It’s the Final Day of the Festival!

What an incredible five days it’s been, thank you for being part of the UK’s largest event celebrating screen and media! As we wrap up an inspiring week of creativity, connection and innovation, we still have a fantastic line-up of screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities for you to enjoy. Take a look at today’s top picks and make the most of what is still on offer with your festival pass. Flick through this year’s full programme.

Today’s Genre Spotlight: Documentary

Finish your festival experience with insightful and moving true stories as part of our documentary Official Selection films. Our programme features brand new short and feature-length films that navigate themes of identity, dreams and resistance. These films offer new perspectives and challenge us to look beyond our own experiences. A valid festival pass is required to attend the screenings. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Daily Networking Session: Last Chance Encounters

City Screen Basement | 11:00-12:00

As the festival draws to a close after a packed week of screenings, talks, and industry events, Last Chance Encounters offers a final moment to connect with fellow filmmakers, creatives, and experts across film, television and XR. Hosted in collaboration with City Screen, this informal networking session provides a welcoming space to reflect on the festival, share ideas, and continue conversations.

Please note, pre-booking for networking is essential due to capacity.

Games Lab

National Centre for Early Music | 10:00-18:30

The Games Lab offers a truly immersive experience, featuring over 50 titles, which span PC, console, VR headsets and mobile devices, meaning there’s something for adults and children to enjoy. We’re celebrating every aspect of game culture, design and development, with both hands-on play sessions. Expect striking visuals and fun-filled gameplay. One-hour slots run across each day. Free with pass; advance booking recommended.

Kids’ Workshops

York St John Creative Centre | 10:00-16:00

Join both, today and tomorrow as we offer 7-14 year olds the chance to learn how to direct their own films, develop their own games, create animated shorts and act in their own stories. They’ll be able to be both in front of and behind the camera, gaining insights into the magic of filmmaking and games design. Led by the expert teams at Animation Nation, Computer Xplorers, Investigate. Games and Pauline Quirke Academy.

Pre-booking is essential.

The Radical Listening Immersive Light Exhibition

Venues Across York

This is Aesthetica’s love letter to York: three new international art pieces across the city where people live, work and visit. The trail runs from Exhibition Square, York Theatre Royal to King’s Square, supported by Audible UK. Experiance an installation the height of York Theatre Royal, 20 three-metre towers in King’s Square and a new immersive work from one of the world’s leading light and sound group. Steve Messam, Being Now Here and Squidsoup takeover York’s most prominent public spaces as part of Radical Listening, Aesthetica’s major new programme with Audible. No ticket, gallery admission or expertise is required to experience this showcase. The work is simply here, in the city of York.

Podcast Lounge

City Screen Basement | 10:00-18:30

The Lounge is a place to pause and take time out to well and truly listen. There are powerful documentaries: Kalli Anderson’s Siren Song reflects on the role of art in wartime Ukraine, whilst The Black Nite introduces a Milwaukee gay bar in the 1960s. In fiction, Sair Kaufman presents a Dungeons and Dragons-inspired fantasy musical, whilst offbeat titles like Journey Through a Cow (Bespoken Media) present biology from an alternative angle. One-hour slots run throughout each day. Free with a valid film festival pass; no booking is required to attend the podcasting lounge.

VR Lab

National Centre for Early Music | 10:00-18:30

The potential of 360° cinema knows no bounds. These immersive formats transport audiences straight into the heart of the story. Now in its seventh year, our 360° Cinema and Immersive Experiences Lab – proudly supported by UAL’s London College of Communication – returns to push the boundaries of storytelling. The selection includes documentaries, animation and narratives where every decision matters. Free with a valid pass.

Film Poster Exhibition

City Screen | 10:00-18:30

This year’s show-stopping display features 50 pieces from our Official Selection. All of the filmmakers involved in this year’s film festival were invited to submit their poster for selection. A panel from the Aesthetica Magazine team then made their selection of winners, which is now on display for visitors to the film festival to enjoy. Tag us with #ASFF2026FilmPosters to show us your selfies and let us know your favourites. Free with a valid pass.

Special Event: Awards Ceremony & After Party

Yorkshire Museum | 16:30-19:00
Thor’s Museum Garden | 20:00-23:30

To bring our 16th edition of the Aesthetica Film Festival to a close, we are welcoming filmmakers, delegates and audiences to join our Awards Ceremony. Prizes are awarded for best film in each of our genres, as well as our Best of Fest and Special Guest Awards. Join us for a celebration of impressive achievements, followed by the Aesthetica After Party drinks reception at Thor’s Museum Garden. No booking is required.