SCAD Announces Line-Up for 2017 aTVfest in Atlanta

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced today its lineup for the fifth annual aTVfest, drawing in industry-leading producers, directors, writers and actors to SCAD venues in midtown Atlanta.

The festival celebrates film and television luminaries and will be held Thursday, Feb. 2 through Saturday, Feb. 4 at several SCAD Atlanta locations, including the SCADshow Theater, the Digital Media Center and the main SCAD Atlanta campus at 1600 Peachtree St.

SCAD is honoring top names from television including Jenna Elfman from ABC's new show "Imaginary Mary," who will receive the Spotlight Award on Friday, Feb. 3. Jennifer Morrison from ABC's "Once Upon a Time," will receive the Spotlight Award on Thursday, Feb. 2. Christina Ricci from Amazon Prime Video's "Z: The Beginning of Everything," will receive the Vanguard Award on Saturday, Feb 4. The cast from WGN America's "Underground" will receive the Cast Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television on Saturday, Feb 4. All honorees are set to attend screenings of their respective episodes.

SCAD is hosting premiere screenings and panels covering iconic television comedies, dramas and animation features, including Amazon Prime Video's "Z: The Beginning of Everything;" ABC's "American Crime," "The Catch," "Imaginary Mary," "Once Upon a Time," "Quantico," "Scandal," and "When We Rise;" CBS' "MacGyver" and "Superior Donuts;" FOX's "24: Legacy" and "Star," Freeform's "Beyond" and "Shadowhunters;" HBO's "Animals," Brillo Box" and "Cries From Syria;" HGTV's "HGTV Dream House 2017;" NBC's "Taken" and "Trial and Error;" OWN's "Greenleaf;" WGN America's "Underground." A complete list of talent attending the screenings will be announced next week.

Industry discussions offer valuable insight into the world of agents, managers, casting, comedy, integration, pitches, production partnership, programming placement, reality television, postproduction, visual effects and the convergence of digital media and television.

The preeminent authority in film and television with the only university-run casting office in the country, SCAD students, alumni and faculty have won Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Golden Reels, Tonys, Annies, and more. An integral part of aTVfest is premiering SCAD student work alongside their professional counterparts. Of the nearly 12,000 SCAD alumni from entertainment and digital media disciplines, more than 1,600 work in the Georgia film industry, now a multi-billion-dollar driver for the Atlanta economy. A juried showcase will include dramas, comedies, web productions and more from SCAD's school of digital media.

The current line-up will be available on Monday, Jan. 23 at www.atvfest.com.

Hosted by SCAD, aTVfest is an international event where attendees discover the latest in design, creativity and innovation in television and media production. Join working professionals from all spheres of content production for exclusive panel discussions and workshops. Delve into the latest trends in broadcast, cable, Web, social media and advertising, with the best work showcased for review. Connect and network with the brightest stars in television at award presentations, screenings, premieres and exclusive receptions.

More than 6,000 people attend aTVfest. Past honorees include Megan Boone, Connie Britton, Mireille Enos, Angie Harmon, Terrence Howard, Timothy Hutton, Phylicia Rashad, Lili Taylor, the casts of Gotham and HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER with the Rising Star Award.

Visit atvfest.com for a complete list of films and screening locations or follow the festival on facebook.com/atvfest and on Twitter @atvfest and use the hashtag #aTVfest.

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in 43 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Hong Kong; Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning. SCAD enrolls 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications and collaborative projects with corporate partners.

In 2015, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD in the top four universities in the Americas and Europe. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni placement rate. In a study of Spring 2015 SCAD graduates, 98 percent were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. For more information, visit the official SCAD blog.