Animation faculty member Michael Schwab’s work was featured at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival for his animation short "Lou and Costa." The animation originally premiered on MTV's "Cartoon Sushi" and was produced by Tom Megalis. Schwab served as the animation director for the short and 1997 Art Institute graduate Bill Blenk worked on animation, inking and backgrounds.

“It was a great experience to work on “Lou & Costa,” said Schwab. “It was especially meaningful because one of my students (Blenk) worked on the project as an intern. It’s a thrill to see our work recognized at Sundance and it’s rewarding for me both as an educator and a professional.” Blenk was hired after graduation by Random Games and recently accepted a position with So Much Animation in New York City.

Schwab has been a faculty member at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh since 1996 and owns and operates Kensington Falls Animation. He has produced award-winning animation for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned his B.F.A. at Kansas City Art Institute and is a resident of Beaver Falls, PA.

Each year, members of the programming staff of the Sundance Institute view more than 3,000 submissions to select 100 or more feature-length films and 60 shorts for exhibition. More than 20,000 people from around the world attend the Sundance Film Festival, recognized internationally as a showcase for the best in new American independent film, and the World Cinema program of the Film Festival presents new works by today's most innovative international filmmakers .

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers bachelor degree programs in Media Arts and Animation, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Interior Design. Associate degree programs are also offered in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Multimedia & Web Design, Photography and Video Production. Twelve-month diploma programs are available in Digital Design and Residential Design. The Art Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology and The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is one of The Art Institutes, a system of 22 educational institutions located nationwide, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The parent company of The Art Institutes, Education Management Corporation (NASDAQ: EDMC), is among the largest providers of proprietary post-secondary education in the U.S., offering bachelor's degree, associate's degree and non-degree programs. EDMC has provided career-oriented education programs for over 35 years, and its Art Institutes have graduated more than 125,000 students.