Aesthetica Short Film Festival Programme 2023

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL DISCOVER NEW CINEMA

8-12 NOVEMBER 2023

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SPONSORS, PARTNERS & VENUES

DELEGATES & GUEST PROGRAMMES

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WELCOME Welcome to the 13th edition of the Aesthetica Film Festival. I am honoured to bring you this year’s event, which includes screenings of both shorts and features, alongside VR and Immersive and our new Games Lab. We are looking at how film and games play a major role in our cultural lives.

Great film can change the world. It’s the power of narrative and the ways in which we connect with each other, but beyond this, film can take us to new destinations and introduce new ideas.

Film fights for equality. Film makes a difference.

Screenings this year span genres like animation, comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, family friendly, thriller amongst others. We have our VR Lab where there are 20 projects being exhibited and we are also introducing our Games Lab. Inside this space you can play 40 new games by developers, driving narrative forward through interactive media. We are the first UK film festival 4

On the Cover: Fares Micue, Wherever You Take Me, (2021).

to include games in our Official Selection and I am so happy to welcome speakers and developers.

The festival continues in a hybrid format with screenings in person and online for the entire month of November. However, what is thrilling is that we are creating a community of likeminded individuals. Over the next five days, York is the key destination for ideation. There are filmmakers, delegates and audiences attending from across the UK and the world. We have an opportunity to collaborate, engage and learn from each other.

This is one of the elements of the festival that is so rewarding. I love striking up a conversation with someone new and knowing that, through that exchange, I will learn something. It’s the power of that creative dialogue that keeps me going.

It has been a big year for Aesthetica. As an organisation that publishes a magazine, run the Aesthetica Art Prize and Future Now

Symposium, alongside the Creative Writing Award, we celebrated 20 years in March. Myself and the co-founder of Aesthetica were students when we had this idea to launch the company.

It was all so innocent and grassroots. If you find me during the festival, I am happy to tell you more. Looking back and looking forward, we are in an exciting moment of creative evolution.

I have curated this year’s festival into five strands, which are: Now, In This Very Moment, Standing at The Threshold of Change, A Journey of A Thousand Miles Begins with One Step, Be Free From Yourself and It’s Nice To Meet You. The films included are a hallmark of humanity. These shared stories bring us commonality, which is important in a world that can feel divided. We have a selection of guest programmes from partners like We Are Parable, Iris Prize, T A P E Collective amongst others.

Our Industry programme sees organisations

such as Ridley Scott Associates, BBC Film, Film4, Framestore, Aardman and Guardian all sharing knowledge alongside directors such as Sarah Gavron and Mark Jenkin and cinematographers like Diana Olifirova and Oona Menges. We have workshops on AI, VR and camera operation with Canon, as well as a strand dedicated to young people and families with interactive sessions.

There is a photography exhibition with three female artists at City Screen alongside a Film Poster Exhibition at StreetLife. Beyond this, there is the premiere of Flux & Possibility, a sound installation at Bedern Hall and two new films at the National Centre for Early Music in partnership with Audible and Guardian. I am delighted that you are here. I encourage you to take the next five days to immerse yourself in the power of creativity.

Cherie Federico, Festival Director 5

CONTENTS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW RATINGS & WARNINGS THE FESTIVAL EXPLAINED ACCESSIBILITY FESTIVAL TICKETS SUSTAINABILITY TIMETABLE VENUES MEET THE TEAM SPECIAL EVENTS THE STRANDS OFFICIAL SELECTION: ALL GENRES 6

8 9 10 12 13 18 19 39 44 60 68 74

VR & IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES LAB GAMES LAB GUEST PROGRAMMES LISTENING PITCH: FILM PREMIERES NEW WAVE MASTERCLASSES & PANELS WORKSHOPS & KIDS’ WORKSHOPS NETWORKING PITCHING SOCIAL EVENTS EXHIBITIONS AND FRINGE EVENTS FILMMAKER INDEX

142 148 157 186 189 199 224 232 238 241 248 268 7

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BOOKING AND COLLECTING TICKETS Aesthetica Film Festival 2023 is taking place in-person and virtually.

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The programme has been separated into three sections: Official Selection (p. 74), Industry (p.199) and Social and Networking (p. 232).

The in-person festival will run 8-12 November in the centre of York. Please see our venues on p. 39 for more information.

The virtual festival takes place on the Aesthetica Film Festival Platform. Content will accrue between 8-12 November. This includes film screenings, masterclasses and panel discussions.

From 13-30 November, all content – including all film screenings and recordings of industry masterclasses – will be available On Demand through the festival platform.

In-person festival passes grant full access to live events at the festival in York. All events are freeto-attend with a pass, but bookings must be made, and your pass must be valid on the day of the event. Please note: the Opening Night Ceremony is a separate ticketed event.

Screenings do not require pre-booking. These are operated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For live events and masterclasses, you will be required to submit the reference number on your ticket to pre-book.

Venues that require pre-booking include Yorkshire Museum (masterclasses), York Theatre Royal Studio (workshops) and York Explore (masterclasses). See p. 39 for more information on venues.

Virtual passes grant full access to the festival platform and film screenings, as well as recorded content, including masterclasses and panel discussions.

Hybrid passes grant full access to both live and digital events. For in-person special events and masterclasses, pre-booking is required. For more information, visit p. 13.

Screening Passes can be pre-booked at asff.co.uk/tickets.

This programme is subject to change at any time and will be updated digitally.

Keep in touch via asff.co.uk and social media sites. Twitter: @asffest | Instagram: @asffestival .

RATINGS & WARNINGS film Ratings, family friendly & introduced screenings n

Films are U, PG, 12A or 15, but some may be 18. Please see the programme for details.

n

ll screenings suitable for children aged under 12 will be classified as Family Friendly.

A Please see the festival programme for details of Family Friendly screenings.

content warnings n

S ome films contain themes viewers may find upsetting or distressing. These will be clearly indicated on each film listing, using the below key.

A Abortion Ab Physical / emotional abuse ed Eating disorders s Explicit nudity / sex

CW War / conflict fLS Flashing / strobe lights mh Mental health / self-harm Bv Blood / extreme violence

DU Drug use LNE Loud noises D Discrimination SW Strong language / swearing

FILM PROGRAMME LOGOS Our film programme includes logos to demonstrate which films are part of the Official Selection, Guest Programme or New Wave screenings – these introduce new talent from across the UK.

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THE FESTIVAL EXPLAINED In 2023, the Aesthetica Film Festival takes place both in-person in the centre of York and virtually through our responsive online platform. Cinema screenings and a vast range of live events will take place 8-12 November across a number of venues.

Our digital platform, live until 30 November, offers a selection of recorded events from the heart of York, masterclasses and On Demand film programmes, plus virtual only releases. The platform is accessible via phone, tablet, computer and smart TV.

There are three ways to attend the festival: in-person, virtually, or through a hybrid mixture of both. Whether you’re joining us online or in-person, we look forward to seeing you and connecting through the best new cinema.

IN-PERSON (AVAILABLE 8-12 NOVEMBER)

AT THE CINEMA Come and join us in York. Visit our historic venues and experience film how it was intended – on the big screen, as part of a community. These tickets are valid 8-12 November and only include live events in our venues, without any access to digital-only events. We offer a broad range of ticket options, from those visiting the festival for the first time and trying out a single day, to those looking to engage in everything we offer throughout the five days. Single screening tickets are also available.

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HYBRID

(AVAILABLE 8-30 NOVEMBER)

MAKE THE MOST OF AESTHETICA 2023 We’re offering audiences the opportunity to attend the festival in historic York, as well as through the online sphere. This is the ultimate film festival experience, as it combines the freedom to watch films on the big screen and take part in our masterclasses, workshops and networking events in person, whilst also being able to log-in and catch up with screenings and events in your own time.

Through these tickets, you can attend all five days of the festival in York. Unlimited passes also give access to as many in-person events as you’d like to attend, though masterclasses should be pre-booked. All digital content, including the full film programme, will be available online until 30 November and can be accessed anywhere across any device. Tickets are available as one-day, twoday or full-month passes. You will be given access to our online platform upon booking.

VIRTUAL

(AVAILABLE 8-30 NOVEMBER)

LOG-IN FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME We’re excited to be offering a virtual edition of the festival alongside our in-person event. With a digital pass, you’re able to view all our film programmes and catch up on recorded masterclasses and workshops, without compromising on the festival experience. We’ve curated our programme to be released each day, so make sure to keep checking the platform to find the latest new screenings.

The platform works across all devices, from smartphones and TVs to tablets. To gain access to this year’s festival, simply sign up to our online platform, purchase your pass, log-in and gain access to our programme On Demand. Tickets are available for 24-hour login, one-week or one-month access.

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ACCESSIBILITY a safe and all-inclusive environment for every attendee

Carers, Personal Assistants & Interpreters Complimentary passes are available to all Carers, Personal Assistants and Sign-Language Interpreters, but these must be booked in advance. A proof of DLA or a valid CEA card is required. For more information, please email asff@aestheticamagazine.com.

Venue Access Though some venues are located in York’s historic buildings, the majority are fully wheelchair accessible – please check venues on p. 42 for more details. Please note, wheelchair spaces are subject to availability.

Hearing Loops & Subtitled Screenings Hearing Loops and headphones are available at City Screen and at York St John Creative Centre. Fully subtitled reels are available across all genres. These screenings are specially curated for anyone with hearing difficulties. Look out for the symbol in the film schedule. Foreign language films are also with English subtitles and are clearly marked.

Parent & Guardian Screenings As part of our commitment to engage with younger audiences, we present a selection of Family Friendly screenings. Please see p. 124 for details.

FURTHER INFORMATION For all accessibility enquiries and adjustments, please email asff@aestheticamagazine.com.

Alternatively, the Hub staff will be able to answer any questions you may have.

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FESTIVAL TICKETS CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO VIEW. Here at Aesthetica, we are delighted to be hosting the 13th edition of the film festival both in-person and online. We’re offering a range of tickets, with a mixture of live and hybrid formats, so you can choose how and when you experience the best new cinema.

Whether you’re streaming for the whole family for one day, or attending the full five days of the festival in York, we’ve got you – and your family and friends – covered. Inperson tickets are sold individually. Online tickets are valid for an entire household.

Virtual tickets are available to full households and are accessible through any smartphone, TV, tablet or device. Prices start from £28. All Screening Passes and Events Tickets can be booked online at asff.co.uk/tickets.

Terms and Conditions You must book your tickets in advance to attend any masterclasses in-person. Masterclasses in-venue are only included with the in-person tickets and the hybrid passes. Virtual tickets include access to everything On Demand, recorded during the live festival dates. Tickets are not transferable and cannot be shared or re-sold. Pre-booked seating is required at some venues where capacities are smaller. Please see the asff.co.uk website and sessions for further details.

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TICKETS

SINGLE TICKETS

Single tickets are valid for one screening at any venue from 8-12 November.

The ticket holder may attend one film screening in any venue on any day.

Take your email to the festival hub, where you will be given a paper ticket. This ticket is valid for one use only and does not allow access to masterclasses.

Please note that seating is also arranged on a first-come, first-served basis.

ADULT: £7.50 | SENIOR: £6.00 | STUDENT: £6.00 | 5-14 YEARS: £6.00 | 4 & UNDER: FREE

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TICKETS

IN-PERSON PASSES Short on time but love independent film? Here is your opportunity to experience as much as you can in one day at Aesthetica 2023. You will have access to the venues from 9am until 11pm and you can see as much as you like within that timescale. You will also be able to attend any sessions and panels on your selected day, but these must be booked in advance. The ticket is valid for one day within 8-12 November. This ticket does not include any digital access.

You have the freedom to choose two days that suit you to attend the festival.

On these two days you will have unlimited access to all venues, screenings and masterclasses. This is your chance to engage with the festival at your own pace across two days and dive into independent film for 48 hours. The ticket is valid in-venue only from 8-12 November for two days of your choice. This ticket does not include any digital access, only access to in-person events in York.

Unlimited means unlimited! Get ready for an independent film extravaganza!

You will have access to all the films across every venue as well as access to any masterclass, session or panel discussion. This is your chance to fully embrace the festival experience and spend as much time as you would like in front of the big screen. The ticket is valid in-venue only from 8-12 November. This ticket does not include digital access, only access to in-person events in York.

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TICKETS

VIRTUAL PASSES (HOUSEHOLD) Log-in and access as many films as you can watch in one 24-hour time period. Additionally, you will also have access to On Demand masterclass content from when you activate your pass. You can use this as an opportunity to engage with some of the best new talent and visual storytelling through our carefully curated programmes. Valid for 24 hours from first log-in.

Online only. This ticket does not include in-person access to York screenings.

Looking for an authentic festival experience? The One Week virtual pass allows you access to film On Demand, workshops, masterclasses, 360 cinema and an extensive video library. Experience seven days of access to the festival as if you were there in-person. Enjoy a week of film and watch content back whenever you prefer. Valid for seven days from first log-in.

Online only. This ticket does not include in-person access to York screenings.

Unlimited means unlimited. This all-inclusive pass grants the holder complete freedom within the Aesthetica platform from 8-30 November, including films, recorded industry events, workshops and panel discussions.

