ASIFA-East

Figure Drawing
2024-06-27 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Titmouse, 150 West 30 Street, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Come join us for Figure Drawing at one of NYC’s favorite studios, returning next Thursday.
Once again, you must RSVP, as space is limited.
You may do so using the Eventbrite link
FREE to ASIFA members
$10 to the General Public

New York City Animation Weekend
2024-10-26 10:00 - 22:00 | Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, The Bronx, NY
An event where animators and animation fans in NYC can meet, view, talk and be inspired.

ASIFA-East presents NYC Animation Weekend, an event where NYC’s most prestigious animation organizations come together to present programs and offer a place for animators and animation fans to meet, be inspired and enjoy animation.
ASIFA-East will present the International Animation Day program, a compilation of some of the best independent animated films from around the world.
They will also host an Open Screening where animators can screen their works in progress and get feedback from their peers.
Animation Speak/Easy will invite three artists to each share an animated short that inspires them, followed by a lively, audience-driven discussion.
Animation Nights New York (ANNY) will screen a program of curated international animated short films. Animation Nights New York is a monthly screening event and annual festival based in NYC. Since 2015, ANNY has presented high caliber animated short films from all around the world
The New York chapter of Women in Animation will host a panel discussion on AI and its influence on the animation industry.
So come and join us Oct. 25th in Brooklyn and Oct. 26th at Hostos Community College in the Bronx for a weekend of animation.
Schedule:

Friday, October 25th
Animation Speak/Easy
Rullo’s
560 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, October 26th
Hostos Community College
C Building
450 Grand Concourse
Doors open at 10am
11am
Women In Animation
Ai Panel
12:30pm
ASIFA-East
International Animation Day
3:30pm
Open Screening
6:00pm
ANNY/Animation Nights New York
Film Screenings
9:00pm
Party tba

Animation First’s US & French Student Short Film Competition
2025-02-08 14:00 - 16:30 | SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York, NY, 10011, United States
Animation First, the largest animation festival in the U.S., celebrates its 8th edition. As part of its programming, the festival highlights emerging talent through the US & French Student Short Film Competition, which showcases animated short films—both 2D and 3D—created and produced by students from eight schools across both countries. SVA is proud to co-present this free screening, which will be divided into two parts with one intermission, in collaboration with Animation First. We invite everyone who shares a passion for animation to join us!
RSVP: here

Participating schools: Gobelins, l’École de l’Image (Paris, France), RUBIKA (Valenciennes, France), École Emile Cohl (Lyon, France), École des Nouvelles Images (Avignon, France), California Institute of the Arts (California, USA), Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia, USA), School of Visual Arts (New York, USA) and the University of Southern California (California, USA).
This event will be available to stream on Eventive starting February 8th. More information can be found here.

Pratt DDA Visiting Lecture: Rachel Vera Steinberg
2025-02-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11205, United States
Pratt Institute’s Department of Digital Arts will present lectures by four guests as part of its Spring 2025 Guest Lecture Series. All events are free and open to the public but need RSVP for not Pratt affiliated individuals.
Please RSVP here .
All lectures start at 12pm EST and take place at the
DDA Lecture Room, 4E-3 Myrtle Hall ( 4th floor )
The Digital Arts Lecture Series is a seasonal series organized by the Department of Digital Arts in the School of Art at Pratt Institute. Guests include both emerging talent and established pioneers in the fields of digital animation, motion arts, interactive artwork, and gaming. Please see below for this semester’s full line-up, followed by more information on each of these acclaimed guests.

SIGGRAPH 2024 Computer Animation Festival
2025-02-19 18:00 - 20:00 | SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York, NY, 10011, United States

DDA Guest Lecture Series: David Pietricola
2025-02-26 12:00 - 13:30 | Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11205, United States

Figure Drawing
2025-02-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Titmouse, 150 West 30 Street, New York, NY, 10001, United States
Free for members.
$10 general admission.
Watch your email and our socials to sign up.

DDA Guest Lecture Series: Anna Samo
2025-03-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11205, United States

Festival Jury Screenings - Independent I, Music Video, and Experimental Films
2025-03-17 18:00 - 21:00 | SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York, NY, 10011, United States
Wonderful News! Back as an in-person event, ASIFA East Animated Film Festival Jury screenings will be held on 2 nights, and because of the amazing amount of entries—half of the independent films will be shown on each night!
Screening Night I will be at the SVA Theatre (333 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011) this coming Monday 3/17. Screening Night II will follow on Monday (3/24) with the location yet to be determined. On March 17 we will be showing the first half of our Independent Films, as well as Music Videos and Experimental Films, and on March 24th we will be screening the second half of our Independent Films, along with the Commercial Films.
Student Film screenings (an additional 2-night event), as well as reprises of the in-person programs, will be held as additional livestreams over the course of the month.

