Julianne Moore to Receive Icon Award at SCAD Savannah Film Festival With ‘The Debut’ Set as Centerpiece Selection

The Savannah College of Art and Design will present Julianne Moore with the Icon Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, as it sets her film “The Dead Donkey,” Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy from A24, as the Centerpiece selection.

The news comes following the announcement that SCAD will open with Bleecker Street’s “A Talent for Murder” from director Anton Corbijn and starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren, which will open this year’s festivities. Mirren will also be honored.

It’s another notch on Moore’s résumé in what is shaping up to be an incredible year for the performer. She won the Oscar for best actress for “Still Alice,” which also earned her the Golden Globe and BAFTA prizes. She also has four additional Academy Award nominations for “Boogie Nights,” “The End of the Affair,” “Far from Heaven” and “The Hours.” She won an Emmy for her portrayal of Sarah Palin in the 2012 TV movie “Game Change.” She is also the first American woman to claim top acting honors at Venice, Berlin and Cannes, winning for “Far from Heaven,” “The Hours” and “Maps to the Stars,” respectively.

Eisenberg writes and directs the film, along with the original songs. It also stars Paul Giamatti, who plays the imperious director who pulls Mona into his orbit and Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters round out the cast. The project reunites Moore with Eisenberg after his 2022 directorial debut, “When You Finish Saving the World.”

The film held its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, where it received a rapturous reception, followed by its Canadian premiere at TIFF earlier this month.

“Julianne Moore is one of the most extraordinary actors of her generation, bringing emotional depth, wit and humanity to every role she inhabits,” says Christina Routhier, senior executive director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. “Her extraordinary career represents the very best of cinematic artistry, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Savannah to celebrate her work with our students, our community and audiences from around the world.”

Up next for Moore is a return to the New York stage for the first time since her 2006 Broadway debut in David Hare’s “The Vertical Hour.” Moore will play the title role in Sarah Ruhl’s “Faydra,” a modern take on the Greek myth of Phaedra, directed by Les Waters for Manhattan Theatre Club. Previews begin Feb. 2 at New York City Center Stage I, with opening night set for Feb. 25.

The festival’s 29th edition runs Oct. 24-31. Festival passes for the 2026 SCAD Savannah Film Festival are on sale now. Individual event tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 2.