Our workshops are all about learning by doing. This year’s festival programme offers practical sessions designed to sharpen your skills – and give you a chance to discover something new. From directing high-octane action sequences to exploring the craft of adaptation, these workshops cover every angle of filmmaking. You’ll discover how interactive storytelling is reshaping narrative, gain valuable insights at a roundtable, and dive into the collaborative space between actor and director. Come ready to participate, experiment and take your practice further. Here’s a taster of five workshops you can attend at Aesthetica Film Festival 2025:

1. Roundtable: Film Hub North
5 November | 14:00 | Spark

Got a burning question about filmmaking, production or career development? Come along to the Film Hub North roundtable to put your thoughts and queries to the BFI Talent Executives. FHN Roundtables are an informal place to discuss any questions you might have, exchange ideas and get guidance from industry experts and fellow filmmakers. This workshop requires prior registration via the Film Hub North website but there may be opportunity for sign ups on the day, depending on capacity.

2. The Pitch Film Fund: Learn About Adaptation
6 November | 10:00 | Spark

Join us for an enlightening workshop about adaptation in filmmaking, designed for writers, directors, and film lovers interested in the art of transforming source material into screen stories. This session will delve into the intricate process of adapting books and real-life events into films. Through case studies, discussions, and exercises, you will gain insights into the balance between fidelity and innovation. The Pitch will focus on The Bible – a continued source of cinematic inspiration – as an example.

3. Interactive Storytelling: Crafting Narratives Across Film, Games & XR
6 November | 14:00 | Spark

Explore how techniques from film, gaming and XR are intersecting to shape new forms of storytelling. This workshop invites filmmakers, artists and creators to consider how interactivity can deepen emotional engagement and challenge traditional modes of authorship. Through guided exercises and generative tools, you’ll experiment with story frameworks that respond and adapt to audience input. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of how narrative can evolve across immersive platforms.

4. Directing Action Sequences with Falmouth University
6 November | 15:30 | Spark

Participants will work with an action film director and fight coordinators to work through blocking and shooting an action sequence. With over 20 years of experience, Chee Keong Cheung is an award-winning British-Chinese filmmaker, CEO of UK production company Action Xtreme and educational partner with producer Kingsley Marshall – Executive Producer on Mark Jenkin’s BAFTA-winning Bait – at Falmouth University’s Sound/Image Cinema Lab.

5. Acting and Directing for Screen: Craft and Collaboration with Victor Villar-Hauser
7 November | 11:00 | Spark

This dynamic workshop, led by acclaimed director and RADA tutor Victor Villar-Hauser, explores the interplay between actor and director in screen storytelling. Focusing on technique, communication and creative vision, the session is designed for those interested in both sides of the camera. Participants will gain insight into the nuances of performance, blocking, and scene interpretation, while developing a deeper understanding of the collaborative language that brings scripts to life.

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Aesthetica Film Festival runs 5-9 November in York, UK. To purchase your pass, click here.

To discover all the workshops on offer at this year’s Festival, including workshops for kids, click here.

To download the festival programme, click here.

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