Screen School VR Lab .
The possibilities of 360° film are endless. Immersive experiences bring audiences closer to the action, positioning them in both real and imagined environments. Submit your project to be part of the VR and Immersive Experiences Lab at Aesthetica Film Festival.
VR Lab
We are proud to present our Virtual Reality, 360° Cinema and Immersive Experiences Lab, realised in partnership with UAL’s London College of Communication. The Lab is an opportunity to share your work with new audiences. It takes place in The National Centre for Early Music during the festival in York, UK. It is also accompanied by a series of insightful panel discussions that tap into today’s pressing issues and the future of cinema.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for bold stories told differently. The film industry is undergoing dramatic change culturally and technologically. We want to create an impactful and engaging programme of content that brings audiences on new adventures. We are supporters of creativity in all its forms and are exhibiting XR and 360 projects that immerse users in dynamic environments. We accept projects across multiple genres, from documentary to drama.
Submit for 2026
The BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival is a hotbed of new talent and ideas. It is a place of collaboration, idea generation and bold storytelling. We see the screen industry evolving and want XR storytelling and digital culture to be part of that conversation. As part of our Official Selection, you will have the chance to meet industry professionals, gain advice and feedback and exhibit your work at one of the UK’s leading film festivals.
Submission Information .
- 1 December 2025 | Open for Entries
- 31 May 2026 | Regular Submission Deadline
- 7 June 2026 | Late Submission Deadline
- September 2026 | Official Selection Announced
- 4-8 November 2026 | Festival taking place in York, UK
- 8 November 2026 | Festival winners announced at the Awards Ceremony
- Regular Submissions Deadline | 31 May 2026
360, VR & Immersive £39 - Late Submissions Deadline | 7 June 2026
360, VR & Immersive £49
- VR experience projects under 25 minutes will be considered for this category. All experiences must be either:
1. tethered PC VR (and tested on a MetaQuest 2 headset, with maximum spec PC with 3070 GPU with 8GB VRAM), or
2. standalone VR submitted as an APK or MP4 file, and tested as compatible with MetaQuest 2, MetaQuest 3, or Pico Neo 3 headsets. - We cannot provide any additional specialist equipment beyond headsets and VR computers.
- Please see asff.co.uk/technical for full guidance.
- Aesthetica is one of the UK’s leading and most expansive film events, recognised by the BFI as a festival of national significance and being both BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying for short film. The festival celebrates the work of outstanding filmmakers through its coveted awards. All films which are selected for the Official Selection will screen in competition and will be eligible for our Best in Category awards which are decided by a jury of industry experts and practitioners. In addition to the Best in Category awards, we present a number of special awards which offer project support, services as well as a combined total of £5000 in cash prizes.
- The Award in this area of competition is for Best VR & Immersive Experience.
