Over a thousand entries, narrowed down to 150 independent films, from 30 countries across the world, to be shown in 14 spectacular venues: the very first Aesthetica Film Festival will be launched in York on 3rd November.
Last year Aesthetica, the bi-monthly international art and culture magazine, launched a short film competition to an overwhelming response. This year they bring York its first ever independent film festival, showcasing innovative cinema in an array of genres and filmic styles, including narrative film, documentary, animation, music video, and artists’ film. Showcased in some of the city’s most iconic locations, screening venues range from the vaulted beams of the Merchant’s Hall, to contemporary art spaces, to indie boltholes.
As well as showcasing cinema from independent filmmakers across the world, the festival will host demonstrations, master classes and workshops from a host of prominent figures in the world of film. Ivana Mackinnon, Associate producer of Slumdog Millionaire, will hold a talk entitled ‘From Shorts to Features’; a workshop on screenwriting will be given by Matt Greenhalgh (Control and Nowhere Boy); Alex Williams of Escape Studios will discuss the future of 3D animation, and talks will be given by documentary photographer Saeed Taji Farouky, SXSW’s short film programmer and the Senior Commissioner of Channel 4. Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York, described the presence of professionals such as MacKinoon as “a coup” that will “attract thousands of new visitors to the city and raise the bar of the city’s cultural offering.”
Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica magazine and ASFF, added that the event would “bring a new experience to the boutique festival [and] bring a new enthusiasm to cinema and the overall festival experience.”
Following the announcement of the significant cuts to arts funding earlier this year, the Aesthetica event is a welcome addition, not just to the city of York, but to the British film festival circuit as a whole. Sally Joynson, Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire, commented that “in a time of uncertainty over future funding it is heartening to see fresh and energetic projects making good thing happen, adding a new and vibrant experience to the Yorkshire and UK festival scene.”
Look out for Vision’s review of the opening night, as well as our recommended picks for the festival, coming next week!