Lineup for third annual aTVfest announced

ATLANTA, Jan. 16, 2015 — (PRNewswire) —  The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) announced today its lineup for the third annual aTVfest, drawing in the global talents of producers, directors, writers and actors to SCAD venues in Atlanta's thriving midtown.

The festival celebrates preeminent television and media productions and will be held Thursday, Feb. 5 through Saturday, Feb. 7 at several SCAD Atlanta locations, including the SCADshow theater, the Digital Media Center and the main SCAD Atlanta campus at 1600 Peachtree St. See schedule for details.

SCAD is honoring top names from television including Terrence Howard from FOX's "Empire," who will receive the Spotlight Award. Timothy Hutton – starring in ABC's new series from Oscar winner John Ridley – "American Crime" will receive the Icon Award. Several cast members from ABC's "How To Get Away With Murder," including Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, Karla Souza, Charlie Weber and Liza Weil, will receive the Rising Star Award. All honorees are set to attend screenings of respective episodes with additional cast members to be announced.

Mindy Kaling of FOX's "The Mindy Project" will also be in attendance with her writing team. Kaling will screen her show and will participate in an insightful panel discussion immediately following.

SCAD is hosting premiere screenings and panels covering iconic television comedies, dramas and animation features including ABC's "American Crime," TBS' "American Dad," FX's "Archer," BET's "Book of Negroes," HGTV's "Ellen's Design Challenge," FOX's "Empire," HBO's "Girls," ABC's "How To Get Away With Murder," FOX's "The Mindy Project," HBO's "Packed in a Truck," WGN's "Salem," and FOX's "Weird Loners."

An integral part of aTVfest is premiering SCAD student work alongside their professional counterparts. A juried showcase will include dramas, comedies, web productions and more from SCAD's school of digital media.

The festival is uniting prominent producers, directors and industry representatives to participate in meaningful panels and workshops. Participants include ABC, Authentic Entertainment, Definition 6, DIY Network, FX, Fincannon & Associates, The Gersh Agency, Headlong Entertainment, HBO, HGTV, Nickelodeon, Sea2Sea Media, Stargate Studios and Travel Channel.

Industry discussions aim to 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.

Finalized programming will be announced publically and posted at www.atvfest.com on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

About aTVfest
Open to the general public and industry leaders, the 2015 aTVfest will take place at the SCAD Atlanta campus, the SCADshow theater, the SCAD Digital Media Center and other midtown Atlanta venues. To purchase advanced tickets, to get directions to SCAD venues, to learn more about shuttle service and for a complete list of programming please visit: www.atvfest.com

Last year's aTVfest was attended by more than 6,000 people and honored Connie Britton with the Icon Award, Angie Harmon with the Spotlight Award and Megan Boone with the Rising Star Award.

About SCAD Atlanta
At SCAD Atlanta, students have access to industry standard production and postproduction equipment. With access to SCAD Atlanta's 60,000-square-foot Digital Media Center, a multi-use theater and a high-definition TV studio, graduate film and television students create music videos, commercials, branded entertainment, web series, talk shows, sitcoms and other content for their studio projects.

Conveniently located in the heart of midtown Atlanta, students are afforded immediate access to industry contacts, field assignments and events such as aTVfest that supplement their coursework and enrich their educational experience.

In addition, SCAD Atlanta's M.F.A. and M.A. film and television programs provide students access to complementary programs like motion media design, advertising, animation and visual effects. Top careers in the industry include positions such as documentary filmmaker, editor, post-production supervisor, director of photography, production designer, location manager, art director, producer and more.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees at distinctive locations to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in  more than 40 majors, as well as minors in more than 60 disciplines. With over 29,000 alumni worldwide, SCAD demonstrates an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation.

At locations in  Savannah and  Atlanta, Georgia; in  Hong Kong; in  Lacoste, France; and online through  SCAD eLearning, the diverse student body consists of nearly 12,000 students, from across the United States and more than 100 countries. SCAD's innovative curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources. The university, students, faculty and alumni have garnered acclaim from respected organizations and publications worldwide including Time, Vogue Magazine and U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit the  official SCAD blog.

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SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design

Contact:

Savannah College of Art and Design For aTVfest: Steven Wilson/Jeffrey Chassen, BWR Public Relations Email Contact For SCAD: Ally Hughes, Director of University Communications, Savannah College of Art and Design, 912.525.4881 Email Contact Web: http://www.atvfest.com