You can tune in every day for a month and celebrate creative talent in your home. The platform works across all devices. Valid from 8-30 November.

Online only. This ticket does not include in-person access to York screenings.

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TICKETS

HYBRID PASSES Looking for a taste of ASFF in-person but would like to log-in from home for the rest of the month? Or perhaps you have a specific masterclass you’d like to watch back? The Day Tripper pass grants one full day in-venue with access to all films and sessions, as well unlimited virtual access to our platform, including daily film programmes, live industry events and recorded discussions.

This ticket is valid for one day in-person and from 8-30 November online.

Spend two days soaking up everything that the festival has to offer in-person and the rest online. You will receive access to all films, panels and sessions taking place on your selected two days of the festival. Then you will be able to catch up on films and sessions from your home via our responsive platform on your phone, tablet, computer or TV. The in-person part of these tickets is valid for two days of your choice. Virtual access is valid from 8-30 November.

This is the ultimate Aesthetica Film Festival experience, giving you full access in-person and from home. You can attend across all five days of the festival in York with the opportunity to see as many films as possible. Your pass also gives you access to as many recorded masterclasses, panels and sessions as you’d like to attend. You will also have full access to the Virtual Platform, where you can catch up on films and masterclasses. Valid 8-30 November.

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SUSTAINABILITY AT AESTHETICA 2023 WE ONLY HAVE ONE PLANET Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that producing largescale events comes with a carbon footprint, and we are doing everything we can to reduce this, whilst showcasing the best independent cinema from around the world.

REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS We are continuing to run as a hybrid festival, encouraging positive engagement with film from viewers at home, eliminating the requirement for travel and reducing carbon emissions on our part. This extends to all delegates who attend the event.

REUSE AND REPURPOSE A majority of our marketing will take place digitally. Printed and physical assets are all made responsibly, with reuse and repurpose for future events in mind. We recycle as much of our branding as we can each year, to ensure there is less waste.

RESPONSIBLY SOURCED PRINTING The festival will be printing a limited run of festival guides, with a free digital version available to all audiences online. All printed materials are made with responsibly sourced and FSC certified materials with paper from managed forests.

RETURN & RECYCLE We have a lanyard return scheme. We will recycle or reuse all lanyards.

Please return your lanyards to the Festival Hub at City Screen.

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DAILY TIMETABLES DISCOVER OUR EXPANSIVE PROGRAMME This year’s festival programme is bold, dynamic and culturally rich. We believe that outstanding cinema can transform lives. Films hold the power to shift our perception of the world, whether through thought-provoking stories or revelatory documentaries.

In addition to screenings, the festival offers numerous opportunities for networking and socialising. We present specialised talent labs, essential masterclasses, mentoring sessions and a range of workshops to support continued learning and growth.

Organise your visit to this year’s festival with our daily schedule. Across the next few pages, you’ll discover a list of screenings taking place each day. We’ve also set aside an additional section focusing on Special Events, gatherings and social activities.

Please note that many of our Special Events require advance booking. To learn more about each event, please refer to the listings on the following pages.

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WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER TIME 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

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CITY SCREEN SCREEN 1

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 2

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC

FRIARGATE

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM

Comedy 1

Drama 1

Documentary 1

Thriller 1

Film4: From

A-Z of

Shorts to

Filmmaking:

Features

YORK EXPLORE

Turning an Idea into Reality

Family Animation 1

Documentary 3

Friendly 1

Dance 1

(4-10yrs)

Mark Leckey:

DNEG: A Deep

Youth, Rave,

Dive into a

Pop Culture

Documentary 2

Drama 2

VR Lab

Gaming for

New Wave:

Doc Feature 1:

An Insight into

Good:

Light & Dark -

Heroic Bodies

Producing

Exploring the

Emotion on

VR Lab

Virtual Production

Nicolas Brown:

CITY SCREEN BASEMENT

Social Impact

VR Lab

Film

Narrative Drama 3

Documentary 6

Experimental 1

BBC Film:

Viridian:

Shorts -

Designing

What’s the

Award-Winning

Point?

VFX

Heather

Oona Menges:

VR Lab

Feature 1: Black Moon Agyepong:

Mastering

Identity &

Cinematography

Diaspora

Comedy 2

Thriller 2

VR Lab

Drama 4 Animation 2

Opening Night VR Lab (Pre-Booked Tickets Only) Fashion 1

Music Video 1

Artists’

Comedy 6

Film 1 VR Lab

Experimental 2

Drama 5

Comedy 3

Drama 6

SPARK 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

MALMAISON

BEDERN HALL

STREETLIFE

PITCHER & PIANO YORKSHIRE MUSEUM VIRTUAL RELEASE Brazilian Film:

Pitching:

the Importance

Goldfinch

Landscape

of our (10:00-12:00) BBC Film

Sound

Fringe

Installation:

Event:

Flux &

Film Poster

Networking:

Moroccan

Possibilities

Exhibition

The Art of

Narratives

by

(See p252

Conversation -

Martyn Riley

for details)

(10:30-12:30) Games Lab

Film4

(Guided Play

(11:00-13:30)

Session) Goldfinch

Refining Your Pitch

(14:00-16:00) Games Lab (Application

Fictions

Only)

in Reality

Games Lab

Oska Bright: Making Change Games Lab

Games Lab

Happen

Women in Film & TV Drinks Reception

Games Lab

Games Lab

Games Lab

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DAILY EVENTS WEDNESDAY 8 NOVEMBER Masterclasses & Workshops

VENUE

TIME

Film4: From Shorts to Features

Yorkshire Museum

10:30-11:30

A-Z of Filmmaking: Turning an Idea into Reality

York Explore

10:30-11:30

Youth, Rave, Pop Culture: Mark Leckey & The Art of Montage

Yorkshire Museum

12:00-13:00

DNEG: A Deep Dive into Virtual Production

York Explore

12:00-13:00

Nicolas Brown: An Insight into Producing

Yorkshire Museum

13:30-14:30

Gaming for Good? Exploring the Social Impact(s) of Interactive Entertainment

York Explore

13:30-14:30

BBC Film: Shorts – What’s the Point?

Yorkshire Museum

15:00-16:00

Viridian: Imagination to Reality Designing Award-winning VFX

York Explore

15:00-16:00

Mastering Cinematography: Crafting Iconic Shots

York Explore

16:30-17:30

Identity and Diaspora: Heather Agyepong

Yorkshire Museum

16:30-17:30

for more DETAILS, see pages 201-205

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Events & Networking

VENUE

TIME

Photography Exhibition: Inside (Out)

City Screen

9:30-23:00

Pitching: Goldfinch (Application only)

Malmaison

10:00-12:00

Pitching: BBC Film (Application only)

Malmaison

10:30-12:30

Pitching: Film4 (Application only)

Malmaison

11:00-13:30

Sound Installation: Flux & Possibilities by Martyn Riley

Bedern Hall

10:30-20:00

Fringe Event: Film Poster Exhibition

StreetLife

11:00-19:00

VR Lab

City Screen Basement

11:00-21:00

Games Lab

Spark

12:00-22:00

Games Lab: Guided Play Sessions

Spark

12:00-13:00

Networking: The Art of Conversation - Refining Your Pitch

Pitcher & Piano

12:00-13:30

New Wave: Light and Dark – Emotion on Film

NCEM

13:30-15:00

Pitching: Goldfinch (Application Only)

Malmaison

14:00-16:00

Networking: Women in Film, TV and Games Drinks

Yorkshire Museum

17:15-18:15

Opening Night Screening (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

City Screen

18:00-21:00

Opening Night Networking Drinks

City Screen

21:00-Late

for more DETAILS, see pages 224-252

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THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 -

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CITY SCREEN SCREEN 1

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 2

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC

Animation 3

Drama 13

Friendly 3

FRIARGATE

YORK THEATRE ROYAL STUDIO

Fashion 2

Artists’

Next Level

Secrets of

Film 2

Scriptwriting

Immersive Content

Family (10-16yrs)

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM

YORK EXPLORE

BBC Writersroom:

Vision to Reality:

Production

Studio AKA: New Wave: Drama 7

Voices in

BFI Doc Society: Comedy 4

Made of Truth

Experimental 3

Motion

is Driving

Award-Winning

Production

Animations

Visualisation

Framestore:

We Are

The World of

Parable:

Visual Effects Director’s Notes: Comedy 5

Documentary 4

Drama 8

Thriller 3

How Gaming

Developing

10 Years of Black British Film

Journey of Self-Discovery Ridley Scott

Nainita Desai:

Associates:

Composing

Making Content

for Screen

Breaking into

Developing

We Are Parable: Documentary 5

Drama 11

Experimental 5

10 Years of

Drama 10

Black British Film

Directing:

Your

Jennifer

Directorial Style

Sheridan

Environmental Animation 5

Fashion 3

Music Video 2

Advertising 1

Cross Cultural

BBC Natural

& Digital Identities

History Unit

Drama 9

Comedy 1

Doc Feature 2:

Narrative

The Taste

Feature 2:

of Mango

The Oasis of

Drama 1

Frozen Waters

Artists’ Thriller 4

Drama 12

Documentary 1

Film 3

Larry Achiampong:

Documentaries:

Animation 4

CITY SCREEN BASEMENT 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

SPARK

MALMAISON PITCHER & PIANO BEDERN HALL

STREETLIFE

YORK THEATRE ROYAL UPPER FOYER

GUILDHALL

1331

ROSE WITHIN THE WALLS

Workshop: Pitch Film

VR Lab

Pitching:

Fund –

Scottish Docs

Lean How

Society

to Pitch

(10:30-12:30) Your Project

Sound

Fringe

Installation:

Event:

(Application Only)

VR Lab

Flux &

Film Poster

Networking:

Games Lab

Possibilities

Exhibition

How to

(Guided Play

by

(See p252

Master

Session)

Martyn Riley

for details)

Visual Effects on a Budget

Games Lab

Pitching: BBC (13:30-16:00

VR Lab

Workshop: Games Lab

Concept to

The Pitch

Testbed of

Screen:

Film Fund

AI

A Virtual

(13:30-16:00

Generators

Production Demonstration

VR Lab

(Application

and

Only)

Conversation

Games Lab

VR Lab

Games Lab

Film Hub

VR &

North:

Gaming

Filmmaker

Happy

Roundtable

Hour

Games Lab VR Lab

Games Lab VR Lab

Loop Talent Presents Meet the Games Lab

Filmmaker Social

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DAILY EVENTS THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER MasterclassES & Workshops

VENUE

TIME

Workshop: The Pitch Film Fund – Learn How to Pitch Your Project

Pitcher & Piano

10:00-12:00

BBC WritersRoom: Next Level Scriptwriting

Yorkshire Museum

10:00-11:00

From Vision to Reality: Unveiling the Secrets of Immersive Content Production

York Explore

10:00-11:00

Studio AKA: Developing Award-winning Animations

Yorkshire Museum

11:30-12:30

How Gaming is Driving Production Visualisation

York Explore

11:30-12:30

Framestore: The World of Visual Effects

Yorkshire Museum

13:00-14:00

We Are Parable: 10 Years of Black British Film

York Explore

13:00-14:00

Workshop: Testbed of AI Generators

Pitcher & Piano

14:00-16:00

Workshop: Viridian FX & XR Stories – A Virtual Production Demonstration and Collaborative Conversation

Guildhall

14:00-16:00

Ridley Scott Associates – Making Content: Advertising, Music Video, and Installation

Yorkshire Museum

14:30-15:30

Nainita Desai: Composing Music for Screen

York Explore

14:30-15:30

Follow Your Own Path: Breaking into Directing with Jennifer Sheridan

Yorkshire Museum

16:00-17:00

Developing Your Directoral Style: Hear from Our Filmmakers

York Explore

16:00-17:00

Environmental Documentaries: BBC Natural History Unit in Conversation

Yorkshire Museum

17:30-18:30

Larry Achiampong: Cross Cultural and Digital Identities

York Explore

17:30-18:30

for more DETAILS, see pages 206-211

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Events & Networking

VENUE

TIME

Photography Exhibition: Inside (Out)

City Screen

9:30-23:00

Pitching: Scottish Docs Society (Application only)

Malmaison

10:30-12:30

Sound Installation: Flux & Possibilities by Martyn Riley

Bedern Hall

10:30-20:00

Fringe Event: Film Poster Exhibition

StreetLife

11:00-19:00

VR Lab

City Screen Basement

11:00-21:00

New Wave: Voices in Motion

City Screen 2

11:30-13:00

Games Lab

Spark

12:00-22:00

Games Lab: Guided Play Sessions

Spark

12:00-13:00

Networking: How to Master Visual Effects on a Budget

York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer

12:00-13:30

Pitching: BBC (Application Only)

Malmaison

13:30-16:00

Pitching: The Pitch Film Fund (Application Only)

Malmaison

13:30-16:00

Networking: VR & Gaming Happy Hour

1331

17:00-18:00

Film Hub North: Filmmaker Roundtable (Pre-Booking Required)

Pitcher & Piano

17:00-18:00

Loop Talent Presents: Meet the Filmmakers Social

Rose Within the Walls

20:00-Late

for more DETAILS, see pages 224-252

27

FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER CITY SCREEN SCREEN 1 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 -

