2009 Savannah Film Festival Closes Nov. 7 with Special Screenings of 'The Hurt Locker' and 'Precious''

SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, closed tonight, Saturday, November 7 after a full week of special screenings and award presentations.

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Film Festival attendees were treated to screenings of the intense war film "The Hurt Locker," and the powerful urban tale "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire." In addition, the star of "The Hurt Locker," Jeremy Renner, was presented with the 2009 Spotlight Award for his performance in the film.

Speaking to a full-house, including student and commercial film competition award winners announced earlier this evening, Renner graciously accepted his award, stating, "I'm terrified standing here right now amongst so much talent accepting this Spotlight Award...I'm truly honored to be here. I share this with all of you."

Renner has starred in several major independent films, including "Dahmer," which earned him his first Independent Spirit Award Best Actor nomination, as well as 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and "28 Weeks Later." Other films include "S.W.A.T.," "North Country" and the upcoming crime drama, "The Town."

In "The Hurt Locker" Renner stars as Sergeant First Class William James, the new team leader of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, a group of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. The film follows their tour together as they content with defusing bombs, the threat of insurgency and the tension that develops between them.

Closing the festival was the acclaimed film, "Precious: Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire," directed by Lee Daniels and starring Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe. "Precious" is the powerful story of a young urban teenager enduring unimaginable hardships who, with creativity, humor, and ferocity, finds the strength to turn her life around. Daniels was in Savannah to attend the closing night festivities and participate in a Q&A following the screening of the movie.

For more information, visit www.scad.edu/filmfest.

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