SCAD Film Festival’s TV Sidebar Lines Up Stars of ‘The Good Daughter,’ ‘VisionQuest,’ ‘Furious’ and ‘The Lowdown’

Savannah, Georgia is about to get a heavy dose of star power as the SCAD Savannah Film Festival rolls out its third annual TV Sidebar, a showcase that has quickly become a magnet for prestige television talent looking to meet audiences ahead of major premieres. Running October 24-31, this year’s lineup pairs screenings with award presentations honoring actors and creators behind four buzzy series: “The Good Daughter,” “VisionQuest,” “Furious” and “The Lowdown.”

The sidebar, now in its third year, has carved out a niche distinct from the festival’s film-focused programming by giving television a dedicated spotlight, complete with onstage conversations that let fans and industry insiders alike dig into the creative choices behind some of the season’s most anticipated shows.

Kicking things off on October 24, Meghann Fahy will accept the Spotlight in Television Award following a screening of an episode of “The Good Daughter,” the limited series adaptation of Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novel. Fahy stars opposite Rose Byrne as sisters Charlotte “Charlie” Quinn and Samantha “Sam” Quinn, with Slaughter herself writing and executive producing. Steph Green directs the series, which premieres November 12 on Peacock. For Fahy, who has built a reputation for layered, emotionally complex performances, the honor arrives as the actress continues to expand her range beyond the roles that first made her a breakout name.

Two days later, Paul Bettany takes the stage to receive the Virtuoso Award ahead of a screening of Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest.” The Disney+ series marks the closing chapter of a trilogy that began with “WandaVision” and continued through “Agatha All Along,” following the android Avenger Vision in the aftermath of those earlier stories. Bettany, who earned an Emmy nomination for “WandaVision,” has described the new series in interviews as both “moving” and “super exciting,” and has spoken warmly about collaborating with co-star James Spader on the project. The honor underscores how Marvel’s television offshoots have increasingly become fertile ground for actors to deepen characters first introduced on the big screen.

Emmy Rossum follows on October 28, collecting the Outstanding Achievement in Television Award for her work on Hulu’s “Furious.” Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, the thriller casts Rossum as FBI agent Alice Black, who is tracking a chilling and methodical female serial killer played by Lola Petticrew. Rossum, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, rounds out a cast that includes Quincy Tyler Bernstine and Scoot McNairy. Rossum and Meriwether have spoken publicly about the research that went into the project, including conversations with real trafficking survivors, as they worked to modernize a thriller sensibility rooted in genre storytelling from decades past. The pair have also teased ambitions for a second season, reportedly envisioning scenes set against a “Croatian beach” backdrop.

Closing out the sidebar on October 30, Ethan Hawke and Sterlin Harjo will jointly receive the Outstanding Collaboration in Television Award for their work on FX and Hulu’s “The Lowdown.” Harjo, who created, wrote, executive produced and directed the series, has crafted a noir-tinged drama set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Hawke starring as Lee Raybon, a self-described “truthstorian” and citizen journalist whose dogged pursuit of local secrets keeps landing him in hot water. The honor for the duo reflects a partnership that has resonated with critics for blending regional storytelling with a distinctly literary noir sensibility. The series’ momentum continues beyond the festival, with FX recently confirming a second-season release date alongside first-look images featuring Tommy Lee Jones and Betty Gilpin joining the cast.

Beyond the award ceremonies, the festival will also host a Deadline-produced panel titled “Below the Line: Scoring for the Screen with the Alliance for Women Film Composers.” The conversation will bring together composers from the alliance to discuss their creative processes and the industry challenges they navigate, offering a rare spotlight on the often-overlooked craft of scoring for film and television.

Taken together, the TV Sidebar’s 2026 slate reflects a broader shift in how prestige festivals are treating television: not as a lesser cousin to film, but as a format worthy of its own red carpets, its own honors and its own in-depth conversations. With Marvel’s superhero mythology, a literary thriller adaptation, a genre-bending procedural and a regionally rooted noir drama all represented, the sidebar offers a snapshot of just how varied — and ambitious — the current television landscape has become.