ComicsDC: May 18: SPX Announces Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

Friday, May 16, 2025

May 18: SPX Announces Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

REMINDER: Small Press Expo and AFI Silver Theatre Announces Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt This Sunday May 18.

Bethesda, MD (May 8, 2025) – The Small Press Expo (SPX) is pleased to announce two more comics-related films with the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in their ongoing film series celebrating comics and their impact on storytelling. This special series will feature screenings of acclaimed films and documentaries, culminating in the highly anticipated SPX 2025 weekend, that will occur September 13-14.

The series continues with a showing of the documentary Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt this Sunday, May 18 at 3:15 PM.

This in-depth documentary traces Drew Friedman's evolution from underground comics to the cover of the New Yorker through interviews with Friedman's friends and colleagues. It also features a rare peek into his private "Jewseum," perhaps the world's largest collection of artifacts devoted exclusively to Jewish comedians.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Kevin Dougherty and producer Thom Shubilla.

The first 15 attendees to arrive at the event will receive one free limited-edition T-shirt featuring a glow-in-the-dark Tor Johnson lovingly rendered by Drew Friedman.

For more info and tickets visit the AFI Silver web site.

The SPX-AFI Silver series continues on Sunday, June 1, at 3:45 PM with a showing of No Straight Lines:The Rise of Queer Comics.

Led by such notable queer creators as as Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Maia Kobabe, along with SPXers Denis Kitchen, Lawrence Lyndell and Breena Nunez, this documentary shows the trials and triumphs of the LGBTQIA+ comics community.

Preceded by a video intro from filmmaker Vivian Kleiman.

For more info and tickets visit the AFI Silver web site.

Throughout the year, the SPX-AFI Silver film series will continue with a diverse lineup of films celebrating comics, cartoonists, and their unique storytelling power.

"We're incredibly excited to partner with AFI Silver to bring these films to the DC-area audience," said SPX Executive Director Warren Bernard. "This series not only showcases the artistry and storytelling of comics but also celebrates the creators who have shaped the medium."

Further screenings and guest appearances will be announced in the coming months. For tickets and additional information, please visit AFI.com/Silver.

Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 650 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show.

For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.smallpressexpo.com.