Powering a Nation short to screen at DOC NYC Nov. 16

“A Beautiful Waste” — a short documentary feature from Powering a Nation’s “100 Gallons” — has been named an official selection at DOC NYC — New York’s documentary festival. The short, produced by 2013 graduate Jon Kasbe, will be screened Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11:30 a.m. at the SVA Theatre.

“Without question being selected for this film festival is a huge honor, but to be creating work at this level as a student is not only unexpected but extraordinary,” said Chad A. Stevens, assistant professor and Powering a Nation producer. “Jon is a great storyteller, and the culture and creative environment in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media nurtures this kind of exceptional growth, experimentation in medium and excellence. This honor also reveals how much our industry is evolving and how we in the school have pivoted to be leaders in this new world of documentary journalism.”

The piece will be presented along with other films in the Shorts: People & Places category. The category theme is unexpected environments. “A Beautiful Waste” follows urban explorer Steve Duncan into New York’s sewers.

Directors from all films in the category will participate in a Q&A afterward. “A Beautiful Waste” subject Steve Duncan also will join the conversation.

A jury will select one film from the 39 shorts in the festival for the Short Film Prize.

This year’s weeklong DOC NYC festival will showcase 72 feature-length films, 39 shorts and 20 panel discussions and master classes. Festival highlights will include an opening night premiere of Errol Morris’s “The Unknown Known” and a closing night world premiere of Michel Gondry’s “Is the Man Who is Tall Happy?” For more information and tickets, visit docnyc.net.