Editor

The 13th annual Savannah Film Festival, hosted by SCAD, presented Liam Neeson with the Achievement in Cinema Award on November 2, 2010. SCAD President Paula Wallace presented the award to Neeson to a standing ovation from a standing-room-only audience.


"I'm humbled and embarrassed but it's lovely to be here at this extraordinary festival," said Neeson upon acceptance of his award. "I'm the luckiest man in the friggin' world." He dedicated the award to the crews he's worked with on his sets. "They inspire me and I accept this award for them. They are the mainstay, the people who make us look and feel good."

Neeson has become one of today's leading international motion picture actors. Whether in is his Academy Award-nominated role of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's highly acclaimed "Schindler's List" (1993), his award-winning portrayal of legendary Irish Republican hero "Michael Collins" (1996), or his role as controversial sex therapist Alfred Kinsey in the critically acclaimed "Kinsey" (2004), Neeson continues to display an acting range matched by few.

Following his motion picture debut in John Boorman's "Excalibur" in 1980, Neeson appeared in more than 40 films demonstrating a wide range of characters, including Dino DeLaurentiis' epic remake of "The Bounty" (1984); the critically-acclaimed "Lamb" (1986), for which he received an Evening Standard Drama Award nomination for his haunting portrayal of a priest tormented by doubts about his faith; Andrei Konchalovsky's "Duet for One" (1986); as a political terrorist in "A Prayer for the Dying" (1987); a Jesuit priest in Roland Joffe's "The Mission" (1986); and "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" (1999) in the role of Qui-Gon Jinn.

Neeson received worldwide attention in 1993 for his starring role in the Academy Award-winning "Schindler's List." In addition to winning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, he was nominated for a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award.

Neeson' role in Neil Jordan's "Michael Collins" (1996), garnered him Best Actor honors at the Venice Film Festival, a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination, and London's prestigious Evening Standard Award for Best Actor. The film also received the highest honor in Venice -- The Golden Lion Award.

Neeson joins a lineup of special guests including Sir Ian McKellen, Isabella Rossellini and Bobby Zarem. McKellen will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on November 4. Rossellini will receive an Achievement in Cinema Award on November 5. Public relations legend Zarem will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on November 3.

The 13th annual Savannah Film Festival is presenting special screenings of the films Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," Danny Boyle's "127 Hours," Doug Liman's "Fair Game," Mike Leigh's "Another Year," Ed Burns' "Nice Guy Johnny," Sam Rockwell's "Conviction," Nigel Cole's "Made in Dagenham" and Derek Cianfrance's "Blue Valentine," among others.

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

ABOUT THE SAVANNAH FILM FESTIVAL

Featuring the best in independent and innovative film from around the world, the Savannah Film Festival presents a full-range of cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers, bringing world-renowned filmmakers, producers, actors and journalists, as well as other film enthusiasts, to SCAD and Savannah for eight days of feature films, lectures, workshops, panels and competition films from a range of genres. Highlights of the festival include intimate "coffee talks" with film professionals, question-and-answer panels, lectures and special screenings.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution that offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in 43 majors. Visit scad.edu.

SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design