AestheticaFilmFest

Book Your Tickets: #ASFF2026 The 16th edition of Aesthetica Film Festival is the place to discover independent cinema, VR and games, podcasts & more. Join us for five days of screenings, masterclasses, networking and workshops. 4-8 November, York, UK: asff.co.uk/tickets

Wrap up an inspiring Friday with drinks and new connections! Dusk hosts our official party on New Street, making it the perfect spot to regroup with friends, meet industry peers and celebrate. Dusk & Drawing Board (20:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

We've teamed up with @audibleuk premiere four incredible new short films! Catch the big-screen premiere, meet the directors in an exclusive Q&A, and celebrate with complimentary arrival drinks and a live DJ networking session. @CityScreenYork (19:00) asff.co.uk/events

Discover what @BBCWriters look for in new drama! With 20 years behind the scenes @macneighill leads a screenwriting masterclass packed with practical advice on finding your authorial voice and writing scripts that stand out. @YorkshireMuseum (17:30) asff.co.uk/events

Experience how legendary film soundtracks are brought to life! Award-winning music supervisor Jen Moss teams up with @WarpRecords powerhouse Helena Gee for an unmissable masterclass diving into the creative thrill of cinema scoring. @YorkTheatre (17:30) asff.co.uk/events

Learn how a great short film comes together! @Channel4 leads an insightful panel discussion with festival filmmakers, breaking down how to balance tight scripts, limited resources and pacing for maximum screen impact. YSJU De Grey Lecture Theatre (17:00) asff.co.uk/events

York's immersive art trail lights up tonight! Suspended in Exhibition Sq, Squidsoups's 'The Sound of Coming Back to Life' wraps you in thousands of glowing lights and electric bass to capture a return to consciousness. Follow York's free art trail today: asff.co.uk/art-trail

Discover how the nation's biggest comedy hits get made! Commissioning Editor Navi Lamba and the @bbccomedy team lead an essential panel, revealing how they champion new voices and reflect modern life across the UK. @YorkTheatreRoyal Studio (16:15 start) asff.co.uk/events

Seen a film that moved you today? Drop your standout Official Selection recommendations below using #ASFF2026.

Free drinks and industry networking starting now! Meet outside De Grey Rooms at 16:00 to connect with local creative businesses, then join us at @Yorktheatre with @YorkStJohn School of Business to talk sustainable growth. Join us: asff.co.uk/events

Elevate your screenwriting craft with a multi-BAFTA winner! @MrNeilForsyth, creator of 'Legends' and BBC hit 'The Gold', leads a masterclass on practical insights and the writing process behind the UK's top TV dramas. @CityScreenYork 2 (15:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

Experience the magic of live improvised cinema! Join our exclusive premiere screening as groundbreaking composers perform inventive new live scores set to pre-1925 silent films, followed by a dedicated filmmaker Q&A. @YorkTheatreRoyal (14:30 start) asff.co.uk/events

What does it take to develop high-end television? Heather Salter, Head of Development at Ridley and Tony Scott’s Scott Free UK, shares insider insight into the UK TV development process and what the role involves. @YorkshireMuseum (2:30 Start) Register: asff.co.uk/events

Meet the women leading modern British film and television! BAFTA-winning producers and visionary executives take the stage for a panel on steering creative teams, making big decisions and career triumphs. Join us at YSJU De Grey Lecture Theatre (14:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

Turn your creative passions into a reliable, money-making career! Pip Rymill, lead at the @NatWestBusiness-scaling Accelerator, shares a clear roadmap to secure funding, grow your audience, and sell work overseas. Free | De Grey Rooms (14:00 start) tinyurl.com/8e6m9zhd

Find out what screen audiences and commissioners actually want to watch! Screen trade body @PactUK reveals viewer trends so you can spot what’s popular and pitch stories broadcasters & streamers want to buy. Free to attend. De Grey Rooms (13:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

Master the collaborative language that brings scripts to life! Acclaimed director Victor Villar-Hauser leads this dynamic screen acting workshop, focusing entirely on scene interpretation, performance and creative vision. At Spark, York. (13:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

How do you craft narrative work for household brands? Creatives from Somesuch, Blink Productions and BBC Storyworks head to York Theatre Royal Studio to reveal what makes campaigns resonate with audiences. Join us @YorkTheatre Studio (13:00 start): asff.co.uk/events

Celebrate five decades of iconic stop-motion animation! @aardman director @will_becher takes you behind the scenes of beloved classics like 'Wallace & Gromit' in a masterclass exploring fifty years of studio magic. @YorkTheatre Mainhouse (13:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

Step inside the cutting room to see how standout stories are crafted! This editing panel welcomes the acclaimed talents behind 'Harry Potter' and 'Saltburn' to reveal how rhythm and instinct transform raw footage into cinema. @YorkshireMuseum (13:00 start) asff.co.uk/events

Start a conversation that could fund your next film! Connect with @thepitch team at our afternoon networking event to share early concepts and learn all about their brand-new £2,500 writing commissions. York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer (13:00 start) asff.co.uk/events