SVA’s 2018 Alumni Film & Animation Festival
Featuring some of School of Visual Arts’ most accomplished film, television, animation, and visual effects alumni, this week-long festival will include screenings, premieres of new work, and behind-the-scenes looks at cinema & television hits and classics, and all events will feature special Q&As with industry insiders.  A full schedule and list of participants is below (subject to change) and can also be found at svatheatre.eventbrite.com.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVPs via the Eventbrite pages linked to below are appreciated, but not necessary, and do not guarantee entrance — all screenings are first-come, first-served.
Doors will open approximately 30 minutes prior to each screening, and guests can enjoy augmented and virtual reality and music video experiences in the lobby while waiting to enter.
All events are free and open to the public and take place at SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011.  (This does not apply to Bisbee ’17 at Film Forum.)  Directions, as well as local restaurants, hotels, and attractions, can be found here.  SVA Theatre does not offer concessions, but a limited amount of free popcorn, water, and snacks (sponsored by KIND Snacks and Soylent) will be offered at all screenings.  You’re welcome to bring food and drink (no alcohol or glass bottles, please!) into SVA Theatre.  If you would like to attend any of these events, but require assistive devices and/or accommodations, please email [email protected] or call 212-592-2980 at least one week prior to the event.
Sunday 9/9/18
1:00PM Bisbee ’17 (2018)
Please Note the Special Location!
Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street
Tickets: $15 at filmforum.org or at the Film Forum box office // $9 tickets available with an SVA ID at the Film Forum box office
SVA is thrilled to present its first After School Special partner screening with Film Forum, the newly-refurbished independent film cinema in Greenwich Village. This documentary, a Sundance Film Festival hit, explores the century-old, controversial deportation of immigrant miners from a town on the Arizona-Mexico border. Director Robert Greene will be on hand for a special introduction, and the film will be followed by a Q&A with two SVA alumni (BFA 2010 Film and Video), producer Bennett Elliott and additional cinematographer Robert Kolodny.  Bisbee ‘17 screens daily at Film Forum from 9/5-9/18.  Click here for tickets.  **This screening will be held at Film Forum, not at SVA Theatre. Concessions are available for purchase.**
All events from 9/10/18-9/16/18 will be held at SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street):
Monday 9/10/18
7:30PM Take a Look at This Heart (2018)
SVA is pleased to present the world premiere of this documentary by director Ben Duffy (BFA 2014 Film and Video), who screened his film Tin Soldiers at last year’s festival. His newest documentary takes a candid look at love and sexuality in the disability community. For the Q&A, Duffy will be joined by the film’s cinematographers, fellow BFA Film and Video alumni Wayland Bell and Michael J. Sassano. Preceded by the short film Good Bones by Anaïs La Rocca (BFA 2011 Advertising).  Click here to RSVP.
Tuesday 9/11/18
7:30PM My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea (2016)
Graphic novelist, animator, writer, and director Dash Shaw (BFA 2005 Illustration) will be on hand to screen his first feature-length animated film, which features the voices of Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, and Susan Sarandon. Preceded by the short film series Makin’ Things and the world premiere of Noise by another multi-hyphenate artist/director, Jim McKenzie (BFA 2011 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects).  Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday 9/12/18
7:30PM One of Us (2017)
See this Netflix Original on the big screen! This documentary follows three Hasidic Jews who, in the wake of trauma and abuse, face ostracism, anxiety, and danger as they attempt to leave their ultra-Orthodox community. Cinematographer Jenni Morello (MFA 2011 Social Documentary) joins us for a Q&A following the film. Preceded by the short-film series Dreamed, about DACA immigrants navigating the current political climate, created for Topic.com by director Raúl Paz-Pastrana (MFA 2012 Social Documentary).  Click here to RSVP.
Thursday 9/13/18
7:30PM The Greatest Showman (2017)
Join visual effects artists Jasmine Carruthers, Mina Choe, and Elana Lederman, alumni from SVA’s BFA Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects department, for a screening and behind-the-scenes look at this movie musical blockbuster , and feel free to sing along! Preceded by a short film created for Fatherly.com about drag kid Desmond Napoles (aka Desmond Is Amazing), directed by Adam Banicki and edited by Lucas Groth, both MFA 2012 Social Documentary alumni.  Click here to RSVP.
