The 2025 Mason Film Festival will take place on April 29, April 30, and May 3, 2025.
Register for each day's events.
About the Mason Film Festival
The annual Mason Film Festival at George Mason University features the work of our Film and Video Studies (FAVS) students.
Our event is free and open to the public, held in the Johnson Center Cinema. We invite students to bring their family and friends, and encourage representatives of local companies and organizations, as well as community members to attend.
Registration is required for each day and can be found at the link at the top of our site. See important information below regarding Senior Showcase ticketing.
Following the Senior Showcase on Saturday, May 3, we have an Awards Ceremony. Here we will announce Academic Achievement, Capstone Excellence, and Showcase Awards from juries comprised of alumni, Film at George Mason Advisory Board members, and industry professionals.
George Mason University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, and activities. Please make accommodation requests related to a disability by contacting the Film department (film@gmu.edu) at least one week prior to the event.
In order to increase accessibility for all audiences, all films screened in this year's Festival will have open captions (captioning featured on screen).
We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Mason Film Festival.
Senior students during the post-screening Q&A with Professor Ben Steger
Important Information for the Senior Showcase
Saturday, May 3 at 3:00pm
The Senior Showcase on Saturday, May 3rd is now sold out.
If you were not able to register, you are still invited to participate by attending the livestream of the event in the Johnson Center Gold Room on George Mason's Fairfax campus which will feature all senior films as well as the post-screening Q&A. The Gold Room is located on the Ground Floor of the Johnson Center, around the corner from the JC Cinema.
Check-In
Doors open at 2:30pm. Registration is required. When you arrive at the JC Cinema, please check in at the registration table. You will receive a wristband that denotes your ability to enter the JC Cinema for the event. Wristbands must be worn at all times in order to enter in and out of the cinema.
Please be sure to be in your seat at the start of the screening. Any empty seats will become available to attendees on our waitlist.
**Parking Update** The Mason Pond Parking Deck will be closed until 2:30pm on Saturday, May 3. This may impact arrival for some Festival attendees. For those aiming to arrive prior to 2:30 p.m., please know that alternative & free parking can be found in any General Lot on campus. Lot K is the closest General Lot to the Johnson Center Cinema. Please see the campus map to view General Lot locations.
Register for the Festival Schedule of Events
*Schedule may be subject to change*
Tuesday, April 29
10:30am-11:50am FAVS 399 Music Video Production
12:00pm-1:00pm FAVS 255 Video Production
1:15pm –2:15pm FAVS 300 Global Horror
2:30pm-3:45pm FAVS 365 Documentary Filmmaking
4:00pm-5:00pm FAVS 366 Video Production for Social Change
Wednesday, April 30
9:30am-10:30am FAVS 375 Fiction Film Directing
10:35am-11:30am FAVS 399 Creative Producing
11:40am-1:40pm FAVS 475 Advanced Fiction Film Directing
1:55pm-2:15pm FAVS 499 Senior Project Capstone Conversations, Fall 24
2:15pm-3:15pm FAVS 378 Web Series
Saturday, May 3
3:00pm-7:30pm FAVS 499 Senior Project and FAVS 490 Showcase
7:45pm Award Ceremony
**Sold out**
If you were not able to register, you are still invited to participate by attending the livestream of the event in the Johnson Center Gold Room on George Mason's Fairfax campus. The Gold Room is located on the Ground Floor of the Johnson Center, around the corner from the JC Cinema. The livestream will begin at 3:00pm and will feature all the senior films as well as the post-screening Q&A.
Program
Poster Design Contest Winner
Congratulations to our poster design contest winner, Nancy Jamison!
Nancy is a senior at George Mason University and is set to graduate in the spring of 2025 with a Graphic Design Certificate. Alongside her studies, she works as a graphics assistant at Mason’s College of Science. Nancy has a background in design and fine arts and loves combining her abilities with her interests in web design and video game development. She also enjoys listening to music, playing video games, and painting. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in web design.
Support Scholarships
Each year, Film at 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.
FAVS faculty and the Cortez family pictured with the Jason Cortez Award winners: James Bah, Patrice Pannell, and Erica Worthington.
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
(January 1, 2024 - April 15, 2025)
Producer ($2,500 and above)
Candelario and Reyna Cortez
Estate of Frank William Johns
Clara and John Kelly
Willy Meaux
Director ($1,000 - $2,499)
Anonymous
Dr. Joy R. Hughes and Mr. Kenneth Lee
Leading Role ($100-999)
Anonymous
L. Whitman Brown
G. Chesler
Rick Davis and Julie Thompson
Michael J. Howard
Cynthia and Thomas Judge
Maryam and Hamid Kasmai
Mack and Paulette Miller
Supporting Role (up to $99)
Julia Decker
Ms. Melissa J. Houghton
Michael and Susan Kehoe
Emily and Bill Rusch
Ronald J. Sanchez
Michael and Amanda Snellings
2025 Graduates receiving their official Film at Mason pins during the Awards Ceremony.
Academic Excellence Award
This award goes to students with the highest GPA with 120 credits at Mason
Cecilia Ohanian
Bodhi Bryan-Roig
Academic Achievement Award
This award goes to students with the highest GPA with credits transferred to Mason.
EJ Chicky
Paolo Rivas
Jonathan Strauch
Nate Henry
Professional Achievement Award
This award honors outstanding achievements in professional preparation for the field of film and video studies.
Daniel Vo
Nataly Wright
Erica Worthington
Patrice Pannell
Service Awards
This award recognizes outstanding service to the Film and Video Studies Program.
Sonja Phillips-Thomas
James Bah
Capstone Awards
Screenwriting : Palika (DC) Sridurongrit
Producing : Emilee Hayward
Editing : Bodhi Bryan-Roig and Patrice Pannell
Cinematography : Daniel Vo
Directing : James Bah and Sujay Khona
Showcase Awards
Best Producing: In Your Dreams, Producer: Cristian Cabral Rios
Best Directing: In Your Dreams, Director: Nate Henry
Best Cinematography: Pas de Deux, Cinematographer: Riley Ater
Best Editing: In Your Dreams, Editor: Bodhi Bryan-Roig
Best Sound: Macabre, Erica Worthington, Jason Mabry, and Liam Tipler
"Film That Changes the World" Award: The Lick, Director: James Bah
Best Genre - Psychological Thriller: Macabre, Director: Jonah Manibusan
Cultural Impact Award: Kaju Katli, Director: Sujay Khona
Special Jury Award for Best VFX: A Warrior's Wish, VFX: Kevin Vu
Special Jury Award for Best Period Piece: A Warrior's Wish, Director: E.J. Chicky
Special Jury Award for Best Experimental Drama: Pompeii, Director: Bodhi Bryan-Roig
Best Documentary: A Mourning in Chinatown, Director: Ali Ali
Best Drama: Pas de Deux, Director: Madison Koren
Professor Hans Charles with Best Documentary winner Ali Ali
Class of 2025 graduating directors during the FAVS 499 Senior Showcase Q&A.
Parking and Getting to the Cinema
Hourly parking is available in the Mason Pond Parking Deck (4500 Aquia Creek Lane, Fairfax, VA 22030), adjacent to the Johnson Center.
To get to the Johnson Center Cinema:
-Exit the parking garage on the ground level near the Mason statue.
-Enter the Johnson Center to the right of the Mason statue.
-Go down one level to the ground floor. The Cinema is to the left of Starbucks.
Contact Us
For questions or accessibility concerns, email us at the Film and Video Studies program.
We hope to see you at the festival!