About the Mason Film Festival
The annual Mason Film Festival features the work of Film and Video Studies (FAVS) students and celebrates the creative evolution of emerging filmmakers.
Held every spring at George Mason’s Fairfax campus, the festival takes place in prominent campus venues such as the Johnson Center Cinema and Harris Theatre. The event is free and open to the public, making it a highly anticipated community gathering for FAVS students and alumni, faculty, families, the George Mason community, and film enthusiasts in the DMV area.
The festival features blocks of a variety of student works from beginning and intermediate to advanced filmmaking work.
2026 FAVS 375 Fiction Filmmaking Students during the post-screening Q&A.
Mason Film Festival - Day 1
Friday, May 8, 2026
11:00am- 1:30pm FAVS 255 Film Production
1:40pm-2:10pm FAVS 366 Video Production for Social Change
2:20pm-3:45pm FAVS 365 Documentary Filmmaking and FAVS 399 Music Documentary
4:00pm-4:40pm FAVS 300 Global Horror Film
4:50pm-6:50pm FAVS 375 Fiction Filmmaking
Mason Film Festival - Day 2
Saturday, May 9, 2026
11am-12:30pm FAVS at 20 Alumni Brunch, JC Bistro
*Alumni Only*
1:00pm-2:30pm Alumni Roundtable, Harris Theatre
3:00pm-6:40pm FAVS 475 Advanced Fiction Filmmaking Showcase, Harris Theatre
7:00pm-8:30pm Awards Celebration, JC Bistro
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Film and Video Studies Program (FAVS at 20). This year, Film and Video Studies hosted several exciting events as part of the FAVS at 20 celebration, including an alumni brunch, an alumni roundtable discussion, as well as a virtual alumni showcase. FAVS at 20 recognizes the growth of Film and Video Studies over the last two decades and honors alumni from the FAVS B.A., FAMS and FAVS minors, and MAIS concentration in Film and Video.
FAVS Flackbacks
Alumni share their favorite memories and personal highlights from their time in the Film and Video Studies program. They discuss the specific creative and technical skills they developed and explain how those lessons have directly translated to their professional lives and success in the industry
Introducing our Storefront
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Film and Video Studies celebration, we have FAVS at 20 and Mason Film Festival shirts available for purchase.
Meet Our Poster Designer
Cole Rawson is the graphic designer behind the poster design and visual identity for the 2026 Mason Film Festival and FAVS at 20 celebration.
Cole Rawson is a junior FAVS major with a concentration in directing. Alongside his studies, he has worked as a graphic designer and photographer for over seven years, currently with the Film and Video Studies department. Cole has contributed to more than a dozen professional and student film sets, both in front of and behind the camera. Outside of filmmaking, his interests include baseball, music, movie poster design, and LEGO.
Support Scholarships
Each year, Film at George Mason awards scholarships to senior students at the Mason Film Festival. These scholarships are made possible through your contributions. Seniors use these scholarships to cover their film production costs.
Whatever the size of your gift, you can make a difference in the lives of our filmmakers.
The Cortez family pictured with Jason Cortez Award recipient Aryaman Kantawala.
The Jason Cortez Award recognizes exemplary Film and Video Studies students who have volunteered their time to the Program. They are dedicated to building community, collaborating with others, and creating impactful work. Established this year, the award is named in honor of 2015 alum Jason Cortez and is made possible by the generosity of Candelario and Reyna Cortez, Jason’s parents.
Thank You to Our Film and Video Studies Supporters from 2025-2026
(January 1, 2025 - May 1, 2026)
Producer ($10,000+)
Mary Sanders Jones
Screenwriter ($2,500-$4,999)
DC Camera
Clara and John Kelly
Willy Meaux
Cinematographer ($1,000-$2,499)
Candelario and Reyna Cortez
Dr. Joy R. Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee
Twig Murray and Harry Mahon
Supporting Role ($200-$499)
Thomas Judge
Production Assistant (up to $199)
William Hazzard
Susan Kehoe
Kiley Kraskouskas
Mack and Paulette Miller
Russell F. Santos
2026 Graduates receiving their official Film at George Mason pins during the Awards Ceremony.