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| MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2025
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Visiting Filmmakers Series
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We are wrapping up our Fall 2025 Visiting Filmmakers Series with a special two-day artist’s visit. On November 10-11, Daniel Junge, co-director and producer of I Was Born This Way, will be on campus for 3 events.
Monday, November 10, 1:30 pm - Class visit | Art Building 1007
Free and open to all George Mason students. Seats are limited. Register here.
Monday, November 10, 5:00pm Screening of I Was Born This Way | JC Cinema
Join us for a screening of I Was Born This Way followed by a Q&A discussion with Daniel Junge, hosted by Vic Adebusola.
Co-directed by Junge and Sam Pollard, I Was Born This Way explores the life and legacy of Archbishop Carl Bean and his resounding message, “Love is for everyone.” It includes gorgeous archival footage and innovative rotoscope animation, as well as appearances by Lady Gaga, Questlove, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick. The documentary premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025, then screened at DC/Dox Film Festival, Frameline: the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom. It opened at the Laemmle North Hollywood Cinemas on October 30. This event is free and open to the public. Register here.
Tuesday, November 11, 10:30am Masterclass | The MIX, room 2107 (Located in Horizon Hall)
Daniel Junge will discuss the creation of a scene in I Was Born This Way. Free and open to all George Mason students and alumni. Seats are limited. Register here.
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| Visiting Filmmakers Series Presents:
A Masterclass with Heather Lanza
Now Available on Mason Arts Amplified
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On September 9th, Heather Lanza, co-producer of The Wild Robot, joined us virtually from Los Angeles for a Masterclass, hosted by Professor Mel Jones. Heather shared her career experiences, insights concerning the industry, animation production, the role of a producer, and leadership in production management.
Heather Lanza’s Masterclass is now available to view on Mason Arts Amplified.
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Registration for Spring 2026
Registration for Spring 2026 started on October 30 for seniors. Check your time ticket on Patriot Web.
Below, please see some of the courses we’re offering.
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FAVS 110 Beyond Screens: Digital Creation
Thursdays, 10:30am-1:10pm | IN 233
Professor Rebekah Wingert-Jabi
Students learn the foundations of compelling visual story creation. As they make videos, students develop basic skills in videography, sound recording, and video/sound editing. This experience can be applied to any format, including film, television, commercials, social media, AI, and emerging technologies. Open to all students.
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FAVS 334 Cinematic Podcasting
Tuesdays, 10:30am-1:10pm | AB 2001
Professor Amanda Kraus
In this class, students learn to develop and produce a cinematic fiction podcast, step-by-step. From writing and casting to recording and editing, students will be responsible for the concept and completion of the very first episode of their podcast. Open to all students.
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FAVS 367 Experimental Filmmaking
Thursdays, 4:30pm-7:10pm | Online Sync
Professor G. Chesler
Experimental films expand what cinema can be. Students will watch films that are experimental and radical, and make work through a series of creative prompts. We engage in class discussions and critiques online, creating a supportive laboratory for exploring film’s potential. Professor G. Chesler is a long-time Mason professor and award-winning filmmaker whose own experimental film work has been exhibited internationally. Open to all students.
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FAVS 380 Screenwriting: Television
Wednesdays, 10:30am-1:10pm | IN 233
Professor Peter Kimball
Students learn about the profession of writing scripted television. As they explore the principles and processes of development for a range of television genres, students also become acquainted with the expectations and responsibilities of staff and freelance writing. At the same time, they practice established techniques and identify contemporary trends in TV writing.
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FAVS 399 Music Documentary
Tuesdays, 1:30pm-4:10pm
Professor Ben Steger
This course explores various approaches to music documentary, analyzes the relationship between music genres/artists and their sociopolitical environments, and instructs on idea development, research, production, and postproduction methodologies. Students will examine power dynamics, ethics, and best practices for documentary makers in relation to the communities and individuals they engage in the filmmaking process. Filmmaking experience is not required.
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FAVS 399 Documentary Film Editing
Mondays, 1:30pm-4:10pm
Professor Maura Ugarte
The course invites students into the documentary film editing room, where each choice shapes how audiences interpret reality. Through screenings, analysis, and hands-on projects, we explore documentary film editing as a creative, technical, and ethical practice. Topics include documentary modes, visual storytelling, and integrating archival material. Working with Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll experiment, refine, and craft documentary stories. Open to all students.
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Best of Film at Mason Recap
Thank you to all who supported our students and alumni at our traveling Best of Film at Mason Showcase. This year, for the first time ever, the Showcase was made available to stream online on Mason Arts Amplified for a limited time.
Congratulations to the directors of the films selected for the 2025 showcase:
Kaju Katli – Sujay Khona
GHOSTED – Chloe Salman
Anonymous Voices – Marco Duran
When the Rain Stopped – Meghan Colovos
Grit – Chrys Sotos
Scarecrow – Jax Azad
The Lovely Inconvenience of Having Too Many Pants Pockets – Kai Morales
A Mourning in Chinatown – Ali Ali
Dust Bunny – Natalia Melnikova
The Lick – James Bah
Breakfast for Dinner – Dominique Dargan
Pas de Deux – Madison Koren
If you missed the 2025 Best of Film at Mason Showcase or if you would like to see it again, several of the films will be available on Mason Arts Amplified beginning in January 2026. More information to come soon.
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We’re Hiring: Film Alumni Relations and Data Management Intern
Looking for a paid on-campus job for the Spring semester? Come work with the Film Office! Connect with alumni and help us plan our 20th anniversary celebration of the Film and Video Studies program and annual Mason Film Festival festivities.
The Alumni Relations Intern will work closely with Film and Video Studies to advance alumni engagement. This position is focused on outreach and data management to build and foster community among the Program’s alumni. The intern will work in several areas of arts management, including communication and marketing, development, and event planning.
