300 Films. 15 Venues. 6 Days. York’s largest cultural event of the year returns with the 12th edition of the Aesthetica Film Festival. The event takes place at 15 central venues across York from the 1-6 November. There will also be a digital platform showcasing a selection of film screenings, masterclasses and events until 30 November for those that can’t make it in person. Discover the breadth of the film festival with the 2022 Aesthetica Film Festival Programme here.
This year, Aesthetica introduces #YorkDays, which offers York residents the opportunity to save 50% on Select Festival dates. Residents with a valid York Card can access Unlimited Screenings and exclusive premieres, showcasing the best new talent in the world of independent cinema.
The Film Programme
The 2022 Official Selection film screenings have been curated into six broader categories:
- Life As We Know It
- The Bigger Picture
- We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come To It
- How Do You Do?
- Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Taken
- The Present Was Their Idea Of The Future
Download the film programme here.
Within these overarching themes are a selection of 10 programmes, which span 12 genres. These include comedy, drama, animation, documentary, thriller and family friendly, as well as feature-length narratives and documentaries. This extensive range of genres and screenings is curated by talented industry professionals so viewers can enjoy the best of independent film. Aesthetica also welcomes Guest Programmes from around the world, including BFI Doc Society, We Are Parable and Iris Prize, as well as Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, where you can truly immerse yourself in the evolving nature of storytelling.
Special Events
Aesthetica is about more than film. It’s about providing lifelong learning and creating meaningful opportunities to connect with others. That’s why, alongside screenings, there is a selection of Special Events, which provide a series of networking and social opportunities across the week, and the chance to pitch to the industry’s leading representatives.
Join industry giants such as BBC Film, Film4, Industrial Light & Magic and Framestore and attend masterclasses including virtual production, casting, film scoring, cinematography and scripting. Take part in workshops and engage with the latest in filmmaking production, from developing conceptual ideas and screenwriting to camera technologies, virtual production and augmented reality.
Workshops for All Ages
New to the festival this year are a series of workshops where you can learn how to work with the world’s newest and most immersive technologies. The festival will feature workshops for young people, where they can learn the skills and techniques of film production and develop a lifelong love of film. In Do You Want to Be A Director? children are introduced to how a director works to create a film, and they will be able to share and develop ideas for their future filmmaking. Young people can also learn about a range of film roles, from assistant director and camera operator to clapper loader with How to Make a Film, a creative workshop where participants learn new skills and techniques for directing, editing and storytelling.
Fringe Events
This year’s festival also introduces the Fringe. Aesthetica are working in partnership with Street Life Hub to bring you the first fringe event Unite. Create. Transform., a group exhibition curated from 10 award-winning contemporary artists, whose work asks visitors to examine the here and now. Visit a selection of works from award-winning contemporary artists and be introduced to new places, new cultures and themes from our rapidly changing world.
Experience sounds you’ve never heard before with a sound installation from Jin Chia Ching Ho, commissioned in partnership with Audible. Rediscover the city centre with York Dungeon Walking Tours and learn about York’s fascinating past.
Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2022 takes place in-person 1-6 November and a selection of screenings, masterclasses and events are available on the digital platform until 30 November. There are range of ticket options available for live, virtual or hybrid viewing experiences. To find out more, visit asff.co.uk or you can download the festival programme: https://bit.ly/3eDmo27
Keep an eye out for more of Vision’s coverage of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2022 over the coming weeks.