28

Documentary 2

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 2

Drama 2

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 3

Comedy 2

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC

Experimental 1

FRIARGATE

YORK THEATRE ROYAL STUDIO

Doc Feature 3:

Fashion 1

Documentary 6

Drama 3

YORK EXPLORE

Ridley Scott

Creativity & AI:

Associates:

Navigating

The Happy

The Future of

Risks and

Man Tree

Storytelling

Opportunities

Animation 3

Comedy 3

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM

Mick Audsley:

Finding the

The Editor as

Right Location:

Storyteller &

Where to

Collaborator

Shoot Your Film

Guardian

Thriller 2 Terri White:

Aardman:

Adapting Stories

Iconic

Presents:

From Print

Animation

The Power of

to Screen

True Stories

LCF: Animation 2

The Vanguard

Advertising 1

Experimental 4

Of Fashion

Visual Effects:

Film & Culture

Matthew

Open Your Eyes

Realising the

Herbert:

to Cinema

Impossible

All Sound

Cameras:

with ILM

Can Be Music

A Practical Drama 4

Comedy 4

Documentary 4

Final Girls

Workshop with

Berlin Presents:

Canon

Young & Deadly

Family Documentary 3

Friendly 2

Dance 2

Kathryn

An Icon of

Ferguson:

Fashion

Stories with

Photography

Purpose

Mark Jenkin: Animation 1

(7-10yrs)

Thriller 1

Michel Haddi:

Artists’

Artists’

The Rise of an

Film 1

Indie Director

Music Video 1

Comedy 6

Film 2

Narrative Drama 6

Experimental 2

Feature 3: Once Upon

Drama 7

a Time in the Canaries

Drama 5

YSJU SCREEN CREATIVE CENTRE CITY BASEMENT AUDITORIUM 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 Ubisoft: Interactive 12:30 Narrative Design 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 The Rules of Scriptwriting: 16:30 How to Break Them 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

SPARK

VR Lab

MALMAISON PITCHER & PIANO BEDERN HALL

STREETLIFE

Pitching:

Sound

Fringe

BFI Doc

Installation:

Event:

YORK THEATRE ROYAL UPPER FOYER

MINSTER REFECTORY

1331

Society (11:00-13:30)

Flux &

Film Poster

Possibilities

Exhibition

Canon -

Neal Street

by

(See p252

Getting to

Productions

Martyn Riley

for details)

Games Lab (Guided Play VR Lab

Session)

(13:00-15:00)

Networking:

Know Cinema Cameras

Games Lab

(Application Only)

Workshop: Writing in

VR Lab

360 Games Lab

VR Lab Games Lab

VR Lab

Games Lab

Games Lab VR Lab Women in Film Games Lab VR Lab

Dinner (Invitation

Friday Night

Only)

Party

Games Lab

29

DAILY EVENTS FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER Masterclasses & Workshops

VENUE

TIME

The Future of Storytelling: Ridley Scott Associates

Yorkshire Museum

10:00-11:00

Balancing Creativity and AI: Navigating Risks and Opportunities in Media Production

York Explore

10:00-11:00

Mick Audsley: The Editor as Storyteller and Collaborator

Yorkshire Museum

11:30-12:30

Leon Seth - Finding the Right Location: Where to Shoot Your Film

York Explore

11:30-12:30

Ubisoft: Interactive Narrative Design

YSJU Creative Centre Auditorium

12:00-13:00

From Print to Screen: Adapting Stories with Terri White

York Theatre Royal Studio

13:00-14:00

Iconic Animation: Behind the Scenes with Aardman

Yorkshire Museum

13:00-14:00

Guardian Presents: The Power of True Stories

York Explore

13:00-14:00

Workshop: Writing in 360

Pitcher & Piano

13:30-15:30

Visual Effects: Realising the Impossible with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Yorkshire Museum

14:30-15:30

Matthew Herbert: All Sound Can Be Music

York Explore

14:30-15:30

Workshop: Canon – Open Your Eyes to Cinema Cameras

York Theatre Royal Studio

14:30-16:30

Michel Haddi: An Icon of Fashion Photography

Yorkshire Museum

16:00-17:00

Kathryn Ferguson: Stories with Purpose

York Explore

16:00-17:00

The Rules of Scriptwriting: How to Break Them

YSJU Creative Centre Auditorium

16:00-17:00

Mark Jenkin: The Rise of an Indie Director

Yorkshire Museum

17:30-18:30

for more DETAILS, see pages 212-218

30

Events & Networking

VENUE

TIME

Photography Exhibition: Inside (Out)

City Screen

9:30-23:00

Pitching: BFI Doc Society (Application only)

Malmaison

11:00-13:30

Sound Installation: Flux & Possibilities by Martyn Riley

Bedern Hall

10:30-20:00

Fringe Event: Film Poster Exhibition

StreetLife

11:00-19:00

VR Lab

City Screen Basement

11:00-21:00

Games Lab

Spark

12:00-22:00

Games Lab: Guided Play Sessions

Spark

12:00-13:00

Networking: Canon – Getting to Know Cinema Cameras

York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer

12:00-13:30

Pitching: Neal Street Productions (Application Only)

Malmaison

13:00-15:00

New Wave: The Vanguard – Fashion Film and Culture

City Screen 2

14:00-15:00

Women in Film Dinner (Invitation Only)

Minster Refectory

19:00-21:00

Friday Night Party

1331

20:00-Late

for more DETAILS, see pages 224-252

31

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 -

32

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 1

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 2

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC

Comedy 5

Drama 11

Documentary 5

Animation 4

Documentary 1

Fashion 2

FRIARGATE

YSJU YSJU THEATRE CREATIVE CENTRE CREATIVE CENTRE YORK AUDITORIUM LISTENING ROOM ROYAL STUDIO

Family Artists’

Friendly 1

Film 3

(4-10yrs)

Experimental 4 Documentary 3

Dance 1

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM

YORK EXPLORE

Adam:

Beyond the

Trotman

Frame: 360

It’s All in

Documentary

the Edit

Filmmaking

Family

Family

Ridley Scott

What is the

Friendly 3

Friendly 2

Associates:

Role of the

(10-16yrs)

(7-10yrs)

Research

Intimacy

Your Project

Coordinator

Relationship

Diana

Sonja Klaus:

Between

Olifirova

Winning

Women in

on The

Production

Cinema:

Female Gaze

Designs

Primetime

Working with

Subject and

Comedy 1

Drama 8

Thriller 3

Drama 10

Filmmaker

Behind the Camera

Fashion 3 Drama 9

Animation 2

Dance 2

Music Video 2

Experimental 1

Presents:

a Budget:

Sarah Gavron

Financing Your Film

Artists’ Film 1

Drama 13

Drama 12

Rianne Films:

Narrative

Experimental

The

Feature 4

5

Motherload

Easy for

Thriller 1

Documentary 2

You to Say Animation 1

Doc Feature 4: Listening Pitch: Animation 5

Walter Drama 1

Rodney:

Audible &

What They

Aesthetica

Didn’t Want

Film Premiere

You to Know

Iris Prize: Drama 2

City Gays & Country Gays

Advertising 1

Launch Party Doors at 19:00 Drama 3

Music Video 1 Comedy 2

Drama 4

Experimental 3

Thriller 4

YSJU CREATIVE CENTRE CC/011 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

YSJU CREATIVE CENTRE CC/106

Filmmaking

Gaming

Workshop for

Workshop for

CITY SCREEN BASEMENT

SPARK

MALMAISON

Kids:

Kids:

Do you want

Do you want

Pitching:

to be a

to be a Games

Guardian

Film Director?

Developer?

(7-10yrs)

(11-14yrs)

(10:00-12:00)

(10:00-12:00)

VR Lab

BEDERN HALL

STREETLIFE

YORK THEATRE ROYAL UPPER FOYER

Documentaries

Sound

(10:30-13:00)

Installation:

Fringe

(Application

Flux &

Film Poster

Only)

Possibilities

Exhibition

Festival

(Guided Play

by

(See p252

Formula -

Session)

Martyn Riley

for details)

Prepping Your

Event: Games Lab VR Lab

Networking:

Festival Journey Games Lab

Workshop: Step Back in

Filmmaking

Gaming

Workshop for

Workshop for

Kids:

Kids:

How to

How to Make

Make a Film

a Game

(11-14yrs)

(7-10yrs)

(14:00-16:00)

(14:00-16:00)

Time Experience VR Lab

the Magic of Print Games Lab

(10:00-17:00)

VR Lab Games Lab

VR Lab

Games Lab

Games Lab VR Lab

Games Lab VR Lab

Games Lab

33

DAILY EVENTS SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER Masterclasses & Workshops

VENUE

TIME

Workshop: Step Back in Time – Experience the Magic of Print

Streetlife

10:00-17:00

Kids Workshop: Do you want to be a Director?

(7-10yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/011

10:00-12:00

Kids Workshop: Do you want to be a Games Developer? (11-14yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/106

10:00-12:00

Adam Trotman: It’s All in the Edit

Yorkshire Museum

10:30-11:30

Beyond the Frame: Embark on a Journey into 360 Documentary Filmmaking

York Explore

10:30-11:30

Ridley Scott Associates: Unscripted – How to Research Your Project

Yorkshire Museum

12:00-13:00

What is the Role of the Intimacy Coordinator?

York Explore

12:00-13:00

Diana Olifirova on The Female Gaze: Women Depicting Women

Yorkshire Museum

13:30-14:30

Sonja Klaus: Crafting Award-winning Production Designs

York Explore

13:30-14:30

Women in Cinema: Building Careers Behind the Camera

York Theatre Royal Studio

14:00-15:00

Kids Workshop: How to Make a Film (11-14yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/011

14:00-16:00

Kids Workshop: How to Make a Game (7-10yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/106

14:00-16:00

Primetime Presents: Sarah Gavron in Conversation

Yorkshire Museum

15:00-16:00

Working with a Budget: Financing Your Film

York Explore

15:00-16:00

for more DETAILS, see pages 219-223

34

Events & Networking

VENUE

TIME

Photography Exhibition: Inside (Out)

City Screen

9:30-23:00

Pitching: Guardian Documentaries (Application only)

Malmaison

10:30-13:00

Sound Installation: Flux & Possibilities by Martyn Riley

Bedern Hall

10:30-20:00

Fringe Event: Film Poster Exhibition

StreetLife

11:00-19:00

VR Lab

City Screen Basement

11:00-21:00

Games Lab

Spark

12:00-22:00

Games Lab: Guided Play Sessions

Spark

12:00-13:00

Networking: Festival Formula – Prepping Your Festival Journey

York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer

12:00-13:30

Listening Pitch: Film Premiere & Live DJ Session

National Centre for Early Music

19:00-23:00 (Doors at 19:00)

for more DETAILS, see pages 224-252

35

SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER TIME

36

10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 1

CITY SCREEN SCREEN 2

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC

FRIARGATE

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM

Experimental 3

Comedy 3

Drama 6

YSJU CREATIVE CENTRE AUDITORIUM

YSJU CREATIVE CENTRE LISTENING ROOM

Animation 4

Drama 13

Open Night Drama 5

Screening Repeat

Animation 3

Comedy 6

Dance 2

Climate Culture:

Family

Family

Artists’

Human Stories

Friendly 2

Friendly 3

Film 2

Shifting Climates

(7-10yrs)

(10-16yrs)

Family Narrative Thriller 2

Experimental 2

Drama 7

Feature 5

Documentary 5

Friendly 1

Artists’

(4-10yrs)

Film 3

And Then Come The Nightjars TAPE: Sun, Smoke

Music Video 2

Sand & Concrete We Are Parable: Comedy 4

Drama 8

Thriller 4

Windrush 75 Years Awards

Animation 5

Fashion 3

Fashion 2

Dance 1

Documentary 4

Experimental 5

Drama 10

Thriller 3

Ceremony Drama 6

Drama 6

(16:30-19:00) Doc Feature 5: After the

Drama 9

Bridge

Drama 6

Drama 6

Drama 11

Comedy 5

Drama 12

Drama 6 Fashion 1

Experimental 4 Documentary 6

Drama 6

YSJU CREATIVE CENTRE CC/011 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

YSJU CREATIVE CENTRE CC/106

CITY SCREEN BASEMENT

SPARK

BEDERN HALL

STREETLIFE

Filmmaking

Gaming

Workshop for

Workshop for

Workshop:

Kids:

Kids:

Step Back

Do you want

Do you want

in Time –

to be a

to be a Games

Experience

Film Director?

Developer?

(7-10yrs)

(11-14yrs)

(10:00-12:00)

(10:00-12:00)

VR Lab

Sound Installation:

GUILDHALL

1331

the Magic of Print (10:00-17:00)

Games Lab VR Lab

Flux &

Networking:

Possibilities

The Northern

(Guided Play

by

Fringe

School of Art -

Session)

Martyn Riley

Event:

Collaboration &

Film Poster

Stage & Screen

Inspiration in Games Lab

Exhibition (See p252

Filmmaking

Gaming

Workshop for

Workshop for

Kids:

Kids:

How to

How to Make

Make a Film

a Game

(11-14yrs)

(7-10yrs)

(14:00-16:00)

(14:00-16:00)

for details) VR Lab Games Lab Toy Stories Workshop VR Lab

(7-14yrs) Games Lab

VR Lab

Games Lab

Games Lab

Awards After Party (19:00-Late)

37

DAILY EVENTS SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER Masterclasses & Workshops

VENUE

TIME

Workshop: Step Back in Time – Experience the Magic of Print

Streetlife

10:00-17:00

Kids Workshop: Do you want to be a Director?

