Film at Mason: Remembering Jason Cortez

On May 7, 2022 the annual Mason Film Festival at George Mason University hosted a special event in memory of 2015 FAVS alum Jason Cortez. The celebration of his work included a screening of Jason’s films Northern Star and Burnoutland, as well as a photo wall and remarks from professors. Following the screening, a flower laying ceremony was held at Jason’s tree, which was recently planted beside the Mason Pond.

In 2015, Jason attends his senior capstone class in the Sage Room.

In Fall of 2022, to honor Jason’s legacy as a student and alum, the Film department announced the renaming of the Sage Room to the “Jason Cortez Creativity Lab.” This multi-purpose room serves as a classroom and collaborative space for students to gather and work on creative projects together.

Special thanks to Film and Video Studies at Mason, Professors Thomas Britt and Ben Steger, and Andrew Jorgenson for organizing this event.