“Disability & Visibility” Screening and Q&A

As part of After School Special: The 2026 School of Visual Arts Alumni Film & Animation Festival, we are pleased to present an evening dedicated to bringing visibility to the disability community. Take Me Home (2023) is director Liz Sargent and producer Minos Papas’ (BFA 2004 Film and Video) short film about a cognitively disabled woman struggling to move on after the death of a parent. Their proof-of-concept short led to the award-winning feature film of the same name that’s opening in New York this week at the IFC Center (more info here)! Both the short and feature screened at several festivals, and received awards at both Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Festival. Sargent and Papas will introduce the film, and Papas will be present for a Q&A following the screening. Following the short film, we’ll welcome director Ben Duffy (BFA 2014 Film and Video) back to After School Special with the world premiere of his experimental feature documentary, No Pinnacle Without The Miraculous (2026), which centers on Duffy’s mental health struggles while filming a documentary about those with physical disabilities (Take a Look at This Heart, which premiered at After School Special 2018). Duffy will be present for a Q&A following the screening. Current SVA student Victoria Ericks (BFA 2027 Illustration) will moderate the Q&A. Take Me Home and No Pinnacle Without The Miraculous are not rated by the MPA. The films include profanity and graphic language. Children under the age of 3 may not be admitted. Doors will open approximately 30 minutes prior to each screening. Guests can enjoy a special selection of music videos from Annapurna Interactive’s RPG Musical, People of Note, in the lobby while waiting to enter. Alumni from SVA’s BFA Computer Art, Computer Animation and Visual Effects program — Timothy Doolen and Ben Meyer — served on the creative team of the video game. All After School Special 2026 screenings are free and open to the public. General Admission RSVPs via Eventbrite are appreciated, but not necessary, and do not guarantee admittance. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to attend this event, but require assistive devices and/or accommodations, please email [email protected] or call 212-592-2980 at least one week prior. SVA Theatre does not offer concessions, but will offer water to guests. Please contact [email protected] with questions. Guests subject to change.