(7-10yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/011

10:00-12:00

Kids Workshop: Do you want to be a Games Developer? (11-14yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/106

10:00-12:00

Workshop: Toy Stories – Discover Motion Capture Animation (7-14yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

Guildhall

15:00-17:00

Kids Workshop: How to Make a Film (11-14yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/011

14:00-16:00

Kids Workshop: How to Make a Game (7-10yrs) (Pre-Booked Tickets Only)

York St John University: Creative Centre CC/106

14:00-16:00

Events & Networking

VENUE

TIME

Photography Exhibition: Inside (Out)

City Screen

9:30-23:00

Sound Installation: Flux & Possibilities by Martyn Riley

Bedern Hall

10:30-18:00

Fringe Event: Film Poster Exhibition

StreetLife

11:00-18:00

VR Lab

City Screen Basement

11:00-18:00

Games Lab

Spark

12:00-20:00

Games Lab: Guided Play Sessions

Spark

12:00-13:00

Networking: Northern School of Art Presents – Collaboration and Inspiration in Stage and Screen

1331

12:00-13:30

Awards Ceremony and Drinks

Yorkshire Museum

16:30-19:00

Awards After Party

1331

19:00-Late

for more DETAILS, see pages 224-252 38

VENUES The Festival Hub is located in the foyer of the Picturehouse City Screen, where our team will be ready to greet you when you collect your tickets and passes. Enjoy the riverside cafe for a light bite in between screenings. Our expansive range of venues is a cinematic playground. From purpose-built theatres to historic spaces, our screenings and events take place in a mix of historic and contemporary buildings. Venue accessibility and capacity information are listed next to each location across the following pages, as well as on the map. Hours: 09:30-18:00.

City Screen (fully accessible)

Yorkshire Museum (fully accessible)

Seating Capacity: Screen 1 206 | Screen 2 120

Seating Capacity: 300

Overlooking the spectacular River Ouse, City Screen is at the heart of independent film in York. It is also the venue for ASFF’s Opening Night Ceremony. This is the place to network and experience film as it should be.

The Yorkshire Museum is the venue for screenings, masterclasses and the Closing Night Ceremony. The museum was founded by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in 1830, inside the York Museum Gardens.

York Theatre Royal (fully accessible) Seating Capacity: 70

YSJU cREATIVE cENTRE: auditorium / Listening room (Fully accessible) Seating Capacity: 129 / 50

York Theatre Royal has a history dating back to the early 18th century. The theatre will host masterclasses and screenings in the Studio, as well as a wide range of networking events to help you connect with each other.

The York St John Creative Centre is a purpose-built, three-storey creative space where bold architecture meets innovative facilities. The centrepiece is a fantastic theatre complete with a state-of-the-art sound system.

39

Friargate Theatre (non-accessible)

National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) (fully accessible)

Seating Capacity: 100

Seating Capacity: 135

Hidden near the iconic River Ouse and Clifford’s Tower, Friargate Theatre is home to Riding Lights Theatre Company. It has a 100-seat studio theatre and a caféstyle performance space. A fantastic venue on the river.

An award-winning medieval church, this is the home of the internationally acclaimed York Early Music Festival.

National Centre for Early Music is close to the city centre and is only a 12-minute walk from the festival Hub.

Explore York (fully accessible)

Spark york (Fully accessible)

Seating Capacity: 60

Seating Capacity: 20

Explore York is the first venue of its kind in the country.

ASFF hosts a number of events at the library, including a selection of panel discussions. Explore York is just a few minutes’ walk from Yorkshire Museum and the Hub.

Spark is located in the heart of York. It is a popular local landmark and a catalyst for change, both in its trendy appearance and its friendly atmosphere. This year, the venue is home to our inaugural Games Lab.

STREET LIFE HUB (fully accessible) Capacity: 50

Street Life explores new ways to revitalise and develop York’s Coney Street. The venue draws inspiration from the city’s rich history, heritage and vibrant creative sector, which is shaping the future of the high street.

40

Guildhall (fully accessible) Capacity: 20

Located on the Ouse, York Guildhall is one of York’s most important historic buildings, dating from the 15th century. Now, the renovated space – complete with riverside dining – is home to our Toy Stories workshop.

bedern hall (Fully accessible)

malmaison (fully accessible)

Capacity: 80

Capacity: 10

Bedern Hall is situated on Bartle Garth in central York.

The Grade II listed building can be approached from St Andrewgate or from Goodramgate. The site hosts three of York’s ancient Guilds, who continue to shape the city.

Malmaison is only six minutes from the Festival Hub at City Screen. The 1-on-1 pitching sessions with industry representatives, including BBC Film, Film4, and Guardian Documentaries, will be held in this iconic venue.

Pitcher & Piano (Fully accessible)

1331 (Fully ACCESSIBLE)

Seating Capacity: 200

Located on Coney Street, Pitcher & Piano is a great bar to relax with old friends and new – and is just a stone’s throw away from the Festival Hub at City Screen. It is fully accessible and has fantastic views across the River Ouse.

Capacity: 100

Situated on York’s Grape Lane, this gastro-bar is a true hive of activity. It’s the home of our networking events and also the renowned Friday Night Party: the perfect place to touch base with and meet fellow attendees.

Rose within the walls (upstairs bar ACCESSIBLE)

City Screen Basement (fully accessible)

Capacity: 120

Seating Capacity: 20

Step in from the streets of the city to relax in Rose Within The Walls, a recently renovated bar where you can experience Masons of Yorkshire gin in style. This is the venue for Loop Talent’s Meet the Filmmakers social.

Located in the basement of City Screen, this popular venue is the home of our Virtual Reality and Immersive Experiences Lab. Realised in partnership with London College of Communication, pre-booking is advised.

41

Cl

ift o

n

VENUES Bo ot

1

ha m

CITY SCREEN & FESTIVAL HUB 13-17 Coney Street, YO1 9QL

at e

EXPLORE YORK

Ma ry g

2

Library Square, Museum Street, YO1 7DS

3

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM Museum Gardens, YO1 7FR

4

YORK THEATRE ROYAL

3

St Leonard’s Place, YO1 7HD

5

FRIARGATE THEATRE Lower Friargate, YO1 9SL

6

YORK ST. JOHN UNIVERSITY Lord Mayor’s Walk, YO31 7EX

Leeman Road

Walmgate, YO1 9TL

8

Br i dg

e]

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC

Le nd al

7

SPARK YORK 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB

12

St Martins Courtyard, Coney St, YO1 9QL

10

BEDERN HALL

ow rR e n Tan

St Andrewgate, YO1 7AL

11

STREET LIFE HUB

en re tf G To

MALMAISON

Que e n S

12

2 Rougier St, York YO90 1UU

1331 BAR & RESTAURANT

tre

13

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3 Grape Lane, YO1 7HU

14

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tre

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Ebor Hall, Coney Street, YO1 9QL

15

ROSE WITHIN THE WALLS

42

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MEET THE AESTHETICA TEAM

44

Cherie Federico

Dale Donley

Director

Director

HELEN OSBOND

ELEANOR SUTHERLAND

Operations Manager

Creative Producer

MEGAN HOBSON

KATHERINE SMIRA

Media Sales & Partnerships Manager

Education Coordinator

Alice butterfield

Chloe Elliott

Technical Coordinator

Content Creator

Fruzsina Vida

Diana Bestwish Tetteh

Editorial Assistant

Junior Content Creator

Megan Price

MATT GLASBY

Festival Assistant

Designer

45

MEET OUR PROGRAMMERS Find out more about the industry professionals behind this year’s Official Selection. Our inspiring team has many years of experience in commissioning, curation, direction, events, film programming, production and publishing, and

46

Drama

abi mitchell

Adam Castle is director of Edinburgh Artists’ Moving Image Festival and Pollyanna queer arts and cabaret company. Adam won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award in 2016 and has previously worked for BFI Film Audience Network and BFI Flare LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

Abi is a cultural programmer and producer who works broadly across contemporary culture at large. Abi has previously worked on developing film programmes for Liverpool Biennial 2021, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Yorkshire Sculpture International.

Games

Adam Castle

Drama

Dance

has collaborated with the likes of BFI London Film Festival, Nowness and TIFF.

Aduke King

Bettina Bódi

Aduke King has worked as a short film programmer for several leading film festivals. She enjoys finding space in festivals for unseen work, using programming as a way to expand audiences, broaden perspectives and give filmmakers and viewers thrilling, new experiences.

Dr Bettina Bódi is lecturer in media at Leeds Beckett University. Her research considers agency in and around video games, as afforded by game design, and discussed by developers and promotional materials. Her recent publication with Routledge surveyed such topics.

Advertising / Fashion

Charles Cecil is a video game designer and co-founder of Revolution Software. He has been a key figure in the field of interactive entertainment for over 25 years.

His dedication – including meticulous research – and determined services to the industry earned him an MBE.

Cherie Federico is the Director of Aesthetica, the internationally acclaimed British media organisation that began with Aesthetica Magazine in 2003. It is now a multi-platform reaching over 550,000, including the BAFTA-Qualifying ASFF, as well as Aesthetica Art Prize.

Des Gayle

Dale is the Production Director and co-founder of Aesthetica Magazine and the Aesthetica Short Film Festival. He spent his early career teaching and then moved into graphic design. He is passionate about film and is particularly interested in animation.

Des is a BAFTA-winning video game producer with over 23 years’ experience bringing digital worlds to life.

He has worked on some of the industry’s most iconic projects, such as the launch of Xbox, and has garnered a rare blend of publishing and development expertise.

Experimental

Dale Donley

Artists’ Film

Games

Games

Cherie Federico

Animation / Family Friendly

Charles Cecil

kIT monkman

Lauren Clarke

Kit is an award-winning artist and filmmaker whose work is driven by an interest in interaction, participation, visual perspective and non-linear narrative expressed through a range of formats, which include film, interactive installations and theatre design, amongst other media.

Lauren Clarke is a film programmer, events producer and researcher. She has worked with both UK and international film festivals, as well as established organisations including TIFF, BFI London Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival and the Document Human Rights Festival.

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Comedy / Drama

Matthew Spokes is an Associate Professor of Sociology at York St. John University and co-director of the investigate.games research group. Jack Denham is School Research & Knowledge Transfer Lead and i.g’s co-leader, studying the impact of virtual entertainment.

MarBelle is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of independent film curation and interview platform Directors Notes. Since its formation in 2006, Directors Notes has expanded to become one of the leading online curatorial platforms for new independent cinema.

Natalie Gee

Mikey is an award-winning filmmaker who, in 2007, was the recipient of the Scottish BAFTA award for Best First Time Writer. Mikey has a PhD in Film Practice and currently works as the programme leader for the BA Film Production programme at the University of Lincoln.

Natalie Gee is a filmmaker and festival programmer who has worked for Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts and Brooklyn Film Festival. She has also curated feminist film nights for Brooklyn Museum and organised events focusing on mental health for UnLonely Film Festival.

Drama

Mikey Murray

Documentary Shorts / Features

Drama

Games

Marbelle

Thriller

Matthew Spokes & Jack Denham

Rachel pronger

Rob Speranza

Rachel Pronger is an independent writer, curator and cofounder of feminist collective Invisible Women. She has worked for numerous cinemas and festivals, including BFI Flare, Alchemy Film & Arts, as well as BFI London Film Festival. She also programmed at Tyneside Cinema.

Rob is a producer, director and line producer from New York, who currently resides in the north of England. His feature film credits include Arthur and Merlin, Entity, Inbred as well as Small Creatures (nominated for Best Film at EIFF 2013). He has directed over 15 short films.

VR & Immersive/Games

In 2017, Rico launched CineQ – a queer film festival that prioritises queer and trans Black, Indigenous and people of colour. Rico was previously the Race Equality Lead for the BFI. This crucial role involved bringing critical perspectives into common discussions on race.

Samantha has worked in the immersive technologies industry for several years, contributing to Expanded Reality festivals across the UK and globally. Examples include Sheffield Doc/Fest, BFI London Film Festival Expanded and the Edinburgh Fringe Digital Entertainment Festival.

Tosin Alapafuja

Tom is a game writer and designer with over 10 years’ experience in the games industry as well as having written a range of published short fiction and taught writing and narrative design at Edinburgh Napier University, Playwrights Studio Scotland and Xpo North.

Tosin is a film curator and movement artist with a deep love of storytelling. She draws from her rich Nigerian (Yoruba) heritage and finds grounding in celebrating Black storytellers, honouring those who came before her in order to uplift and inspire generations to come.

Games

Tom Knights

Narrative Features

Drama/Narrative Feature

Music Video

Samantha Kingston

Games

rico johnson-sinclair

Sarah Wong

Shahneila Saeed

Sarah is a queer Chinese-Dutch art director and filmmaker working across advertising, galleries and the music industry. She explores belonging, identity, gender and family through a bi-cultural lens, and questions stereotypes ingrained in the world around us.

