SCAD Announces Honorees And Additional Programming For 2nd Annual aTVfest

ATLANTA, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Savannah College of Art and Design has announced this year's honorees and additional programming for aTVfest: a Digital Media Experience, taking place Feb. 6-8, 2014 in Atlanta, GA.  Emmy nominated actress Connie Britton from ABC's Nashville will receive this year's Icon Award.  Actress Megan Boone from NBC's The Blacklist will receive this year's Rising Star Award.  The festival will feature a Thursday night screening of FX's Justified and has added additional screenings of FX's The Americans and FOX's Gang Related.

"We're honored to present Connie Britton with our Icon Award and Megan Boone with our Rising Star Award.  Connie Britton is one of the most outstanding actresses on television today having created iconic roles on Nashville, American Horror Story and Friday Night Lights.  Boone's performance on NBC's The Blacklist is one of the standout roles from this television season," said Christina Routhier, Director of Programming and Operations, aTVfest.  "We're looking forward to a great second year for aTVfest where those attending will have an insightful experience participating in all of our screenings and panels."

Four-time Emmy nominated actress Connie Britton currently stars in ABC's Nashville in which she plays Rayna James, a legendary country music superstar.  The role earned Britton her first Golden Globe nomination and fourth Emmy nomination.  The actress has also received Emmy nominations for her roles on NBC's Friday Night Lights, and FX's American Horror Story.  Her other TV credits include Spin City, 24 and The West Wing.  Her film credits include The Do List, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Brothers McMullen, A Nightmare on Elm Street, No Looking Back and The Last Winter.

Megan Boone currently stars in NBC's new hit drama, The Blacklist, as FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen, opposite James Spader.  The show follows Elizabeth as she works with former FBI fugitive Red Reddington (Spader) to get rid of a list of dangerous criminals and terrorists, which Red calls "The Blacklist."  Boone has also starred in the films Step Up Revolution and My Bloody Valentine.

Boone and Britton will join Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow); Josh Henderson and Emma Bell (Dallas); Frankie Alvarez (Looking); Emily Kinney, Sonequa Martin-Green and Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead) along with previously announced panel and Q&A participants CeeLo Green and the Goodie Mob (CeeLo Green's The Good Life); Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Samira Wiley, and Matt McGorry (Orange is the New Black); Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy); Murray Bartlett, Raul Castillo, and O.T. Fagbenle (Looking); Colin Ferguson (Eureka); Sarah Condon (Executive Producer, The Red Road and Looking); Tim Gibbons (Executive Producer, Curb Your Enthusiasm); Allie Gonino, Kiowa Gordon, and Tamara Tunie (The Red Road); Keahu Kahuanui (Teen Wolf); and many others.

New panels and screenings added to the schedule include:

Thursday, February 6
FX's Justified will be the opening night screening followed by a Q&A discussion.

Friday, February 7
A special sneak peek of TBS new series CeeLo Green's The Good Life, will be followed by a Q&A with CeeLo Green, Goodie Mob members Big Gipp, T-Mo and Khujo, along with Executive Producers Eli Frankel and Andrew Jameson.  Join YouTube Innovators and Creators, Ben Relles, Jed Simmons, and Fred Seibert as they discuss the evolution of YouTube and how to build a loyal audience.  FX will also be hosting a special screening and Q&A discussion with their hit animated series Archer. 

Saturday, Feb. 8
Additional screenings added to Saturday include a sneak peek of FOX's Gang Related with select cast and producers attending.  A screening and behind the scenes look at FX's The Americans, will be followed by an in-depth discussion with the show's production designer, assistant costume designer, location manager and prop master.

Now in its second year, the event celebrates design, creativity and innovation in television and media production. This year's festival showcases the best work in each field including broadcast, cable, Web, social media, music videos and advertising. Award-winning producers, directors, writers and industry executives will participate in a series of informative and entertaining panels, discussions and workshops. 

The festival will also welcome prominent producers, directors and industry representatives from ABC Entertainment, AMC Networks, Cartoon Network, Definition 6, Discovery Channel, Fremantle Media, The Gersh Agency, HGTV, National Geographic Television, Nickelodeon, TBS, TNT, UP! Network and The Weather Channel.  Panels will include topics on the second screen model, virtual and augmented reality, co-production deals, webseries, reality and lifestyle television, pitching and the development process, branding and promotions, acting and casting.

aTVfest Event Details
Open to the general public and industry leaders, the 2014 aTVFEST will take place at the SCAD-Atlanta campus, the recently acquired 14^th Street Playhouse (SCADshow), the Digital Media Center (DMC) and other midtown Atlanta venues.  To purchase advanced tickets and for a complete list of programming please visit: www.atvfest.com

The inaugural year of aTVfest was attended by more than 3,000 people and honored Phylicia Rashad, who received the Outstanding Achievement in Television Award from SCAD, Bravo senior producer John Hill, executive director of the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship Karen Kirkland, CEO of FremantleMedia Thom Beers and "BONES" executive producer Stephen Nathan.

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. Learn more about SCAD's comprehensive film and television program.

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 and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit scad.edu.

SOURCE SCAD