A Tribute to Tony Eastman
2025-03-23 14:00 - 17:00 | Jefferson Market Library, 425 6th Ave, New York, NY
For over 40 years Tony was a hub within the animation industry. His involvement in projects covered everything from small indie films to groundbreaking television series like Nicktoons’ “Doug”, and MTV’s “Beavis and Butt-Head”. He was a teacher, mentor, director, producer, and helped grease the career wheels for so many of us starting out, with his support and guidance.
The animation industry – especially in New York – benefits to this day because of Tony’s contributions!
ASIFA-East is hosting an afternoon in remembrance of Tony , who passed away in 2020, with a screening and presentation as well, showcasing some of Tony’s vast catalog of work because the COVID pandemic made it impossible to properly pay our respects at the time of his passing.
President Doug Vitarelli will moderate a panel with Susan Eastman, Kim Deitch, Michael Zodorozny, and J.J. Sedelmaier, to celebrate and discuss Tony’s life, career, and the lasting influence he’s had on the animation community. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, and contribute comments of your own.

Evite link here

Festival Jury Screenings - Independent II and Commercial Films
2025-03-25 18:30 - 21:30 | SVA – Room 101C, 133 West 21st Street, New York, NY, 10011, United States
Wonderful News! Back as an in-person event, ASIFA East Animated Film Festival Jury screenings will be held on 2 nights, and because of the amazing amount of entries—half of the independent films will be shown on each night!
We look forward to welcoming everyone back on this coming Tuesday (3/25) at the School of Visual Arts. The new venue for next week’s screening will be 133 West 21st Street, room: 101C from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Guests will be required to sign in at the front desk, so arrive early to enjoy the show We will be screening the second half of our Independent Films, along with the Commercial Films.
Student Film screenings (an additional 2-night event), as well as reprises of the in-person programs, will be held as additional livestreams over the course of the month.

Pratt DDA Visiting Lecture: Dayna Gonzalez
2025-04-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11205, United States

55th ASIFA-East Animation Festival Awards Ceremony
2025-05-14 18:00 - 22:00 | Museum of Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave, Astoria, NY, 11106
The votes are in! Come join us for a “Best of the Fest” screening of the winning films at the Museum of the Moving Image. Awards will be presented, the Peggy will be awarded, and the night will close off with a reception in the museum’s lobby, where award winners, members of the industry, and lovers of animation can meet one another, network, and enjoy a few refreshments.

Social Media Panel Discussion
2025-09-13 11:00 - 14:30 | Hudson Park Library, 66 Leroy St., New York, 10014, United States
A panel discussion with animators Patrick Smith, JavaDoodles, Nate Ziller, Desmond Du, Annastacia (Missink Toons) Henry-Ramos and Peter (PikaPetey) Casey about the importance of on online presence, how to successfully promote your work and how to turn a profit.

Get your tickets here

Artificial Intelligence and Animation
2025-10-11 11:00 - 14:00 | Hudson Park Library, 66 Leroy St., New York, 10014, United States
A panel discussion with industry artists on the pros and cons of AI, its current and possible future effects on animation, animation studios and independent artists.

Featuring animator Nate Ziller, motion designer Daniel Garcia, media analyst Audrey Schomer, educator and artist Mattia Casalegno and animator Aaron Augenblick.

NYC Animation Weekend
2025-10-25 11:30 - 18:30 | Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse, The Bronx, NY
NYC Animation Weekend (#NYCAnimWknd) is ASIFA-East’s event to celebrate International Animation Day.
It’s a time to get together to watch both local and international animations, listen to speakers and meet and talk to other artists.
This year we’ll be screening our festival winners, WIA NYC’s festival winners and a selection of films from other ASIFA chapters.
We’ll also here talks from Josue Advincola about how to create a web series and Robby Gilbert, the author of the essential NYC animation history book “New York Animation 1966-1999. A City in Motion.”
Doors open at 11:30am
Hostos Community College
C Building
450 Grand Concourse

12 pm
ASIFA-East Festival Winners
A screening of the best from our fest

2:00pm
Robby Gilbert Book Discussion
Robby will discuss his book “New York Animation 1966-1999, A City in Motion”.
Q&A will follow

2:30pm
WIA NYC Festival Winners
The best of Women in Animation’s New York Chapter’s film festival

3:00pm
Break
Food and Drinks

4:00pm
Creating a Web Series
Josué Advincola will discuss his process on creating his web series “Work Buddies”.
Q&A will follow

4:30pm
ASIFA International
Animations from around the world

ASIFA-East Book Event
2026-02-01 14:00 - 17:00 | Jefferson Market Library, 425 6th Ave, New York, NY
Meet Robby Gilbert, author of New York Animation 1966-1999, A City in Motion and Neil O’Brien, author of After Disney for a discussion and Q&A about their books that document important, transitional and yet overlooked times in animation.
Reserve your tickets here

Moderated by Professor of Art and Animation Jake S. Friedman, author of The Disney Revolt.

