Public Access Afterworld: An Evening with Jane Schoenbrun!

This is a fully ticketed event. All attendees will need to register for the event in advance. See ticket options below.

Charis is thrilled to welcome Jane Schoenbrun for a celebration of Public Access Afterworld, a profound, binge-all-night, headrush of a novel by the celebrated filmmaker of I Saw the TV Glow and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.

After joining us for the conversation about Public Access Afterworld, head out to the lobby, grab some popcorn, and get a ticket for a late night screening of Schoenbrun's latest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.

About the novel:

Find the receiver. Make it real.
At 5:35 p.m. on September 3, 1988, Dallas weatherman Ray “Can You Say Sunshine” Davino makes passing reference to Public Access Afterworld during a rambling monologue, right before he puts a gun to his head on live television and pulls the trigger.

On June 12, 2009, David Sawyer and Erin Morrison, two lonely, TV-obsessed suburban teens who might be falling in love, gather in Erin's basement to watch TV's analog-to-digital transition. But in the static that follows, Erin witnesses surreal broadcasts from a pirate TV network called Public Access Afterworld, and their lives are changed forever.

Seventeen years later, Bethany Peters toils through the night shift at megacorp GlobalVill’s bleak Austin campus. A trans content moderator, she spends her evenings reviewing an endless stream of horrific videos. But then a young streamer begins to crop up in her feed calling out to Public Access Afterworld.

But what is Public Access Afterworld?

Spanning decades and realities, with an unforgettable ensemble of outcasts and nerds—especially the messy but wholly relatable Bethany, who must overcome paranoia and self-doubt to transform into a hero of our times—Public Access Afterworld will have you reading through the night and rooting for its characters to survive. A mesmerizing mash-up of speculative fiction, horror, and conspiracy, it marks the arrival of a major new force in contemporary fiction by a groundbreaking filmmaker who’s been compared to David Lynch and Paul Thomas Anderson.

About the author:

Jane Schoenbrun is an award-winning filmmaker and writer. Their films include I Saw the TV Glow and We're All Going to the World's Fair. Their newest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma starring Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder, releases in 2026. Public Access Afterworld is their first novel.

About the community partner:

The goal of Lavender Lens is to raise awareness about the importance of supporting queer films made by queer filmmakers. It’s not just about appreciating the work—it’s also about fostering meaningful discussions after the screenings, encouraging both critique and celebration. These conversations are vital for pushing the boundaries of queer cinema, striving for greater diversity and better representation in the media we consume. Learn more and check out upcoming events at: https://www.carriemillerfilms.com/lavender-lens-1

Conversation Partner details to come!

Venue & Accessibility details:

This event takes place at The Plaza Theatre in the Lefont Auditorium.

The lobby, box office, bar, concession stand, bathrooms and LeFont auditoriums are wheelchair-accessible. The LeFont includes wheelchairs in the middle / center row on the left (south) side of the auditorium. All auditoriums are equipped with Assistive Devices, and are available for loan at the box office.

We love cats, dogs and critters — but unless they're a service animal, please keep them safe at home.

Please contact us at info@chariscircle.org or 404-524-0304 if you would like ASL interpretation at this event.

By attending our event, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.