Friday 9/14/18
8:00PM SVA Premieres
School of Visual Arts will spotlight exceptional live action, documentary, and animated shorts by its most recent graduates from eleven different academic departments, including films nominated for Student Academy Awards. Join the filmmakers in the lobby following the screening for a special dessert reception.  Click here to RSVP.
Saturday 9/15/18
2:00PM Ferdinand (2017) in 3D
Join director Carlos Saldanha and artists/animators Mark Adams and Ricky Renna , all alumni from SVA’s MFA Computer Art program , for a screening and inside look at Blue Sky Studios’ hit animated film about that lovable bull with a big heart. Preceded by the new animated short Tasteful by Morr Meroz (BFA 2013 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects).  Click here to RSVP.
5:30PM The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) on 35mm film
Who created the sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Derek Drymon (BFA 1992 Cartooning), that’s who! Drymon, who will join us after the film, not only co-developed our favorite yellow sea creature’s TV show, but co-wrote his theme song, and executive produced and co-wrote his first big-screen, Hollywood movie! Preceded by the new animated short Frog Dog Log by Jared D. Weiss (BFA 2012 Animation).  Click here to RSVP.
8:00PM Black Panther (2018) in 3D
Take a trip back to Wakanda with one of the film’s animators, Ruel Smith (BFA 2004 Computer Art), and one of its visual effects artists, Wendi Harris Wu (MFA 2014 Computer Art), as well as critically-acclaimed comic book artist and author, Shawn Martinbrough (BFA 1993 Illustration). Preceded by the world premiere of the short film Mario and The Powerglove by Joseph Petrick (BFA 2004 Film and Video).  Click here to RSVP.
Sunday 9/16/18
2:00PM Disney·Pixar’s Coco (2017) in 3D
Follow your passion like Miguel and see this Academy Award-winning film again on the big screen! The film will be followed by a special conversation with Gini Santos (MFA 1996 Computer Art), Pixar Animation Studios’ first female animation supervisor. She’ll be joined by Pixar artist/animators (and BFA Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects alumni) MontaQue Ruffin and Christina Faraj. (Christina’s first project after graduating from SVA was this very film!) Preceded by a short film from the Heroes of Color series by David Heredia (BFA 2002 Animation). And catch a special Coco virtual reality experience in the lobby before and after the film!  Click here to RSVP.
Playing during the festival in the lobby”.
Augmented and Virtual Reality experiences by JD Gardner (BFA 2015 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Remington Scott (BFA 1991 Fine Arts), and Kurt Young (MFA 2013 Computer Art).
Videos by Abdul Malik Abbott (BFA 1987 Film and Video), Gina Bari (BFA 2004 Animation), Anney Bonney (MFA 2008 Computer Art), Pao Calderon (MPS 2011 Live Action Short Film), Graciela Cassel (MFA 2014 Fine Arts), Claire Christerson (BFA 2015 Photography), Weisi Dai (MPS 2017 Fashion Photography), Amanda DiMartino (BFA 2017 Film), Chris McDonnell (BFA 2001 Animation), Jim McKenzie (BFA 2011 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Rod Morata (BFA 2002 Photography), Sophia Peer (MFA 2006 Photography, Video and Related Media), Miwa Sakulrat (BFA 2017 Film), Alex Smith (BFA 2007 Photography), and Jared D. Weiss (BFA 2012 Animation).
We would thank to thank our promotional partners, including:  Asian American Arts Alliance, ASIFA-East, BAFTA New York, Center for Communication, DOCNYC, Film Forum, GKIDS, Hudson Guild, Indiegogo, International Documentary Association, KIND Snacks, NewFest, New York Asian Film Festival, New York International Children’s Film Festival, New York Television Festival, New York Women in Film and Television, Producers Guild of America, Queens Council on the Arts, Show-Score.com, Soylent, Visual Effects Society, Women in Animation, Writers Guild of America East
Please contact [email protected] with questions.  Guests subject to change.
#AfterSchoolSpecial