Shahneila Saeed is the Programme Director for Digital Schoolhouse, London at Ukie and author of numerous books exploring education and computing. She has extensive experience working in the computer games industry, which has contributed to her unique skill set.

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MEET THE ADVISORY BOARD Aesthetica’s Advisory Board brings together a range of backgrounds and expertise, from academia and commissioning, to production and direction. Our team of talented professionals represents a number of key organisations, from Industrial Light & Magic and BBC, as well as several renowned independent practitioners.

Richard Knight

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Dionne Farrell

Career Support Manager

Development Executive B-Side Productions

In 2003, Richard Knight got his big break as a location manager working on Shane Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes. In his role at Screen Yorkshire, Richard delivers training sessions and industry masterclasses, regularly teaching individuals about how to secure employment.

Dionne Farrell is a former Development Executive at BBC Film, the feature filmmaking arm of the BBC. She has, throughout her career, worked across a number of films, including Rapman’s Blue Story, Francis Lee’s Ammonite and Akinola Davies’ debut short, Lizard.

Jess Loveland

Julian Foddy

Head of New Writing BBC

VFX Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic

Jess Loveland is Head of New Writing, working across BBC WritersRoom and Drama Commissioning to nurture new and emerging writers. Jess oversees all new writing talent development initiatives and is closely involved with the WritersRoom and Drama Commissioning teams.

Julian Foddy is a VFX supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic. He has worked on well-known film projects including Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He was also Global Supervisor for Spiderman: Far From Home and Artemis Fowl.

MarBelle

Max Park

Co-Founder Directors Notes

Development Editor, Film 4

MarBelle is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of independent film curation and interview platform Directors Notes. Since its formation in 2006, Directors Notes has expanded to become one of the internet’s leading curatorial platforms for independent cinema.

Max is a Development Editor at Film4, Channel 4’s feature division. The company’s slate includes Ex Machina, Living, The Banshees of Inisherin and All of Us Strangers. Max works with both new and established filmmakers – helping to turn their vision into a reality.

Nyree Jillings

Darryl Smalley

Head of Campaigns, BFI

Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities CYC

Nyree has over 20 years of marketing, brand and audience engagement experience, which includes 10 years at the BFI in a variety of roles including marketing lead on BFI London Film Festival and BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. Nyree is now Head of Campaigns.

Darryl Smalley is a key part of the City of York Council, serving as Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities. Over the past several years, Darryl has been helping communities to flourish by ensuring that everyone is represented throughout the City of York.

SADIE CLAYTON

Steve Jelley

Sadie Clayton is an award-winning designer who explores the creative boundaries between art, technology and fashion. Fascinated by innovation, Sadie has presented work at the Royal Academy of the Arts, Tate and V&A, and created content with Adobe films, amongst others.

Steve Jelley is an award-winning producer and creative entrepreneur with over two decades’ experience in content production, distribution and technology innovation.

He is Co-founder and joint Managing Director of immersive content studio Hammerhead VR, part of Dimension.

Artist and Designer

Director, Dimension VR

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MEET OUR JURY Our Jury brings together individuals with a range of backgrounds and expertise, from academia and commissioning, to production, programming and direction. Our dedicated team represents a number of organisations such

VR & 360

Documentary

as Aardman, BBC, BFI, Dimension VR, Guardian, Sky VR Studios and Ubisoft.

Ana-Despina Tudor

Anthony Andrews

Ana is the Course Leader of the VR Master’s Programme at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, where she also teaches VR content creation and immersive storytelling. She has a PhD in Human Computer Interaction for Virtual Reality Content Design.

Anthony Andrews is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of We Are Parable, an award-winning film exhibition company. Their work involves providing UK audiences with opportunities to experience Black cinema through culturally relevant, fascinating and memorable stories.

Bobby Thandi

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Co-Founder, We Are Parable

Comedy

Games

Course Leader, LCC

Caroline norris

Founder & CEO of XR games

Executive Producer

Founder & CEO Bobby Thandi has helped grow XR games to 100+ staff whilst succesfully securing contracts from key clients such as Sony Pictures and AAA games studios. Bobby has also developed relationships with global partners such as Apple, Meta and Microsoft.

Caroline is a freelance executive producer, producer, and script development producer. She produced and co-created the show Horrible Histories and more recently has produced the BAFTA-winning comedy Motherland (Series 3) for BBC, Merman and Lionsgate.

Narrative Features

Family Friendly

Caroline Roberts-Cherry

Don Boyd

Saffron Cherry Productions is a multi-award-winning Manchester-based company and creative force behind The Madame Blanc Mysteries and The World According To Grandpa. Caroline is an RTS and BAFTA award-winning Executive Producer with more than 20 years’ experience.

Donald Boyd is a film director, producer, screenwriter and novelist. He produced a series of films including Alan Clarke’s Scum, Derek Jarman’s The Tempest and Lindsay Anderson’s Look Back in Anger. He has worked with the likes of Tilda Swinton and Dame Helen Mirren.

Evgenia Golubeva

Animation

Director, Producer

Animation

Managing Director, Saffron Cherry Productions

Will Becher

Evgenia is an award winning writer, director and character designer who has written and directed a number of award-winning short films, which have been screened internationally at film festivals. She has also written and illustrated several award-nominated children’s books.

Will Becher, has had a career spanning 20 years. He has worked as a writer, director and stop-motion lead animator, after originally joining the company for a summer placement. Currently, he is the Supervising Animator on their upcoming Wallace & Gromit release.

Jessi Gutch

Advertising, Music Video, Fashion

Academy Award-Nominated Animator & Director, Aardman

Documentary Features

Writer, Director and Character Designer

KAI-LU Hsiung

Writer, Producer, Director

Managing Director, RSA Films

Jessi Gutch is a BIFA nominated writer, award winning director and BAFTA Elevate / BFI Insight producer. She has worked on both fiction and documentary and is passionate about the intersection of the two genres. She won ASFF’s Best Documentary and Best of Fest in 2022.

Kai-Lu Hsiung is the Managing Director at RSA Films. Her career began 30 years ago when she happened upon a receptionist role and now she is leading operations at RSA. Kai has also worked as a producer on projects including Life in a Day and Kipchoge: The Last Milestone.

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holly newson

Julian Foddy is a VFX supervisor at the renowned Industrial Light & Magic. He has worked on many well-known film projects including Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He was also Global Supervisor for Spiderman: Far From Home and Artemis Fowl.

Holly is a presenter and executive producer for video content and podcasts with Audible. Since 2017, she has been the face and voice of the chat show series Audible Sessions, where she has interviewed over 300 actors, authors, comedians, sportspeople, musicians and more.

Documentary

Presenter and Executive Producer, Audible

Documentary Features

VFX Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic

Kathryn Ferguson

Lindsay Poulton

Kathryn Ferguson is an award-winning director and writer with decades worth of experience creating short form work focusing on identity, gender politics and communities. Kathryn recently completed her first feature documentary, Nothing Compares, about Sinéad O’Connor.

Lindsay is Head of Documentaries at the Guardian, where she commissions and oversees the organisation‘s leading documentary content. Focusing on short form documentaries with strong, character led narratives, her work has been screened at several festivals worldwide.

Artists’ Film / Experimental / Dance

Head of Documentaries, Guardian

Narrative Features

Writer and Director

Lola Oliyide

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Thriller

Drama

Julian Foddy

Larry Achiampong

Head of Development, Neal Street Productions

Artist

Lola is Head of Development at Neal Street Productions and has worked as a script executive on Britannia (Sky & Amazon) and Informer (BBC & Amazon). Prior to that, she worked at various production companies in a range of roles, such as head of development and story producer.

Larry is the 2023 Aesthetica Art Prize winner. He creates unforgettable projects with film, still imagery, archival material, objects and sound. His work highlights the intersection between popular culture and colonialism, and explores class, cross-cultural and digital identities.

Thriller

Advertising, Music Video, Fashion

Mark Jenkin

Vicky Mather

Mark Jenkin is a filmmaker based in Cornwall. In 2020, his breakout feature-length film Bait won a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut, going on to collect seven major international awards. In The Observer, Mark Kermode, called it “One of the defining British films of the decade.”

Vicky Mather is a filmmaker and course leader for MA Fashion, Film and Digital Production. Her film Stanley Pickle (2011) was the NFTS’ most awarded short film in that year. She now focuses on education to work towards better representation on screen and behind the camera.

Comedy

Filmmaker & Course Leader, UAL London College of Fashion

Games

Writer, Director and Producer

Matthew Horsfall

Amy o’hara

Matthew is the curator of Game Technologies at Yorkshire Games Festival. He is passionate about the future of games development. Prior to joining the museum, he was a lecturer in computer games modelling and animation, offering skillful insight into games development.

Amy is a Development and Production executive at Film4, Channel 4’s feature division. Recent highlights include Last Night in Soho, The Banshees of Inisherin, Living and Enys Men. Amy has worked with a diverse range of filmmakers, helping to bring their ideas to screen.

Mick Audsley

Development and Production Executive, Film4

Family Friendly

Narrative Features

Curator of Game Technologies, Science Museum Group

Myles Mcleod

Editor

Writer, The Brothers McLeod

Mick Audsley is one of the leading film editors in UK and the USA with more than 40 feature credits to his name.

These include Interview with the Vampire, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dangerous Liaisons and Allied.

Furthermore, he’s a BAFTA-winner and nominated editor.

Myles McLeod has written over a hundred screenplays for children’s TV and internationally recognised short films, five books as well as lyrics and poetry. Myles has also voice acted in several animations for organisations like BBC, Disney and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

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Nina Willment

Dr Nina Willment is an economic and cultural geographer with a special interest in how innovative digital technologies are shaping creativity, as well as creative labour. Nina has worked with the initiative XR Stories, co-leading research projects on virtual production.

Animation

Nainita Desai is an Emmy and RTS award-winning composer, who has worked on various BAFTA, Oscar and Emmy acclaimed productions. She also won the World Soundtrack Awards 2021 for Discovery of the Year and the Women In Film & TV Award for Creative Technology.

VR & 360

Research Associate, XR Stories

Patrick Moran

Philip Hunt

Patrick is responsible for conceiving and producing immersive touring exhibitions from popular culture to societal and technological change. He collaborates with creatives, museums and art centres worldwide to develop and showcase pioneering exhibition experiences.

Philip Hunt is an Emmy award-winning Director, Creative Director and Partner of Studio AKA. Additionally, a recent collaboration with Oliver Jeffers resulted in the BAFTA-winning children’s film titled Lost and Found, which garnered an additional 61 international awards.

Documentary Features

Creative Director and Partner, Studio AKA

Artists’ Film, Experimental and Dance

Co-Head, Barbican

Matthew Herbert

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VR & 360

Comedy

Nainita Desai

Composer

Richard Melman

Musician and Producer

Executive Producer and Managing Director, Spring FIlms

Matthew Herbert’s extensive work includes dancefloor tracks, experimental albums and scores across film, TV and video games. Projects include the Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman, Disobedience, Noughts + Crosses and 2022 BIFA best score award-winning movie The Wonder.

Richard Melman has extensive experience producing, directing and commissioning shows for both British and international broadcasters, including the BAFTAnominated Cold War. He is the Executive Producer and Managing Director of award-winning firm Spring Films.

VR & 360

Games

MARIELLE REUSER

Richard Nockles

Marielle has 10 years’ experience working in the games industry, including her time spent working as a 3D artist on Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption II. Marielle also teaches environment modelling, as well as digital character creation and sculpting using Zbrush.

Richard is an award-winning VR producer who has been at the cutting-edge of VR innovation for the last nine years. His company, Surround Vision, is based in London and produces VR documentaries and immersive experiences across a selection of devices and platforms.

Drama

Co-Founder of Surround Vision and VR Creative Director, Sky VR studios.

Advertising, Music Video, Fashion

3D Environment Lecturer

SADIE CLAYTON

Sonja Klaus

Sadie Clayton is an award-winning designer who explores the creative boundaries between art, technology and fashion. Fascinated by innovation, Sadie has presented work at the Royal Academy of the Arts, Tate and V&A, and created content with Adobe films, amongst others.

Sonja Klaus is a leading film and television designer.

Sonja has an illustrious career spanning over two decades, with credits including titles as Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning Gladiator, the iconic Tomb Raider series and most recently, BBC’s new hit Great Expectations.

Thriller

Film and Television Designer

Documentary

Artist and Designer

Steve Melia

Tom Knights

Steve is a producer at Audible, where he makes videos to launch and tell the stories behind new podcasts and audiobooks. In partnership with Aesthetica, he delivers The Listening Pitch, a documentary film grant that celebrates listening whilst supporting emerging talent.

Tom is a game writer and designer with over 10 years’ experience in the games industry as well as having written a range of published short fiction and taught writing and narrative design at Edinburgh Napier University, Playwrights Studio Scotland and Xpo North.

Video Production Manager, Audible

Senior Narrative Designer, Ubisoft

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Artists’ Film, Experimental and Dance

Thriller Drama

Sarah perks

Simon Nelson

Sarah Perks is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, filmmaker and writer. She has previously been Artistic Director at HOME and Cornerhouse in Manchester. Currently, she is Professor of Curating at Teesside University, as well as Programme Advisor for BFI London Film Festival.

