Kenneth Branagh, Adrien Brody, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Mike Mills among star-studded lineup of 2021 SCAD Savannah Film Festival special guests

Clockwise from top left: Kenneth Branagh, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Adrien Brody, Dylan Penn, Aunjanue Ellis, Simon Rex, Odessa Young, Mike Mills, Harry Gregson-Williams, Sandy Powell, Clifton Collins Jr.

The 2021 SCAD Savannah Film Festival marks not only the 10-year anniversary of Reel Georgia, it also marks a return to form for the premiere fall film festival. After a limited 2020 event that was largely virtual, the red carpet is once again set to take over Broughton Street outside the famed Trustees Theatre.

Oscar winners and nominees are in great supply this year, with Kenneth Branagh, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Adrien Brody, Sandy Powell, Mike Mills, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller all set to make appearances. Other stars set to appear and receive honors include Aunjanue Ellis, Harry Gregson-Williams, Dylan Penn, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Simon Rex, Odessa Young and Clifton Collins Jr.

Review: "Beginners" (****½)

Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent, and this adorable Jack Russell Terrier
star in "Beginners"

If heartstrings were things to be actually played, mine would be in perfect harmony. “Beginners” is a film where, upon reflection now while writing this, I can’t help but smile and hug myself. It’s a gorgeous story that so seamlessly elevates storytelling to a new level of honesty, hilarity and tragedy.

I feel it fair to mention that this is a film I’ve seen four times, and the superb, though often misspelled 95-paged screenplay is a lovely piece of work with which I’ve now read twice. I’ve read Mike Mills reviews and interviews and commentary on this film; it’s a problem for me that when I love something, I nearly smother it to death. I choke every last breath out of the thing for two reason I think: one, for the pure and honest sake of information; and two, to prove I love it the most. And with “Beginners,” I’ve upturned every rock, looked under every pebble, read the tweets, explored the blogs, smiled at the reviews; I’ve discovered and read and digested nearly everything you can on this movie, and I love it no less for having done so. The only thing left for me to do is write about it, which brings us to now.