom in glorious purple and blue colours. 

Highlights for me were visiting SCAD Café des Artistes, the breathtaking scenery on the lawn of historic Maison Basse which includes an open-air theatre with outdoor swimming pool overlooking views of Lacoste castle, and how SCAD alumni artists, designers, scholars, and entrepreneurs create new, innovative work in residency at the SCAD Alumni Atelier ambassador studios and exhibition spaces in Rue des Artistes.

Historic Maison Basse was an ancient coaching house, hostellery, and illegal gambling den, among other things and now provides student accommodation and teaching facilities at the university. Lacoste castle dates back to the 11th century, and was once home to notorious Marquis de Sade and more recently fashion millionaire Pierre Cardin, and Irish property magnate Paddy McKillen.

Being able to meet actors such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson was a real treat as its not often you get to speak to them in person. I’m curious to know if Aaron will be the next James Bond but he wasn’t giving any secrets away.

Being in this region was a great opportunity to explore the surrounding towns and villages including the market at Apt every Saturday, Domaine Tourbillon, rooftop pizza at Brasserie Le Terrasses in Bonnieux and visiting the former home of Picasso’s muse Dora Maar in Ménerbes.