Internship Start Date: January 20, 2026
Apply on Handshake by November 17, 2025
Job ID: 10466337
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DGA Student Spotlight Awards
The Directors Guild of America Student Spotlight Awards has expanded the number of eligible institutions to include community colleges and technical schools with film coursework while also expanding the pool of eligible applicants to include any student from marginalized communities attending U.S. based post-secondary institutions with film curriculum.
Students enrolled in (or graduated within the last year from) post-secondary institutions during 2025/2026 with film coursework are invited to submit their short films for consideration in the following categories: Narrative and Documentary. Submissions must be work done under the supervision of a post-secondary faculty member from the institution of record. Eligible films are those in which students hold every major crew position.
The submission period will start November 1, 2025, and close April 1, 2026.
Winners will receive a $2,500 grand prize and their work will be screened at the DGA Theaters in Los Angeles and New York. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony taking place in June 2026.
Click here for more information about the 31st Annual DGA Student Spotlight Awards for Underrepresented Directors, including submission guidelines and eligibility criteria, as well as past winners.
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FAVS students Mel Moya-Jaldin and Riley Ater, the new President and Vice President of the professional cinema society, Delta Kappa Alpha, traveled to Los Angeles over the summer to participate in Conclave 2025. This national DKA members’ event features networking opportunities, professional development, and social events and activities.
Several George Mason students and alumni attended with Mel and Riley, including Kelsey Shannon, Liam Badiee, Michael Jarvis, Monica Arechiga, Nat Melnikova, Simone Parker, Sujay Khona, Justin Valentine, Rachel Depratti (‘24), Sophia Elliot (‘23), Daniel Zaitoun (‘24), and Chloe Salman (‘25).
Conclave attendees went on a tour of the USC Film Archives and participated in two seminars, “Empathy & Restorative Justice in Dehumanizing Times,” hosted by Transmedia Storyteller Josué Emmanuel V Muñoz, and “Social Impact Filmmaking 101: How You Can Spark Change with Your Next Film,” hosted by Entertainment 2 Affect Change (E2AC). They also participated in a Q&A with Curt Schulkey, Emmy-winning Sound Editor and Sound Designer.
Following Conclave 2025 and inspired by Entertainment 2 Affect Change’s work, Mel Moya-Jaldin and fellow student Aryaman Kantawala enrolled in E2AC’s partnership program, which pairs students with a local non-profit to create digital content. Their non-profit is DC Candlelighters, a Fairfax-based organization, whose mission is to provide emotional, educational, practical, and financial support to families of children fighting cancer.
Mel and Aryaman hope to share the organization’s mission by creating a documentary that encourages our local community to join DC Candlelighters in their support for families of children fighting cancer.
In addition to their philanthropic work, DKA is hosting several film workshops for the Mason community this semester. They recently offered a Special Effects Makeup Workshop and two Screenwriter’s Circle events, all open to everyone. Their goal is to create a welcoming space to explore storytelling and connect with fellow creatives. If you are interested in learning more about Delta Kappa Alpha, keep up to date on their Instagram @gmudka and follow them on Mason 360.
If you are interested in learning more about Delta Kappa Alpha, keep up to date on their Instagram @gmudka and follow them on Mason 360.
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Former FAVS student Autumn Boxley’s directorial debut, Flash Sale, was recognized as the runner-up for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Short at the 2025 NewFest Film Festival.
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Faculty Achievements
In September, Professor Wes Hunt wrapped principal photography as Cinematographer for the short horror film The Lady Widow. The film was co-produced with his grad school colleague, writer/director Lonnie Martin, Associate Professor of Theater and Film at Davis & Elkins College. They filmed in West Virginia with a mix of local WV students and DMV-based professional crew. The Lady Widow is now in post-production and scheduled for a 2026 release.
Wes also served as Director of Photography on the documentary Growing into Greatness, about the several national champion trees found in the state of Maryland. The hour-long documentary will air on November 22 at 8pm on Maryland Public Television (MPT).
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Still from The Lady Widow.
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Professor Alexis Hithe worked as a producer on the theatrical release and DVD/Bluray preparation for Zeinabu irene Davis' film, Compensation. Alexis will attend the screening and discussion of the film at the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, DC.
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Professor Tommy Britt presented a new paper, "AI Filmmaking and Dehumanization," at the Institute of Faith and the Academy Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, on September 26.
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Professor Cynthia Fuchs will participate in Pop Culture Lab’s screening and discussion of Sinners on November 7, sponsored by the Communication Graduate Student Association.
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Professor G Chesler’s film, Connection | Isolation, is now on Kanopy, a streaming service with 45 million subscribers worldwide. View the film on Kanopy here.
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Film Opportunities and Resources
Festival Submissions:
Film Scholarship:
Gorilla Creative Film Scholarships is awarding six $1,000 scholarships annually. For more information, visit www.gorillacreative.com/scholarships
Additional Resource:
2026 Documentary Story Lab
The Documentary Story Lab helps directors hone their story as they dive into the editing phase of their feature documentary. Learn more about the program here.
Deadline: Monday, December 15
Job Opportunity:
Videographer/Commercial Production, WMAR, The E.W. Scripps Company, Apply by November 9, 2025 on Handshake Job ID#: 10399391
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Did you miss our last newsletter?
Check out the archives here.
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We want to hear from you! If you have news you would like to contribute, please send it to film@gmu.edu. We are looking for regional film events and updates from Film at Mason alumni. Keep up-to-date on all the current Film at Mason news at film.gmu.edu.
Film and Video Studies
College of Visual and Performing Arts
4400 University Dr. MSN 5D8
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-3287 | film@gmu.edu
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