Networking at Aesthetica 2026
Build relationships, seek out collaborations and make lasting memories. Our Networking and Pitching Sessions make up an essential part of the film festival, and are places where connections are established and opportunities discovered. The 2026 Networking events are attended by
Creativity Is for Everyone: Meet Award-Winning Industry Speakers
Creativity thrives when knowledge is shared. At Aesthetica, the programme is built around the belief that access to ideas, experience and conversation can transform the way we see - and make - the world. Across film, television, photography, visual art,
Beyond the Screen: XR, New Technologies and the Future of Transmedia
At the heart of the Aesthetica Film Festival is a simple belief: cinema is not only something we watch, but also something we question, discuss and continually reinvent. Since its beginnings in York, the festival has developed as a meeting
Radical Listening: Three New Films Premiere at Aesthetica’s 2026 Programme
What does it really mean to listen radically? To consider listening as a way of understanding people, places, their respective histories and the world around us? Now in its sixth year, the Listening Pitch, a film grant by Aesthetica Film
Five Craft Masterclasses
Aesthetica’s Industry Programme brings together an inspiring line-up of masterclasses designed to give filmmakers practical insight, creative inspiration and valuable advice for developing their careers. Taking place throughout this year’s festival, the sessions offer an opportunity to hear directly from
This Is the Place: Opening Night at Aesthetica Film Festival
For five days, York becomes a meeting point for filmmakers, audiences and ideas from around the world.
10 Things to Look Forward to Aesthetica Film Festival
Tickets and passes for Aesthetica Film Festival 2026 are available. Join us in York from 4-8 November. This year’s jam-packed programme features 300 screenings, industry masterclasses, Games & VR Labs, a Podcasting Lounge, New Music Stage, networking sessions, socials
Music Cities Convention 2026
Last year, Aesthetica Film Festival broke new ground. The launch of the inaugural New Music Stage was a UK first, placing live performance within the festival’s expansive creative programme. The annual showcase brings together 10 breakthrough acts, from indie and
2026 Listening Pitch Winners Announced
Now in its sixth year, the Listening Pitch – commissioned by Aesthetica Film Festival and Audible – continues to assert itself as a vital platform for ambitious, sound-led documentary work. What has become clear over time is that this is
New Music Stage Alumni: Meet Daisy Gill
Daisy Gill is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, whose signature blend of retro pop fuses infectious vintage sounds with contemporary influences. In 2023, her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence earned a rare four-chair turn on The Voice UK. Since then, she’s