Simon Nelson is the Development Executive for BBC WritersRoom. He leads the development of new writers and writing for BBC drama, comedy and children’s drama, covering a range of television, radio and online content. Before joining the BBC, Simon worked at ITV.

Development Executive, BBC WritersRoom

Family Friendly

Advertising, Music Video, Fashion

Curator, Producer and Writer

Tom jordan

Michel Haddi

Studio Director Karrot

Fashion Photographer

Tom Jordan oversees Karrot, a BAFTA and Emmywinning animation studio specialising in character, design and storytelling. He has worked with renowned global clients like Amazon Studios, Cartoon Network, CBeebies, Discovery, Ford, Nickelodeon as well as Rovio.

Michel Haddi has worked in the fashion industry for over 30 years, collaborating with French Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire Germany. Armani and Yves Saint-Laurent are some of his clients, as well as celebrities like Denzel Washington and Kate Moss.

Celebrate the winning films. jOIN US AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY. SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER, YORKSHIRE MUSEUM 16:30-19:00 films in Aesthetica’s Official Selection are in competition for one of our prestigious awards, chosen by an experienced jury. Join us in recognising outstanding achievements.

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discover Games Lab technological and cultural innovation

Visit the Games Lab, where you will engage with the best and most innovative new games.

Each player is involved with bringing the story to life in an array of interactive experiences. We celebrate creativity in all of its forms, spotlighting innovative and exciting games that immerse users in unique worlds. Our Games Lab is a UK Film Festival first, with 40 projects to discover.

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SPECIAL EVENTS MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TICKET. Aesthetica is about more than film. We foster lifelong learning and facilitate lasting connections between creative people through a shared love of brilliant cinema. Community is key, and our events, parties, workshops and discussions reflect this ethos.

Our special events offer a lively blend of industry-led masterclasses, networking and social opportunities, as well as focused mentoring and the opportunity to view the next generation of filmmakers. Whether you are looking to expand your network and find potential collaborators or seeking to learn something new, this is the place to be.

Highlights for 2023 include or variety of workshops, where you can learn how to create with ground-breaking new and immersive technologies. Our pitching sessions, socials and masterclasses are invitations to connect with people who share your vision.

All in-person events must be pre-booked. Most events will be recorded and will be available to watch back on our platform. To find out more, visit: asff.co.uk/tickets

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SPECIAL EVENTS WEDNESDAY Opening Night Ceremony We launch our 13th edition with a special screening of six spectacular, thought-provoking and inspiring works by filmmakers from the 2023 Official Selection. Curated by Festival Director, Cherie Federico, our Opening Night introduces audiences to the breadth of this year’s film programme with a special screening, offering a taste of what’s to come.

Date & Time: 8 November | 18:00 - 21:00. Screening starts at 19:00.

Venue: City Screen, YO1 9QL

WEDNESDAY Women in film, tv and Games drinks The Women in Film, TV and Games Drinks is a celebration that recognises and promotes the achievements of women across the screen industries. It is a meeting place for actors, cinematographers, directors, producers, developers and writers to network. The event is open to all women and female-identifying individuals at the festival. Please register in advance.

Date & Time: 8 November | 17:15-18:15 Venue: Yorkshire Museum, YO1 7FR

THURSDAY LOOP Talent Presents: Meet the filmmakers Get to know the creatives at the heart of ASFF 2023 by meeting the talent behind our Official Selection. This is your chance to expand your list of contacts and liaise with industry professionals, fellow filmmakers and an range of creative practitioners. Attendees will receive a free glass of wine upon arrival, on a first-come, first-served basis, in partnership with Loop.

Date & Time: 9 November | 20:00-23:00 Venue: Rose Within the Walls, YO1 9WD 61

SPECIAL EVENTS THURSDAY

VR & Games happy hour A destination for those working in new technologies, the VR and Games Happy Hour brings industry guests together to contemplate the future of games development, VR and immersive filmmaking. This is the ideal place to generate ideas about what’s next for interactive entertainment and beyond. This event includes a free welcome drink upon arrival.

Date & Time: 9 November | 17:00-18:00 Venue: 1331 Lounge, YO1, 7HU

FRIDAY

friday night party 1331 hosts the renowned Friday Night Party, helping to carry Aesthetica Film Festival into a weekend of fun social events and inspiring cinema screenings. Located in York’s Grape Lane, the party provides the perfect location to join in with the festivities or re-group with brand new friends.

Grab a drink, connect with industry and prepare for the weekend ahead.

Date & Time: 10 November | 20:00-Late Venue: 1331, YO1 7HU

FRIDAY women in film dinner This dinner is an invite-only opportunity for established and emerging women working across film, television and games to meet and network.

We celebrate the outstanding achievements of women across screen – from directors, producers and screenwriters to editors, cinematographers and developers – this is a unique opportunity to discuss collaborations.

Date & Time: 10 November | 19:00-Late Venue: York Minster Refectory, YO1 73A 62

SPECIAL EVENTS SATURDAY

LIstening Pitch: Film premiere Aesthetica and Audible have teamed to run The Listening Pitch. For the third year running, we showcase original stories that demonstrate how listening helps us to understand different points of view. Join us for the premiere of two winning films and a viewing of 2022’s winners. Drinks upon arrival with a Q+A, live music and networking after the screening.

Date & Time: 11 November | 19:00-23:00 Venue: National Centre for Early Music, YO1 9TL

SUNDAY awards ceremony To bring our 13th edition to a close, we welcome filmmakers, delegates and audiences to join our Awards Ceremony. Prizes are awarded for the best film in each of our genres, as well as our Audience Choice, Best of Fest and Special Guest Awards. Join us for a celebration of stellar achievements, followed by a drinks reception and After Party at 1331.

Date & Time: 12 November | 16:30-19:00 Venue: Yorkshire Museum, YO1 7FR After Party: 1331, YO1 7HU | 19:30-Late

DAILY masterclasses Our 2023 speakers include representatives from Aardman, Film4, Guardian Documentaries, Ridley Scott Associates and Ubisoft, as well as a range of directors, producers and visual effects specialists who have worked on incredible projects from Wallace & Gromit, Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon, Alien, Tom Clancy’s The Division and Black Sheep.

Date & Time: 8-11 November | 10:00-18:00 Venue: Yorkshire Museum, York Explore, York Theatre Royal 63

SPECIAL EVENTS DAILY Daily Networking Whether you’re looking to connect with industry representatives, uncover exciting opportunities or learn new approaches to filmmaking, our daily Networking Sessions offer you the chance to converse with film sector professionals and spark collaborations. Hosts include Canon, Viridian FX, Festival Formula, the Pitch Film Fund and Northern School of Art.

Date & Time: 8-12 November | Various times Venue: York Theatre Royal, Pitcher & Piano, 1331

DAILY Games Lab AT AESTHETICA We see the journeys into narrative design as a crucial way to understand how storytelling is evolving. The video game industry is undergoing dramatic change, which is gathering pace. The Games Lab will exhibit 40 games and showcase a range of different styles. We are supporters of creativity and are looking for games that immerse users in new worlds.

Date & Time: 8-11 Nov, 12:00-22:00 | 12 Nov, 12:00-20:00 Venue: Spark York, YO1 9PB

DAILY Flux & Possibilities Flux & Possibilities is the premiere of Martyn Riley’s deep listening multi-channel sound installation, which explores personal identities and histories, created in partnership with Aeshetica, LCC and Audible. You are invited to listen to people sharing stories about feminism, inequality and gendered spaces. Powerful and insightful, join us for a memorable event.

Date & Time: 8-11 Nov, 10.30-20:00 I 12 Nov, 10:30-18:30 Venue: Bedern Hall, YO1 7AL

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SPECIAL EVENTS DAILY Filmmaker Insights Panel Discussions Hear from a selection of filmmakers from the 2023 Official Selection.

These daily panel discussions provide you the perfect opportunity to learn about inspirations, motivations and creative processes, covering a range of topics such as the A-Z of filmmaking, developing a directorial style, and breaking the rules of scriptwriting. See more on p. 201.

Date & Time: 8-11 November | Various times Venue: York Explore, YO1 7DS

DAILY Screen School VR Lab Aesthetica and LCC’s Screen School invite you to become fully immersed in bold and imaginative stories. Embark on a multi-sensory journey as you explore the world of immersive 360 cinema. Our VR Lab will be held at City Screen Basement, alongside panel discussions at York Explore.

Joining us virtually? Buy a cardboard headset and experience at home.

Date & Time: 8-12 November, 11:00-21:00 Venue: City Screen Basement | Pre-booking advised

DAILY Investigate.Games Guided Play Sessions Guided Play Sessions, run by Investigate.Games, offer the opportunity to experience a broad selection of up-and-coming titles from the all-new Games Lab shortlist. You will be guided by experts whilst playing within a supportive environment and answering questions such as: how do games encourage collaboration and what they tell us about culture and society?

Date & Time: 8-12 November | 12:00-13:00, Daily Venue: Spark York, YO1 9PB

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SPECIAL EVENTS VARIOUS DAYS pitching Across various days we’re offering a series of 20-minute pitching sessions where experts provide guidance on how to develop ideas, break into the industry and further your distribution goals. These opportunities are led by delegates from BBC Film, Goldfinch, Film4, Guardian Documentaries and Neal Street Productions. Pre-selection and application are required.

Date & Time: 8-11 November | Various times Venue: Malmaison, YO90 1UU | Application required

VARIOUS DAYS Kids Workshops: Filmmaking & games We believe in nurturing children’s creative potential. As part of this year’s festival, we are offering 7-14 year olds the chance to learn to develop, direct and make their own films and games. These two-hour workshops, delivered in partnership with York Bid and Grand Central Trains, are led by the expert teams at Pauline Quirke Academy and Impact Gamers.

Date & Time: 11-12 November | Various times Venue: York St John Creative Centre, YO31 7EX

VARIOUS DAYS VR Panel Discussions Virtual Reality provides viewers with the most immersive and experiential narratives in digital entertainment. Through a synthesis of bold new technologies and the human imagination, VR has limitless potential for storytelling. Join our experts as they discuss new production pipelines as well as the concerns and possibilities of using AI in the creative industries.

Date & Time: 9-11 November | Various times Venue: York Explore, YO1 7DS

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Register for MASTERCLASSES be sure to book your place for our industry sessions.

8-11 November Yorkshire Museum / York Explore To attend our exciting range of masterclasses and discussions (between 8-11 November), you must pre-book your place in advance and your pass will need to be valid on the day of the event.

You can find all of the scheduled events and book tickets by visiting www.asff.co.uk/events 67

THE STRANDS At Aesthetica, our programmes are curated into five daily strands that offer a wide-ranging view of how film has the power to ignite, transform and change the world. Curation at Aesthetica Film Festival is centred around compelling narratives, original ideas and powerful, timely storytelling.

We programme the festival into five overarching strands, and these strands reflect the current stateof-play. These programmes are then sub-curated thematically by genre. We focus on the topics that are the most meaningful, pressing and present in our world. Film is a mechanism to understand the past and present, and it also offers a view of potential futures, encouraging us to ask big questions.

Our curatorial team comprises a number of talented programmers who have a range of expertise and specialisations, having worked for some of the largest film festivals in the world. Through this curation, audiences can explore new cultures, ideas and engage with the future greats of filmmaking.

The festival is organised into the following strands: n Now, In this very moment n standing at the threshold of change n a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step n Be Free From Yourself n It's Nice to meet you

In-venue screenings will show a range of programmes from across the strand. Programmes will accrue online during 8-12 November and will be available On Demand until 30 November.

