Reeves Lehmann chair of the BFA Film Video and Animation Department at School of Visual Arts has announced that the 24th Annual Dusty Film & Animation Festival will be held in New York City May 4-7. The four-day event will showcase more than 100 films and animations from thesis students graduating this spring. Annie Flocco independent producer/filmmaker and SVA faculty member will produce the event; Meredith Engstrom will co-produce. This year's Headlining Sponsors are: AbelCine; Act Zero Films; Adorama Rental Company; AJA Video Systems; Animation Magazine; Avid Technology; B&H Photo; Bryan Singer; CAVA – SVA Computer Store; Channel Frederator; Emmett/Furla Films; Feature Systems/Kits and Expendables; Foto Care; Gotham Sound & Communications; Independent Filmmaker Project; Machinima; National Board of Review; New York Women in Film & Television; Nice Shoes; Offhollywood; Rota6; Scheimpflug; and SCS Agency. One hundred percent of the sponsors' donations will benefit thesis students in the form of grants and in-kind gifts. The 2013 festival kicks off with three days of film and animation screenings and concludes with an awards ceremony on May 7. Fifteen awards—are given to students in recognition for outstanding thesis work. All festival screenings are free and open to the general public and take place at the SVA Theatre. The final list of presenters and special guests will be made public at a later date. We are thrilled the Dusty Film & Animation Festival is celebrating its 24th year said Lehmann. We hope the public will enjoy another great year of work from SVA's filmmakers and animators who we know will both entertain and educate a wide range of audiences both near and far. The Dusty Film & Animation Festival was established with the mission of introducing films made by BFA Film Video and Animation Department thesis students to a wider audience and was named after SVA Founder Silas Dusty H. Rhodes. Our annual festival receives industry wide recognition and is considered one of the top student film festivals in the country said Flocco. And the festival launches many of the students in their professional careers.
