SCAD Lacoste Film Festival Closes in Style with Star Power, Dior Dreams, and Drift Sensory Experience 

The curtain has closed on the 4th annual SCAD Lacoste Film Festival (June 26–28, 2025), a celebration of cinema, creativity, and culture in the heart of Provence. Hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design’s French campus, the festival continues to grow in prestige and imagination—and this year was no exception.

One of the standout moments of the weekend was the presentation of the SCAD Virtuoso Award to British actor Toby Jones, recognized not only for his roles in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Hunger Games, but also for selecting Tale of Tales (2015) as his featured film at the festival. His presence underscored the growing international relevance of the Lacoste event, which is open to the public every year, allowing visitors and locals to join students, alumni, and film lovers under the stars in this storybook setting. 

“I did almost all my acting training in France at the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. It was the kind of training I couldn’t have received in the UK at that time. We were taught in the European tradition—mask theatre, physical tragedy—and it was incredibly dynamic. The idea was to generate new theatrical language by honouring the old. We came from all over the world,” said Jones. 

“Coming back to France and to be recognised by SCAD feels great. It’s a beautiful place, and the idea of celebrating storytelling here really resonates.”

Jones is currently preparing to play Iago in Othello at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket (October 23 2025-January 17 2026), his first West End debut in the role, and the production is generating considerable anticipation, which Jones said is “terrifying, as it should be.” 

Other honourees at the film festival included industry titans Sir Stephen Frears and Sir Christopher Hampton, each receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards, and renowned costume designer Jany Temime, who was recognised with the Étoile Award.

Several other notable talents were also recognised at this year’s festival, including Benita de Wit, whose short film Everything I Know About the Moon offered a poignant meditation on memory and loss. Actress and director Anita Okoye presented Resonance, a powerful exploration of diasporic identity, while SCAD alumni showcased an array of bold and experimental works across animation, documentary, and fiction.

Beyond the big screen, the festival also unveiled an exquisite new exhibition, “Jardin Rêves” (Dream Garden), in collaboration with Maison Christian Dior. On view until September 2025, this immersive showcase transforms SCAD Lacoste’s historic grounds into a poetic sensory journey inspired by Dior’s floral heritage. Visitors are invited to wander through dreamlike installations that blend fashion, fragrance, art, and nature. 

Also debuting was “Unfold” (a.k.a. Drift), an immersive installation by the renowned Dutch collective DRIFT. Using live biometrics, shifting light, and generative geometry, it invited visitors into a living, multisensory dialogue with nature and technology.

Founded in 2002 by Paula Wallace, SCAD’s president and founder, the Lacoste campus began as a bold vision to bring American art and design education to the heart of Provence. Wallace led the restoration of more than 30 historic buildings—medieval homes, chapels, caves—transforming the village into a cohesive creative campus that supports immersive learning in fine art, fashion, architecture, film, photography, and more. What began as a visionary project to offer immersive, global study opportunities has blossomed into a cultural beacon for the region—hosting exhibitions, residencies, performances, and now an increasingly prominent film festival.

Set against the idyllic backdrop of Lacoste, with its cobbled streets, castle ruins, and sweeping Luberon views, this year’s SCAD Lacoste Film Festival offered not only cinematic brilliance but a unique window into the creative heart of Provence.