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ONLINE FROM 8 November

STRAND 1

NOW, IN THIS VERY MOMENT Every moment on planet Earth is filled with different emotions. This strand provides us with an opportunity to come together, engage in meaningful discussions and comprehend the events unfolding around us. These films remind us of our shared humanity rather than our differences. It's about appreciating the simple pleasures that bring happiness: a smile exchanged with a stranger, a warm embrace from a friend, or the comforting sound of a loved one's voice. Our experiences are brimming with beauty, just waiting to be cherished. n Documentary Feature: After The Bridge n Advertising 1: Power Of Words & Images n Animation 4: Expand & Contract Artists' Film 2: Connection & Place n n Comedy 5: Between The Sheets n Dance 1: Lifecycle Documentary 3: Bodies and Minds n Drama 4: Pushing Boundaries n Drama 7: And Within Use, They Live n Experimental 3: Transfigured Realities n n Fashion 2: Endless Possibilities n Thriller 4: Can't You See

69

ONLINE FROM 9 November

STRAND 2

STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD OF CHANGE How do we broaden our horizons? What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? It’s so easy to forget the bigger picture. Planet Earth is vast and humanity’s story is complex. Understanding history helps us build new futures and develop societies that are inclusive, sustainable and better connected. There are those who work hard to divide us, but like minds can unite in a world view founded on empathy. This strand looks at how we can learn from others in times defined by new technologies, social media and the climate crisis. n Documentary Feature: Heroic Bodies n Narrative Feature: The Oasis Of Frozen Waters n Animation 1: Confronting the Past n Animation 5: It’s Not Done, Until It’s Done n Comedy 4: Worlds Askew n Dance 2: Capture n Documentary 1: The World That We Code Drama 6: The Ties That Bind Us n n Drama 12: Survival, Power & Greed Experimental 5: Real/Virtual n n Fashion 3: Collective Memory n Thriller 3: The Film Of My Love

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ONLINE FROM 10 November

STRAND 3

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP Life can be defined by joy and euphoria or pain and loss. We may have a combination of these thoughts and feelings in an instant. At any given moment in time, we may face challenges, but it is in those moments that our true character is revealed. How we take charge and change the course of events becomes a testament to who we are. We must face whatever comes our way and find strength and inspiration from one another. These films capture the resilience of ordinary individuals and celebrate instances of unadulterated joy. n Documentary Feature: The Taste Of Mango

n Documentary Feature: Walter Rodney n Narrative Feature: Once Upon A Time In The Canaries Artists' Film 3: Change & Loss n Comedy 2: Got Your Back n n Comedy 6: Out In The Open n Documentary 6: States Of Emergency n Drama 2: Caught By Surprise n Drama 10: Searching To Be Seen Experimental 2: Re(Construction) n n Family Friendly 3: We Are All Unique n Music Video 1: Get Up, Stand Up Thriller 1: Body Snatchers n

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ONLINE FROM 11 November

STRAND 4

BE FREE FROM YOURSELF Humans are multifaceted beings. This raises questions about whether we can be moulded throughout our lives or if our sense of self is ingrained within us from the moment we're born. Is it influenced more by nature or nurture, and does that distinction even hold significance in today's world? These films lead us on profound explorations into memories, experiences and aspirations. Join us on a vast journey of self-discovery, and always remember that you possess an unparalleled ability to be the best version of yourself. n Narrative Feature: Black Moon n Narrative Feature: And Then Comes The Night Jars n Animation 2: Is This Life? n Artists' Film 1: Identity And Perception n Comedy 3: End Of The Line n Documentary 2: All Images Disappear n Drama 3: Danger Lurks n Drama 9: Between Alienation And Belonging n Drama 11: Women Fight The Worlds That Dismiss Them

n Drama 13: It’s Not Always Easy n Experimental 4: Image Mixtape Family Friendly 2: Me, Myself and I n n Fashion 1: Textures Of Life

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ONLINE FROM 12 November

STRAND STRAND5 5

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU Identity is intertwined with relationships. We can be many things at once. Our human connections may be defined as familial, platonic, professional, romantic and more. Each encounter brings its own unique blend of emotions and our interactions reflect this whilst also teaching us compassion, empathy and trust. This strand explores the powerful bonds that unite us: from brief acquaintances to lifetimes of affection and kinship. It uncovers the web of relations that shape our lives and who we become. n Documentary Feature: The Happy Man Tree n Narrative Feature: Easy For You To Say Animation 3: Human Experiences n Comedy 1: Take Control n Documentary 4: This Must Be The Place n n Documentary 5: But How Do You Want To Live Now? n Drama 1: Baggage Claim n Drama 5: Children Are The Future! n Drama 8: With You I Feel Forever Experimental 1: Spatial Relations n Family Friendly 1: Determination n Music Video 2: Sonder n Thriller 2: There Are Worse Things I Could Do n

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STRAND 2

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

HEROIC BODIES (SUBTITLED)

PG

WEDNESDAY 8 November, 13:30 Venue: Friargate Sara Abubaker Suliman UK, 2022, 01:34

STRAND 3

Sudanese women have been robbed of rights to their own bodies, enduring oppression, abuse, and violations such as “face scarification” and “genital mutilation." Heroic Bodies highlights their struggle to reclaim autonomy and choice. Through different forms of protest, women fight for education, the ability to pursue creative careers and embrace matriarchal religions such as Zar. This documentary tells the story of resistance and change.

THE HAPPY MAN TREE FRIDAY 10 November, 10:00 Venue: Friargate Katy McGahan UK, 2022, 01:15 Have you ever fallen in love with a tree? A group of neighbours in Hackney, North London, discover that the local council has granted a leading property developer permission to fell Happy Man Tree. This is the name given to the beloved 150-year-old London Plane Street tree that stands at the heart of this feature. Watch as we follow a heated nine-month battle as activists rally to save Happy Tree Man from the clutches of the chainsaw.

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U

STRAND 3

THE TASTE OF MANGO (SUBTITLED)

12

THURSDAY 9 November, 19:00 Venue: Friargate Chloe Abrahams UK, 2023, 01:15:

AB/MH

We follow Director Chloe Abrahams, her mother, Rozana, and her grandmother, Jean. As a child, Chloe notices tensions between the two women. Growing up in the UK, she’d always sensed pain within Rozana whilst hearing fragments about Jean's tumultuous marriage back in Sri Lanka. Now older, Chloe listens to and records both their stories. Flowing through time and generations, the painful knots in her family’s unspoken past are finally untangled.

STRAND 1

WALTER RODNEY: WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW

15

SATURDAY 11 November, 19:00 Venue: YSJU Daniyal Harris-Vajda, Arlen Harris UK, 2022, 01:12

D/FLS/lne/ab/wc

Historian Dr Walter Rodney, author of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, was assassinated in 1980 by the British and American backed Guyanese regime. Since the age of 19, he was under British security surveillance, viewed as a threat because of his support for anti-colonial movements and civil rights. This feature uses declassified security service documents, revealing interviews and reconstructions as it reveals an essential, little-known story.

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

STRAND 2

AFTER THE BRIDGE (SUBTITLED) SUNDAY 12 November, 17:30 Venue: NCEM Davide Rizzo, Marzia Toscano Italy, 2023, 01:05

N/D

AESTHETICA

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2024 76

After the London Bridge attack on 3 June 2017, TV crews swarm to the hills of Bologna, Italy, and the small house of mother, Valeria Collina. Her son, Youssef, was one of the attackers. Following her refusal to attend his funeral, Valeria is alone in her now silent home. Here, she must come to terms with not only the loss of her son but the knowledge that he was a jihadist killed in the attack. In the aftermath of the tragedy, she struggles to find peace.

SUBMIT YOUR

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES OPENS 1 DECEMBER 2023 Find out more: asff.co.uk

PG

SW/D

NARRATIVE FEATURES

STRAND 3

BLACK MOON (SUBTITLED)

12

WEDNESDAY 8 November, 15:30 Venue: Friargate Tonatiuh García Mexico, 2022, 01:39

STRAND 5

SW

Black Moon follows the story of three siblings who spark a rebellion in their home town in order to defend their beloved river Jalcomulco. One day, unexpected news of intentions to build a dam initiates a series of events that will change their destinies forever. Centred on strong bonds, courage and folklore, Black Moon is dedicated to fortitude in the face of adversity. It tells the story of what it means to live on the margins. Beautifully filmed in Veracruz, Mexico, the water becomes a wilful character in its own right. Whilst the river may flow gently, never forget that it can also be relentless.

12 THE OASIS OF FROZEN WATERS (SUBTITLED) THURSDAY 9 November, 19:00 Venue: Theatre Royal Mohammed Raouf Sebbahi Morocco, 2022, 1:31 Fadila, a female emergency physician, is married to Kader, the head nurse at the same hospital. They have been in a profound love affair since childhood. However, with growing tensions in their relationships, they are now on the brink of divorce. That is until Kader is diagnosed with a fatal cancer.

Now needing to pause and rethink their marital life along with the duty to assist her beloved, Fadhila is faced with a dilemma. Should she rebuild their shattered relationship or support her ailing husband? For Fadila, this is an urgent case and perhaps the most disturbing one of her whole life.

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STRAND 2

NARRATIVE FEATURES

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE CANARIES (SUBTITLED) FRIDAY 10 November, 20:30 Venue: Theatre Royal Armando Ravelo Spain, 2022, 01:50

STRAND 4

Nola Belle is a woman of Senegalese origin who arrives on the shores of the Canary Islands. After journeying vast distances in a canoe with a group of other migrants, she meets a beautiful landscape that is rife with hostile people. From here, Nola Belle begins an adventure of epic proportions through the most defining corners of the Canary Islands. Despite all of the challenges she will face in this unfriendly setting, she is motivated by her dedication to the seemingly impossible. Here, she searches for the ultimate secret: her Canarian father that she never knew.

EASY FOR YOU TO SAY (SUBTITLED)

PG

SATURDAY 11 November, 17:00 Venue: YJSU Jonathan Kiefer USA, 2023, 00:43 In this wry ode to the blank page, a melancholy Barcelona poet visits the tiny California college responsible for an English translation of possibly his final work. Staunch in his refusal to even read the piece, he eventually meets the translator who presents him with the English version of his work which is titled Bubblegum. His lacklustre reception at the institution sets the tone for the events that ensue.

Embark on an adventure across language barriers, through misplaced words and into awkward conversations as the protagonist steps through a series of strange encounters.

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12

STRAND 6

AND THEN COME THE NIGHTJARS

15

SUNDAY 12 November, 13:30 Venue: Friargate Paul Robinson UK, 2023, 01:21

D

AESTHETICA

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

2024

Inspired by real events, this is a heart-warming story of friendship and survival set against the backdrop of the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak. Adapted for the screen from Bea Roberts’ multi-award-winning stage play, And Then Come the Nightjars tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a Devon farmer and the vet who is assigned to cull his precious herd. Nigel Hastings and David Fielder reprise their successful on-stage roles as Jeff and Michael in this tribute to ageing, Britain's changing countryside, male friendship, the passage of time and strength in the face of difficulty.

SUBMIT YOUR NARRATIVE FEATURES

OPENS 1 DECEMBER 2023 Find out more: asff.co.uk

79

MH/BV 12

POWER OF WORDS & IMAGES ADVERTISING 1

Content is all around us and the competition to be heard is endless. So, what makes an advert stand out? This strand spotlights brand partnerships that tell compelling stories from fresh perspectives. Our selection includes known brands such as Dr Martens, Golden Goose and Versace alongside films that raise awareness for disability and build an inclusive society.

01

02

A/V

DON'T TORTURE YOURSELF (2- FISH) James Button UK, 2021, 00:30 Alexander Armstrong tortures himself for home insurance – in this face off with a fish. Witness the strangest interrogation, from improbable hypotheticals to increasingly outlandish questions.

STRAND 1

THE BLOOM [SUBTITLED] Jody Xiong China, 2023, 03:00 A group of disabled individuals came together to create a piece dedicated to the Winter Paralympics. They detonate paint-filled balloons, spraying the canvas with joyous visions of neon colour.

80

03

04

HENDRICK'S|THE CUCUMBER CHRONICLE'S

BREWDOG | A CALL TO THE LOST

Harry Deadman UK, 2022, 01:00 Get the exclusive scoop on all the wonders inside Hendrick's Gin Palace. Discover the world of botanicals, focusing on one special ingredient: cucumbers – the essence of every great gin and tonic.

Taz Tron Delix UK, 2022, 01:00 Who do we think we are? Unswayed by the frolicking footballers, perfect models and friends smiling in eternal sunshine, Brewdog confronts the misleading lifestyles shown by other lager adverts.

05

06

DR MARTEN'S|ACCESS ALL SUMMER

GOLDEN GOOSE - XIE XIN

Bedroom UK, 2022, 01:12 Stunning blue skies, strawberry ice cream and sun-kissed flowers as far as the eye can see. Summer arrives in a freshly unopened box of Dr Martens. Will you go ahead and accept the invitation?

Roni Shao China, 2022, 01:00 Every great artist needs to follow their own path, allowing their creative spirit to guide them towards turning ambitious ideas into a reality. Embrace your uniqueness and craft your own perfection.

07

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Theatre Royal 17:30-18:30

NCEM 14:00-15:00

Yorks. Museum 19:30-20:30

08

A/V

LES MOMENTS (SUBTITLED)

ZONE UNKNOWN (SUBTITLED)

Gabriel Juduc Romania, 2022, 04:40 From a pensive young couple to a woman helping a lost dog, Les Moments attracts an amusing array of different characters with its great food and drink, fantastic atmosphere and welcoming tables.

Alessi Heitman-Rice, Zack Langsdon UK, 2023, 02:30 People share anecdotes about how cycling has benefited their lives, how it has led them back from dark places and how it provides a form of meditation and escapism within their hectic lives.

STRAND 1

09

10

THE LOOP

BELIEVE IN WONDER (NO DIALOGUE)

Dominik Ströhle Germany, 2022, 01:22 We all share a sense of a deep-longing for an unknown place, somewhere that is never the same and yet creates the feeling we all hold inside us – to break out of what keeps us in The Loop.

Massimo Carrier Ragazzi Italy, 2022, 00:50 Rinascente unlocks a world of wonder. Every moment can be magical. The brand's products can turn anything – like decorating a Christmas tree – into a truly unforgettable experience.

11

12

CHANGE YOUR MIND WITH MUD\WTR

IN BETWEEN LINES|O'NEILL

Chris Keener USA, 2023, 04:00 MUD\WTR is here to help you stay balanced in a busy world and rediscover rest. Healthy habits create healthy minds. And if you can change your mind, you are likely to change anything.

Leone Italy, 2022, 01:30 The film revolves around three stories: a kitesurfer, snowboarder and a surfer. Showing their lives in-between seasons, we follow as they wait for the wind to rise, the snow to fall and the wave to come.

