Mason recently joined SF International Film Festival and and the 2023 Schools at the Festival for a presentation of Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra. Reaching just over 13,000 students and teachers in the Bay Area and across the country, Mason participated in interactive activities with the students and a live Q&A. 

Since 1991, SFFILM’s Schools at the Festival outreach program has created a vital connection between the annual San Francisco International Film Festival and the local educational community, providing students of all ages the opportunity to experience stories around the world. The Schools at the Festival program introduces students ages 6-18 to international film and the art of filmmaking while promoting media literacy, deepening insights into other cultures, enhancing foreign language aptitude, developing critical thinking skills, and inspiring a lifelong appreciation of cinema. 

“Our students learned a lot about the music and seeing how instruments worked. Students also enjoyed the movie and learning about animation and how it’s made. Furthermore, students enjoyed learning about drawing characters with music, seeing the inner workings of an instrument, listening to live music, and meeting film makers and animators . My students enjoyed drawing the sprite and continued this project back in class.” Local Teacher