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October Events...

  • aGLIFF: Prism Film Festival
  • Beijing Queer Film Festival
  • BFI London Film Festival
  • BIGff: Bari International Gender Film Festival
  • Black Alphabet Film Festival
  • Busan International Film Festival
  • Cine Movilh
  • Cineffable
  • Dayton LGBT Film Festival
  • Diverso Festival Internacional de Cine LGBT
  • ENDIMARIS - Sitges LGTBIQ+ Film Festival
  • Everybody's Perfect
  • Festival Massimadi
  • Gender Bender
  • Hamburg International Queer Film Festival
  • ImageOut: Rochester
  • Iris Prize
  • LA Queer Film Festival
  • LGBT Toronto Film Festival
  • Lust*streifen Film Festival Basel
  • Melt Open
  • MIX COPENHAGEN LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
  • New Farm Queer Film Festival
  • NewFest
  • Norfolk Queer International Film Festival
  • Outshine Film Festival - Fort Lauderdale
  • Perlen – Queer Film Festival Hannover
  • Pink Screens in Brussels
  • Pride Pictures: Karlsruhe
  • QFFM - Queer Film Festival München
  • Queer Film Fest Weiterstadt
  • Queer-Streifen Regensburg
  • QueerFilm Festival Bremen
  • QueerFilmFest Rostock
  • Reel Q
  • San Antonio QFest
  • Scottish Queer International Film Festival
  • Tels Quels Festival
  • tilde: Melbourne Trans & Gender Diverse Film Festival
  • TLVFest
  • Transweek
  • Utah Queer Film Festival
  • Vinokino Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
  • Vues d'en Face - Grenoble
  • Way OUT West Film Fest
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