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September Events...

  • 29 Queer Film Festival
  • Calgary International Film Festival
  • Cinema Diverse!
  • Cinema Queer International Film Festival
  • CINEVERSATIL
  • D'un bord à l'autre
  • Exposures: Montréal Trans Film Festival
  • F.A.Q. - Feminist and Queer International Film Festival
  • Fantastic Fest
  • festheart
  • Festival MIX MILANO di Cinema Gaylesbico e Queer Culture
  • Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival
  • Fringe! The London Gay Film Fest
  • Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
  • I+N Festival Courts Queer Short Film Fest
  • Kreives: Vilnius LGBT* Festival
  • Les Mains Gauches
  • LGBT Toronto Film Festival
  • Long Beach Q Film Festival
  • MICGenero
  • Mirror Mountain Film Festival
  • Oslo/Fusion Filmfest
  • Out on Film
  • Outfest Peru
  • OUTnorthLa Film Festival
  • Premio Sebastiane
  • PriFest
  • Queer City Cinema
  • Queer Film Festival Utrecht
  • Queer Film Festival: Germany
  • Queer Lion
  • Queer Lisboa
  • Queer Wave
  • QueerX
  • Reel Pride Winnipeg
  • Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
  • San Sebastián International Film Festival
  • Some Prefer Cake
  • Toronto International Film Festival
  • Twisted Arts Film Festival
  • Vancouver Queer Film Festival
  • Venice Film Festival
  • Vinokino Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
  • Virginia Queer Film Festival
  • Vues d'en Face - Grenoble
Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF)

Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF)

Wednesday, 05 November 2025 until Sunday, 09 November 2025

The 15th edition of the Aesthetica Film Festival will run from 5-30 November 2025 in York, UK. We will deliver a hybrid experience, with in-person events from 5-9 November and the On Demand digital platform running from 5-30 November to complement the festival’s live experience. The Industry programme will include masterclasses, panels, networking, pitching and an opportunity for you to get involved. You can submit to 12 genres as well as VR Projects, 360 Films, Games, Narrative and Documentary Features.

Selected films will screen in competition and be eligible for our coveted awards, including Best in Category and the Best of Festival Award. The festival is BAFTA-Qualifying for short films and £5,000 of cash prizes are up for grabs.


Aesthetica is one of the UK’S leading film events, recognised by the BFI as a Festival of National Significance and being both BAFTA and BIFA-Qualifying for short film.

All films selected will screen in competition and will be eligible for our Best in Category Awards which are decided by a jury of industry experts.

In addition to the Best in Category awards, Aesthetica presents a number of special awards which offer project support, services as well as a combined total of £5000 in cash prizes.

Special Awards:
- Best of Festival – all selected films eligible
- Best Cinematography – all selected films eligible
- Best Director – all selected films eligible
- Best Editing – all selected films eligible
- Best Screenplay – all selected films eligible

Category Awards:
- Best Advertising Film
- Best Animation
- Best Artists' Film
- Best Comedy
- Best Dance Film
- Best Documentary
- Best Drama
- Best Experimental Film
- Best Family Friendly Film
- Best Game
- Best Music Video
- Best Thriller
- Best VR, Immersive & 360 Project
- Best Narrative Feature
- Best Documentary Feature