Aesthetica Short Film Festival

Where to find our team at this year's festival

Aesthetica Short Film Festival returns from 6-10 November, transforming the picturesque streets of York into a hive of cinematic activity. Screenings, masterclasses and industry events take over the city for one hectic week, and we're excited to be taking part with a packed festival schedule of our own.

Our BFI NETWORK team will be in attendance throughout the festival. We'll be introducing our Script Lab and Creative Producers School participants to the industry at large, showcasing some of our funded shorts fresh out of post-production and honouring a new Northern star with the Film Hub North Polaris Award.

There's plenty of opportunities to meet the team, so you've got no excuses. Read on for more information on where to find us at this year's festival.

Festival Schedule

Meet Market

A unique melting pot bringing together UK-based producers and some of the North's brightest filmmaking talent. Our team will host a series of 1-2-1 meeting sessions pairing producers with writers and directors working on shorts and features. Participants will include filmmakers on the Hub's Script Lab and Creative Producers School programmes.

1331 Bar & Restaurant - 7 November, 12:00 - 18:30

Insights from BFI NETWORK: A Concise Guide to Funding

Members of the Hub's talent development team will be joined by BFI NETWORK colleagues from across the UK, including our non-fiction partners at Doc/Society, for this session introducing the opportunities open to new, distinctive voices working in film. The panel will discuss who to approach for funding and professional development opportunities, what they're looking for in an application and how to make yourself stand out.

York St John De Grey Lecture Theatre - 8 November, 11:00 - 12:00

Industry Marketplace

A new addition for 2019, the Aesthetica Industry Marketplace is a space for festival delegates to engage with leading organisations from across the screen sector, including film festivals, screen agencies, sales agents and distributors. We'll have a stand at the Marketplace alongside the likes of Locarno Film Festival, Creative England and NFTS.

De Grey Ballroom - 8 November, 12:00 - 20:00

The Fundamentals: Funding, Development & Support

All big ideas need help to develop. We'll be at this networking session to connect with filmmakers and offer advice on projects you're working on. Our support can be financial, conceptual or professional - we're here to talk about production funding, developing your ideas and improving your skills.

York Theatre Royal, Upper Foyer - 8 November, 16:00 - 17:30

BFI NETWORK Showcase

We're excited to showcase some of the fresh filmmaking talent we're supporting in the North, and to welcome them to the stage to discuss their work. This screening will present shorts recently funded by BFI NETWORK in the North - Trucker's Atlas, Obsession and Future Perfect - as well as earlier productions from the filmmaking teams involved.

Bootham School - 9 November, 13:45 - 15:45

Film Hub North Polaris Award

The Film Hub North Polaris Award celebrates the achievements of a filmmaker based in the North of England. In 2018, the inaugural winner was Faye Carr Wilson for her powerful documentary, Venus. We can't wait to see what 2019 has in store.

Yorkshire Museum - 10 November, 16:00 - 18:30