This month, New York City’s School of Visual Arts will once again light up the SVA Theatre with a storytelling and filmcarft showcase featuring alumni work. This year’s After School Special festival lineup spans award-winning documentaries, Emmy-nominated series and visionary animation from Wednesday, September 17 through Sunday, September 21.
After School Special will feature screenings and conversations with more than 35 alumni from 10 academic departments, all at SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street). The festival is free and open to the public, with doors opening 30 minutes before each screening. Guests are also invited to enjoy a curated selection of music videos by Amanda DiMartino (BFA 2017 Film) in the theater lobby throughout the week. More information available here.
Animation highlights of this year’s After School Special include:
Common Side Effects
Saturday, September 20, 2 p.m.
Catch multiple episodes from the first season of this Adult Swim animated series, co-created by Joe Bennett (BFA 2008 Fine Arts) and edited by Joie Lim (BFA 2021 Animation). The Emmy Award-nominated, critically acclaimed Common Side Effects skewers Big Pharma through the lens of high school friends caught in a conspiracy. Preceded by the world cinematic premiere of DB Edmunds’ “Can You Feel It?” (2025), a music video directed by Stephen Jablonsky (MFA 1995 Photography and Related Media; BFA 1993 Photography) that employs generative AI.
The Wild Robot
Closing Day | Sunday, September 21, 2 p.m.
DreamWorks’ Oscar-nominated 2024 feature will be followed by a panel discussion with five alumni who brought the film to life: Angela Arzumanyan (BFA 2018 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Charlotte Bae (MFA 2013 Computer Art), Nyoung Kim (BFA 2018 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), Lisa Qingyi Liu (BFA 2022 Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects), and Adam Rosette (BFA 2007 Animation), who is currently co-directing Sony’s upcoming animated feature GOAT (2026).
SVA Premieres: Best of 2025 Screening
Friday, September 19, 8 p.m.
A screening of some of the best film and animation thesis projects from School of Visual Arts graduates from the class of 2025.
