SVA’s 2019 Alumni Film & Animation Festival
Featuring some of School of Visual Arts’ most accomplished film, television, animation, and visual effects alumni, this multi-day 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.  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 Brew Dr. Kombucha and Soylent) will be offered at select 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.
Wednesday 9/18/19
7:00PM Springsteen on Broadway (2018)
Emmy Award-winning director Thom Zimny (BFA 1990 Film and Video) will be on hand for a screening of his Emmy-nominated Netflix special. Though Bruce will not be in attendance, his presence will surely be felt as we watch him perform his sold-out, critically-lauded Broadway show on the big screen. Feel free to sing along!  Click here to RSVP.
Thursday 9/19/19
7:30PM A Little Wisdom (2017)
This award-winning documentary follows a five-year-old Tibetan novice monk as he endures the rigors of monastic life and finds happiness through a simple life and the power of imagination. Director/producer Yuqi Kang, co-cinematographer Paola Ochoa, and co-producer/co-cinematographer Amitabh Joshi (all graduates of SVA’s MFA Social Documentary program) will join us for a Q&A following the film. Preceded by the TED-Ed short film What Does It Mean to Be a Refugee? by Biljana Labovic (BFA 2001 Animation). Click here to RSVP.
Friday 9/20/19
8:00PM SVA Premieres: Best of 2019
School of Visual Arts will spotlight exceptional live action, documentary, and animated shorts by its most recent graduates from ten 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 9/21/19
2:00PM Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) in 3D
Join animators/artists Michael Altman, Nicholas Manfredi, and Brett Taggart (all alumni from SVA’s BFA Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects program) for a screening and inside look at Disney Animation’s hit sequel about that lovable lug with a big heart. Preceded by the animated short Happy Birthday Ada created by several SVA alumni, including producer Susan Godfrey (BFA 2006 Animation). Click here to RSVP.
8:00PM Sword of Trust (2019)
This new laugh-out-loud comedy starring Marc Maron and Michaela Watkins has become a festival favorite! Join director Lynn Shelton (MFA 1995 Photography and Related Media) and production designer John Lavin (MFA 1994 Fine Arts) as they discuss the fifth feature film they’ve made together. Preceded by the short film June, starring Tovah Feldshuh, by director Jennifer Kachler (BFA 2009 Film and Video).  Click here to RSVP.
11:59PM Halloween (2018)
Michael Myers is back in this box-office smash! See it as it’s meant to be seen — at midnight! — with cinematographer Michael Simmonds (BFA 2000 Film and Video), storyboard artist Warren Drummond (BFA 1984 Media Arts), and co-producer Ryan Turek (BFA 1998 Film and Video) of Blumhouse Productions.   Click here to RSVP.
Sunday 9/22/19
3:00PM Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) in 3D
See this Academy Award-winning animated film again on the big screen, followed by a Q&A with three of the film’s animators/visual effects artists: Benjamin Aguillon (MFA 2004 Computer Art), Chris Hung (BFA 2001 Computer Art), and Lisa Suzuki (MFA 1998 Computer Art). Preceded by the animated short The Road Not Taken by Ellen Su (BFA 2013 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects). Click here to RSVP.
8:00PM The 71st Annual Emmy Awards
Come watch the show, broadcast via FOX, live on the big screen and root on SVA alumni nominees and their nominated shows!  Click here to RSVP.
Playing during the festival in the lobby”.
Augmented and Virtual Reality experiences by Justin Melillo (BFA 2013 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects) of Magic Leap.
Videos by Jordan Blit (BFA 2005 Computer Art), Joe Burrascano (BFA 2002 Computer Art), Beryl Chen (MFA 2010 Computer Art), Eric Cunha (BFA 2013 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Amanda DiMartino (BFA 2017 Film), Quintin Harris (BFA 2017 Film), Hee Jin Kim (MFA 2012 Computer Art), Elizabeth Ku-Herrero (BFA 2015 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Nicole Morciniec (BFA 2016 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Joaquin Portocarero (BFA 2003 Animation), and Anca Risca (BFA 2008 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects).
And check out the artwork on the façade of SVA Theatre, created specifically for this year’s festival by SVA alumnus and famed Los Angeles-based street artist, Morley (BFA Film and Video).
We would thank to thank our promotional partners, including:  Asian American Arts Alliance, ASIFA-East, BAFTA New York, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Center for Communication, DOCNYC, Ghetto Film School, GKIDS, International Documentary Association, NewFest, New York Asian Film Festival, New York International Children’s Film Festival, New York Women in Film and Television, Producers Guild of America, Queens Council on the Arts, Soylent, Visual Effects Society, Women in Animation, Women Make Movies, Writers Guild of America East
Please contact [email protected] with questions.  Guests subject to change.
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