Festival start: 06 November 2019
Festival end: 10 November 2019
The Aesthetica Short Film Festival is a BAFTA qualifying international film festival based in York, UK. ASFF is an important outlet for moving image and digital culture, creating a platform to champion film internationally. The festival holds talent development at its core and leaves a lasting legacy by inspiring innovation in film. Its eighth edition ran over a five day period, providing opportunities for talent development, networking and inspirational film viewing.
The 2019 festival will mark our 9th year of film screenings, masterclasses and guest programmes. As the festival grows and develops, we strive to bring more of the best cinema to audiences in York, accepting short, feature and VR works from the most innovative filmmakers from around the world.
ASFF is an important hub for industry professionals, offering the a meeting place that encourages collaboration and that promotes industry learning and development through masterclasses and networking. 2018 guests included Filmmaker Mark Cousins, Actor/Director Alice Lowe, Editor Mick Audsley, as well as representatives from Film4, StudioCanal, BFI Network, Spring Films, HOME, Industrial Light and Magic, Framestore, Pinewood Studios, Aardman Animation, British Vogue and BBC Writers Room, to name just a few.
- Best Advertising Film
- Best Animation Film
- Best Artists' Film
- Best Comedy Film
- Best Dance Film
- Best Documentary Film
- Best Drama Film
- Best Experimental Film
- Best Music Video
- Best Thriller Film
- York Youth Award
- Peoples Choice Award
- Best of Fest (£1000 prize)
- Best Narrative Feature Film
- Best Documentary Feature Film
- Best VR & Immersive Project
Supporting and Championing Short Film
We are looking for filmmakers who are driving film forward through inspirational and innovative works. Whether you are an established or emerging practitioner, we want to hear from you.
We accept submissions of short films across 11 genres : Advertising, Animation, Artists’ Film, Comedy, Dance, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Fashion, Music Video and Thriller.
For the second year, we are also accepting feature film submissions. Feature films are considered to be 60 minutes or over. Entries are open to both narrative and documentary films.
Entires are also open to 360 film, VR and Immersive experiences.
The Official Selection of films will be shown in 18 venues across York, UK from 6 to 10 November 2018. There will prizes for Best Film in each category as well as Best of Fest,, The Northern Film School Award for Best Screenplay, the People’s Choice Award and the York Youth Award. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your work to an international audience of filmmakers, industry delegates and film fans.
Submission Timeline
- Entries open 1 December 2018
- The deadline for submissions is 31 May 2019
- The Official Selection will be announced in September 2019
- ASFF 2019 takes place in the City of York, UK from 6-10 November 2019
- Winners will be announced at the ASFF Awards Ceremony on Sunday 10 November 2019
Prizes
- Festival screenings at ASFF 2019.
- Awards for Best of Fest Winner (£1,000), People's Choice, York Youth Award and Best Film in each category.
- Festival screenings in various guest programmes at other film festivals and events.
- Editorial in Aesthetica Magazine and on Aesthetica's online channels.
Submission Guidelines
- Short films should have a maximum running time of 30 minutes.
- Feature films are considered to have a runtime of 60 minutes or over.
- All films must be English language, dubbed into English or subtitled in English.
- Your entry form must include your name, telephone number and email so that we can contact you.
- Your film must not be in breach of any copyright, including music or sound used in your film.
- The link to your video included in your submission form must not expire.
- We will accept submissions of films that have previously screened elsewhere, including at other festivals.
Should your film be selected for screening at ASFF 2019, there are specific technical requirements the screening copy of your film must meet. http://www.asff.co.uk/submit/requirements/
Advertising Film
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
Submit
ASFF is looking for advertising films with unique concepts, engaging messages and beautiful imagery. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Animation
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
Save up
2.3$
Submit
Animation offers a new way of looking at the world around us. ASFF encourages filmmakers to lead us on a journey outside the norm, exploring new techniques, gripping narratives and individual perspectives. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Artists’ Film
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
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ASFF constantly strives to explore the world through new eyes. Abstract, creative and deeply original, this genre questions the notion of storytelling, looking to new techniques for a truly unique sense of narrative. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Comedy
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
Submit
Laugh out loud funny or quietly dark. Comedy is subjective. ASFF is looking for films that suit all tastes, encompassing subjects of the norm, the bizarre and the other worldly.
Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Dance Film
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
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Bodily expression is a beautiful thing. ASFF is looking for dance films that break down the barriers between traditional and modern, carving the way for a new language through the unlimited possibilities of choreography.
Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Documentary
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
Submit
From global politics to local communities, this genre looks at everyday phenomena, pulling at the strings of reality and offering an emotive, responsive and hard-hitting representation of life. ASFF looks for the untold stories, that inform and engage. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Drama
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
Submit
Drama is the largest category at ASFF. We're looking for shorts that are complicated, profound and devastatingly human, triggering deeply embedded feelings through an intimate lens. From grief and frustration, to desire and hope, we're looking for shorts that provoke a reaction. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Experimental
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
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Films that subvert the idea of established norms, favouring the fluency of non-conformity and futuristic visions. Let us be carried away by awe-inspiring visuals and undeterminable landscapes that boast new depths of invention.
Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Fashion Film
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
Submit
Fashion film is taking new journeys into experimentation and collaboration. ASFF is inspired by 21st century trends and the creation of new aesthetics whilst reworking the very notion of the moving image, asking questions around fashion film, advertising and branded content. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Music Video
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee32$ -8% 29.44$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.56$
Submit
Demonstrating a powerful collaboration between choreography, set design and contemporary music, Demonstrating a powerful collaboration between choreography, set design and contemporary music, ASFF looks for fast-paced shorts tie multiple imaginations together. From filmmakers and producers, to dancers and performance artists, this strand stretches wholeheartedly into the notion of expression through spontaneous outbursts of melody and rhythm. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Thriller
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee28.8$ -8% 26.5$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.3$
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ASFF seeks to plunge into the darker sides of humanity. Thriller showcases some of the finest elements of filmmaking, tapping into narratives that raise the pulse and enliven audiences with a subtle persuasion of the emotions. Films under 30 minutes will be considered for this category.
Virtual Reality & Immersive
Short Films 30'<
Standard Fee36$ -8% 33.12$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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2.88$
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We are looking for works from filmmakers and video artists that taken us on a journey outside of our natural confides. As technology progresses at an incredible rate, we're looking for the best collaborations in moving image, audience interactivity and new technology. Projects under 30 minutes will be considered for this category. Important! VR & immersive experiences should be compatable with Oculus Rift setups.
Narrative Feature Film
Feature Films >60'
Standard Fee54$ -8% 49.68$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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4.32$
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Our narrative feature category is open to submissions across drama, thriller, comedy, animation and beyond. We're looking for high quality features from independent filmmakers and established auteurs. Films over 60 minutes will be considered for this category.
Documentary Feature Film
Feature Films >60'
Standard Fee54$ -8% 49.68$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
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4.32$
Submit
Our documentary feature category is open to submissions across of factual content exploring any subject. We want to showcase films that make us laugh, cry and question ourselves, but most importantly, we want our audiences to engage with the truth. We're looking for high quality features from independent documentarians and established auteurs. Films over 60 minutes will be considered for this category.
360 Film
Short and Feature Films
Standard Fee36$ -8% 33.12$
Submissions deadline
03 Jun 19
Save up
2.88$
Submit
ASFF is looking for innovative filmmakers who are exploring the space around them. 360 film is their perfect opportunity to immerse our audiences in a story. Important: 360 films will be viewed and exhibited on Oculus Go headsets. Please ensure that your work is available in MP4 format compatible with this headset.
-8%
26.5$
