2026 Schedule
Day 1
Thursday, APRIL 2
Registration: 10AM–12:30PM
Tepper Building, Lobby
MAP
VR FilmS: 10AM–4PM
VR Lab
Simmons B Auditorium,
Tepper Building
MAP
LIGHTNING TALKS: 11AM–12:30PM
AMY GLAZER, ARTHUR EARNEST & ERIC WILLIAMS
The Kenner Room,
Tepper Building
MAP
AFIKOMEN SCREENINGS: 12:30pm, 3:30PM
The Kenner Room,
Tepper Building
MAP
Afternoon TALK: 2Pm–3pm
JUDI ALSTON & ANDY CAMPBELL
Peter Room and McKenna Rooms
Floor 2, Cohon University Center
MAP
Joint Keynote TALKS: 5Pm–6pm
Drew Davidson & J Dakota Powell
Simmons B Auditorium,
Tepper Building
MAP
Day 2
Friday, APRIL 3
Registration: 10AM–12:30PM
Tepper Building, Lobby
MAP
VR FilmS: 10AM–4PM
VR Lab
Simmons B Auditorium,
Tepper Building
MAP
AFIKOMEN SCREENINGS: 11:30Am, 3:30PM
The Kenner Room,
Tepper Building
MAP
Midday TALKS: 12:30–1:30PM
Hunter Dyar, KRISTEN LAUTH SHAEFFER
& ANDREW HALASZ
Peter Room and McKenna Rooms
Floor 2, Cohon University Center
MAP
Afternoon TALKs: 2pm–3pm
UJU ANYA & Erin Reilly
Peter Room and McKenna Rooms
Floor 2, Cohon University Center
MAP
GALA + AWARDS: 5:30PM–7PM
Simmons B Auditorium,
Tepper Building
MAP
Day 3
Saturday, APRIL 4
VR FilmS: 10AM–1PM
VR Lab
Simmons B Auditorium,
Tepper Building
MAP
TALKS: 11AM–12PM
MAME-FATOU NIANG & AFROOZ PARTOVI
The Kenner Room,
Tepper Building
MAP
AFIKOMEN SCREENING: 12:30pm
The Kenner Room,
Tepper Building
MAP
PANEL on IMMERSIVE PEDAGOGIES:
1PM–2PM
HUNTER DYAR, JUDI ALSTON, STEPHEN WITTEK & ERIN REILLY
The Kenner Room,
Tepper Building
MAP
GALA + AWARDS
SONA celebrates immersive works that are bold, thoughtful, and deeply engaging. This year’s awards recognize innovation, impact, and imagination across formats and voices.
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Chosen by festival attendees, honoring the work that resonates most strongly with the public.
EXCELLENCE IN STORYTELLING AWARD
Recognizing projects that demonstrate powerful narrative, emotional depth, or inventive approaches to immersive storytelling.
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
The Social Impact Award is now the Sustainability Award, recognizing our partnership with CMU’s Sustainability Initiative. For work that addresses urgent social, cultural, or environmental issues in ways that inspire reflection and dialogue.
EMERGING CREATORS AWARD
Celebrating outstanding immersive work by students and early-career creators, recognizing originality, innovation, and the fresh perspectives of those shaping the future of immersive storytelling.
HERITAGE & HISTORY AWARD
For immersive works that explore cultural memory, tradition, place, and lived experience.
UNBOUND AWARD
Presented in collaboration with IDeATe, the Integrative Design, Arts and Technology Network at Carnegie Mellon University. This jury prize honors compelling, unconventional, and genre-defying storytelling that pushes boundaries.
