September 18 – September 22, 2019

SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York City 

August 20, 2019, New York, NY—School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents After School Special, the College’s annual film and animation festival showcasing the work of some of its most accomplished alumni in film, television, animation and visual effects. The festival, which is free and open to the public, runs from Wednesday, September 18 through Sunday, September 22, at SVA Theatre.

After School Special features a curated roster of premieres and screenings that showcase the high caliber of talent produced by SVA’s academic programs. Audiences are invited to take a deeper dive into filmmaking with behind-the-scenes insights from industry-leading alumni during Q&A sessions and panels that will accompany select screenings. Guests will also be able to enjoy videos and virtual and augmented reality projects in the lobby, and take in 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).

• The Emmy-nominated Netflix special Springsteen on Broadway (2018), directed by Thom Zimny (BFA 1990 Film and Video), welcomes audience singalongs.
• Director Lynn Shelton (MFA 1995 Photography and Related Media) and production designer John Lavin (MFA 1994 Fine Arts) will discuss their fifth feature film collaboration Sword of Trust (2019), starring Marc Maron and Michaela Watkins.
• The Academy Award-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) will screen in 3D, and include 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). 

All events will be held at SVA Theatre. Doors will open approximately 30 minutes prior to each screening. Seating is first-come, first-served. RSVPs via Eventbrite are appreciated, but not necessary, and do not guarantee entrance. To RSVP and check festival updates, visit: svatheatre.com, or email svatheatre@sva.edu.

Wednesday, September 18

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.

Thursday, September 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).

Friday, September 20

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 10 different academic departments, including films nominated for Student Academy Awards. Join the filmmakers in the lobby following the screening for a special dessert reception.

Saturday, September 21

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 an 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).

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). 

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. 

Sunday, September 22

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).

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.

Music and Video Art/Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences in Lobby

Audiences will be entertained from the minute they enter the SVA Theatre by a selection of augmented and virtual reality experiences by alumni Justin Melillo (BFA 2013 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects) of Magic Leap, 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).

SVA Theatre thanks its promotional partners for After School Special 2019, 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.

SVA alumni have been featured in film festivals across the globe, steering their own projects and making integral contributions to blockbuster releases. They have won Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes and awards at festivals such as Sundance, SXSW and the Venice Film Festival.