Student Films I
2026-03-03 19:00 - 21:00 | NY
Join us for a virtual livestream of our many student film submissions. Since we got so many wonderful films in this category this year, we need your help to pick which ones will be shown in person at the end of the month. These livestreams will be available to vote on for a few weeks after they debut, so if you want to see every student work submitted to our fest, please check them out!

Student Films II
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 | NY

Student Films III
2026-03-06 19:00 - 21:00 | NY

Independent Films I
2026-03-12 18:00 - 20:00 | 136 W 21st St, New York, NY, United States
The first night of our Independent works, shown in the theater for your viewing pleasure. Independent Animation has always been at the heart of ASIFA-East. We hope our members will join us to vote on their favorite films, but you don’t have to be a member to come and enjoy the show!

Independent Films II
2026-03-16 18:00 - 20:00 | 136 W 21st St, New York, NY, United States
The second night of our Independent works, shown in the theater for your viewing pleasure. Independent Animation has always been at the heart of ASIFA-East. We hope our members will join us to vote on their favorite films, but you don’t have to be a member to come and enjoy the show!

Experimental, Commissioned, and Music Video
2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | 136 W 21st St, New York, NY, United States
This screening at SVA is comprised of all of our experimental and non-narrative films, as well as those films that were commissioned for a purpose such as advertising or to accompany a piece of music. We look forward to seeing you there!

Student Films (Select)
2026-03-30 18:00 - 20:00 | 136 W 21st St, New York, NY, United States
Join us at SVA to see a select program of the many student works on the big screen! These are the currently highest ranked films based on your voting, so come either to watch your favorites, or to vote on this select program to narrow down our winners for the final award. We hope to see you there!

BEHIND THE MAGIC OF BILL PLYMPTON: A ROAST
2026-04-26 19:00 - 22:00 | SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York, NY, 10011, United States
Legendary Animator and Two-Time Academy Award Nominee Bill Plympton Honored in a Night of Stories, Celebration, and Tribute
New York, NY — ASIFA-East and the School of Visual Arts MFA Computer Arts program proudly present Behind the Magic of Bill Plympton: A Roast, a one-night celebration honoring the extraordinary career of legendary independent animator and two-time Academy Award nominee Bill Plympton.
This 90-minute live event brings together a lineup of animation professionals who have worked alongside Plympton over his remarkable 45+ year career. Through humorous anecdotes, personal stories, and good-natured roasting, they will reflect on Plympton’s lasting impact on the animation industry—and the singular creative vision that transformed a shy boy from Portland, Oregon into one of the most influential figures in independent animation.
The MC of the event is Patrick Smith (Disney, MTV, YouTube, “Pour 585”). The presenters: Maureen McElheron (“The Tune”, “Your Face”), Signe Baumane (“My Love Affair With Marriage”), Lisa LaBracio (“The Opposites Game” and founder of Animation Speak/Easy), Biljana Labovic (TED-Ed), Dez Stavracos (Hornet) and Daniel Neiden (“Whale 52”, “The Tune”).
A reception will follow the program.

This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.
Plympton recently returned from the Berlin International Film Festival, where his latest short film Whale 52 won the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film. The film is also slated to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
About Bill Plympton
Bill Plympton is a pioneering independent animator, director, and cartoonist whose career spans more than four decades. Known for his distinctive hand-drawn style and fiercely independent production approach, he has created over 100 short films and multiple feature-length works.
His 1987 short Your Face took the animation world by storm, announcing to all that a new and unique artist had arrived. It earned an Academy Award nomination, followed by another nomination for Guard Dog (2004). His work has appeared in major publications including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and National Lampoon, and has been featured widely across film festivals, television, and digital platforms.
Plympton has also contributed animation to The Simpsons, directed acclaimed features such as Idiots and Angels, and collaborated with artists ranging from Kanye West to “Weird Al” Yankovic. His work continues to push boundaries with originality, humor, and artistic independence.
He is also an illustrator and author of numerous books.

Quotes
“Bill Plympton is God. Period.” — Matt Groening
“Bill Plympton is a genius. Where does he buy his drugs?” — Terry Gilliam
“Bill Plympton is a National Treasure.” – Pat Smith
“Bill Plympton inspired thousands of animation careers, including mine. He showed what is possible if you just do it, make a film without waiting for a studio approval or a grant.” – Signe Baumane
“Bill Plympton is the most consistent animation job creator in NYC.” – Biljana Labovic

56th Annual ASIFA-East Animation Festival
2026-05-22 18:00 - 21:30 | Tishman Auditorium, University Center, 63 5th Ave (at 13th street), New York, NY, 10003, United States
The oldest animation-only film festival in the United States.