81

MH/BV 12

POWER OF WORDS & IMAGES ADVERTISING 1 (CONTINUED)

13

14

A/V

KNIRPS|CHANGE OF WEATHER (NO DIALOGUE) Leo van Kann Germany, 2023, 01:30 When Y. wants to take his dog for a walk, the famous superstition suddenly becomes reality – it rains when he leaves the umbrella at home, but if he takes it with him, the sun shines outside the door.

STRAND 1

BREITLING | THE SOUND OF WATCHMAKING Gilad Avnat, Stav Nahum Israel, 2023, 00:58 Watchmaking at Breitling is its own kind of music. From fixing the tiniest screw to testing the durability of the final product, listeners embark on a journey into the brand's highly-skilled processes.

82

15

16

THE GIVING DEAD (NO DIALOGUE)

LANGUAGE WE KNOW

Florian Johanne Reittner Austria, 2023, 00:37 With a dangerous zombie above her and a deadly drop below, Becky Sue can barely cling to the cliff's edge. Battered by the undead, she falls but is saved by an unexpected helping hand.

Athena Han Canada, 2023, 01:50 New to her football team in Canada, a Korean girl anxiously learns English before soccer team's first practice. However, she soon realises she's known the language of the sport all along.

17

18

FOREVER YOUNG (SUBTITLED)

TOUS|LOVE ME (NO DIALOGUE)

Dominik Ströhle Germany, 2022, 02:04 The most beautiful time in life – youth. This film tells the story of young people who escape the transience of aging. The desire to live on, forever young, requires only one real drop of eternity.

Victor Claramunt San Millán Spain, 2023, 00:20 Feel confident wherever you go. Whether at home, in the subway or dancing at the disco. Feel yourself no matter the setting with Love Me !, which presents the new delicious fragrance by Tous.

19

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Theatre Royal 17:30-18:30

NCEM 14:00-15:00

Yorks. Museum 19:30-20:30

20 02

A/V

THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET|BEYOND WORDS

FLOURISH IN CHANGE

VERSUS Australia, 2022, 01:00 A moment 60 years in the making. Ballet is an art form that takes years of practice and true dedication. Incredible feats of human strength need to look effortless – and the result is spellbinding.

Valeria Portilla Germany, 2023, 00:45 Through stunning shots of fruits and vegetables in their most organic state, we discover Roots Radicals, a Berlin-based food company that crafts remarkable products out of saved produce.

STRAND 1

03 21

22 04

GLIMPSES

STAR ATLAS | DEBUT TRAILER

Lauren Midwinter UK, 2023, 04:50 Saima and her son, Adam, are forced to navigate not just her dementia diagnosis but also its impact on the dynamics of their relationship. Dementia doesn't just affect the person living with it.

Jonathan Berube USA, 2021, 01:40 A group of young misfits travel beyond the edge of space in the search of a ship that has been missing for 20 years. What they discover changes their lives in every imaginable and possible way.

05 23

06 24

DEAR YOU

RNIB|SEE DIFFERENTLY

Robert dos Santos Germany, 2022, 02:00 A spot delivers a love letter in the form of a poem, voicing the importance and beauty of self-acceptance. Uncover the stories on our bodies. If your skin could speak to you, what would it say?

Jesse Lewis-Reece UK, 2022, 02:00 See Differently shows us an accurate journey of sight loss. Moving away from stereotypes and misconceptions, we follow semi-blind actor Eli London. Their strength, resilience and willpower is key.

83

AB/MH/DU/SW

18

CONFRONTING THE PAST ANIMATION 1

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

City Screen 1 12:00-13:00

Friargate 17:30-18:30

Yorks. Museum 18:00-19:00

The essence of humanity is complex. The everyday choices that we make can alter our own lives and the lives of others in an instant. In this programme you will journey to different corners of the world, hearing stories that span from intimate and personal thoughts to universal experiences, and the extremes of human nature. It’s possible to feel so many things at once.

01

02

A/V

TO DO Saul Pankhurst UK, 2022, 03:23 To Do is a playful collage of different media and thought-streams.

In this short reflection on the self-improvement industry, viewers will participate in a totally guided pseudo-mindfulness exercise.

STRAND 2

SCALE Joseph Pierce France, 2021, 14:53 Driving along the motorway, Will loses his sense of scale. As his drug addiction deepens, he struggles to unpick the sequence of events that led to his predicament, before he is lost forever.

84

03

04

LISTEN

EUROPE BY BIDON

Hamze Bytyci Germany, 2022, 07:00 This haunting short is told from the perspective of Holocaust survivor Lydia Krylova. It describes the witnessing of a tragedy in contemporary Russia, in a story heavy with unspeakable silence.

Samuel Albaric, Thomas Trichet France, 2022, 14:32 Biodun is Nigerian. In this animated documentary, he tells the story of his adventures on foot from Lagos to Paris, how he survives with only a container, a "bidon" and a whole lot of courage.

05

06

THE UN-CHAOTIC CABINET THAT WISHES FOR ME TO SLEEP

LETTER TO A PIG (SUBTITLED)

Cillian Green Ireland, 2022, 07:00 A meditation on daydream and memory. A young adult, named Laurence Snell, struggles with his identity as he makes his way through Dublin in the hopes that a trip can fully clear his mind.

Tal Kantor France, 2022, 16:40 A man reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young school girl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a dream where she confronts questions of identity and humanity.

AB/MH

IS THIS LIFE? ANIMATION 2

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

Yorks. Museum 18:00-19:00

City Screen 1 14:00-15:00

Friargate 15:30-16:30

15

Sometimes what you thought you’d have, or where you thought you’d be, is completely different to the reality. These six films remind us that even when things are out of our control, we can be resilient. How do we mend broken hearts? Does time heal all wounds? Where do we find the inner-strength to carry on? This collection asks these profound questions.

01

02

A/V

FOR ISAAK

CURIOSA

Rebecca Wilson-Jacobs, Richard Jacobs UK, 2023, 05:45 In the aftermath of losing their second child at birth, a family try to process loss and celebrate life. This profound and beautifully animated film explores every iteration of grief and bereavement.

Tessa Moult-Milewska UK, 2022, 09:30 Curiosa tells the story of overly curious Mary, who visits her boyfriend's flat for the first time, just to discover it’s been stripped bare of all personal belongings. She then climbs into his head.

STRAND 4

03

04

PURGA ((NO DIALOGUE)

PRIMITIVE TIMES (SUBTITLED)

Antanas Skučas, Gintarė Valevičiūtė Brazauskienė Lithuania, 2023, 13:21 Purga takes us to the winter of 1942 in the uninhabited island of Trofimovsk: a place chosen by Soviet authorities to deport vast numbers of inhabitants from the occupied Baltic countries.

Hao Yu China, 2023, 05:29 It seems only natural to exchange labour for reward. Except not everyone is satisfied with their work. Did early humans have the same problems as people in modern society? This short finds out.

05

06

DAVEY'S LULLABY (SUBTITLED)

VISIBLE MENDING

Adam Deyoe USA, 2022, 09:29 A film on care, loneliness and how we carry on. A spirited, middleaged man with Down's Syndrome faces an uncertain future when his elderly mother finds out that she is no longer able to help him.

Samantha Mooree UK, 2023, 08:30 How do we repair ourselves through thread, even when we can't be fully mended? How do we reconnect with our sense of self?

A short animated documentary about love, death and knitting.

85

MH 15

HUMAN EXPERIENCES ANIMATION 3

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

City Screen 1 10:00-11:00

Theatre Royal 11:30-12:30

City Screen 1 12:00-13:00

Connection is a part of the human experience. We all need people to help us along our journey. What does it mean to find true happiness, and does it only come from within? The bonds that we make propel us forward and with each new encounter we have the potential to grow. This programme uses allegory and metaphor to communicate poignant and real issues.

01

02

A/V

MY NAME IS EDGAR AND I HAVE A COW

Izabela Barszcz UK, 2021, 09:57 Ava is a woman who changes her face according to whatever scenario she finds herself in. When a day at work doesn’t yield the results she expects, Ava’s many faces start to mesh together.

Filip Diviak Czech Republic, 2023, 07:47 A heart-warming tale that explores the true value of happiness and companionship. Edgar’s ordinary life is disrupted by a newborn calf who he sees on a tourist trip whilst at a slaughterhouse.

STRAND 5

THE MANY FACES OF AVA

86

03

04

CARAMELLE (SUBTITLED)

STAN BY ME (NO DIALOGUE)

Matteo Panebarco Italy, 2022, 12:21 Caramelle is a short film that tells the tale of the inextricable tie between three generations: father-grandfather, daughter-mother, grandson-son. This is a bond strong enough to transcend death..

Rachel Dixon UK, 2022, 10:00 Everyone needs help and kindness through hard times. Stan by Me is a geriatric spin on a coming-of-age story about a grumpy, resentful character called Mervin and his jolly neighbour, Stan.

05

06

THE LEGEND OF GOLDHORN

HUMAN RESOURCES (SUBTITLED)

Lea Vucko Slovenia, 2022, 13:35 Plagued by visions of the lover who left him, a hunter goes into the mountains to fix his broken heart. As he pursues the mythical Goldhorn, he starts to lose his mind and succumb to his dark side.

Isaac Wenzek, Titouan Tillier, Trinidad Plass Caussade France, 2021, 03:30 Andy goes to an out of the ordinary recycling appointment.

Wanda, the secretary of the company, welcomes him. We follow Andy through the whole process, until his last seconds of life.

s

EXPAND & CONTRACT ANIMATION 4

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

Yorks. Museum 21:00-22:00

City Screen 1 12:00-13:00

YSJU 10:30-11:30

15 12

Reality is fluid. It depends on truth, but this can vary so much from person to person. Memories determine our actions, but so much depends on how things are remembered and interpreted. What if we dropped our guard, could our imaginations determine the present and the future? It’s within these moments of introspection that we start to see the world differently.

01

02

A/V

FLITE

SPRING ROLL DREAM (SUBTITLED)

Tim Webber UK, 2023, 14:00 Breaking free is a leap of faith. In the semi-submerged London of 2053, the reigning hover-board World Champion, Stevie, finds herself imprisoned in a high-rise apartment by her manager.

Mai Vu Italy, 2022, 09:19 Linh is a Vietnamese mother who lives with her son in America.

When her father visits and insists on cooking a traditional meal, Linh is confronted with the culture and past she left behind.

STRAND 1

03

04

THE BENEFACTORS (NO DIALOGUE)

THE SECRET DIARY OF A HIGH-RISE

Christophe Lopez-Huici Switzerland, 2022, 08:49 Out of season in a seaside resort, the weary owner of a cyclerickshaw desperately searches for some new customers. Suddenly he sees a gang of eccentric revellers that are heading towards him.

Stephen James Ong UK, 2023, 03:12 The brief memoirs of a high-rise tower block rise from the ground in this colourful and mesmerising short. An ordinary building is brought to life as it finds its own way in the big and bustling city.

05

06

CHRISTOPHER AT SEA

THE FOX

Tom CJ Brown France, 2022, 20:17 After embarking as a passenger on-board a cargo ship returning back to Europe, Christopher begins to question his sanity and understanding of time in this romantic psychological thriller. 05

Martin Garde Abildgaard Denmark, 2022, 04:30 In this magical short, every Friday night a woman dreams the exact same dream. She is followed by a fox. Desperate to make it stop, she must summon the courage to overcome her fears.

87

AB/bv/cw/d/fls/mh

IT'S NOT DONE UNTIL IT'S DONE

15

ANIMATION 5

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

City Screen 1 17:30-18:30

City Screen 1 19:30-20:30

YSJU 16:30-17:30

Sometimes it feels like we're living in an echo chamber. We surround ourselves with people who think the same as us and don't always realise that there are real struggles facing people each day. The fight for equality continues and it’s important to understand that there is still so much work to do globally to reach a point where humankind can coexist without conflict.

A/V

02

A BEAR NAMED WOJTEK

ZIDANE ROULETTE (NO DIALOGUE)

Iain Gardner UK, 2023, 28:00 A Bear Named Wojtek tells the true story of an orphaned Syrian brown bear who was adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. The film looks at how he became an emblem of their fate.

Emy Mirel Ivasca Romania, 2023, 08:50 A poignant and tender short on manhood, kindness and knowing when change needs to happen. A man living by himself goes to his window and sees a child playing alone with a ball every day.

STRAND 2

01

03

04

LITTLE T

AFTER THE AFTER PARTY

Masha Ellsworth USA, 2023, 05:44 Follow Alexis, a recent graduate, on the most stressful day of her life – her dream job interview. She's armed with a résumé, design portfolio, and two companions: her "inner critic" and "inner child."

Jess Mountfield UK, 2022, 03:01 After a couple of drinks, a girl admits to her best friend that she's always wanted to know what it feels like to be kissed by a girl. It doesn't just feel right. It feels amazing and beautiful.

05

06

LITTLE RABBIT (SUBTITLED) Johanna Xue USA, 2023, 08:16 Little Rabbit is a story about childhood trauma and the confusion of growing up, whilst navigating the world of adult and child. Told through the eyes of a six-year-old Chinese-Hungarian girl, Lili.

88

I WAS ATTACKED (SUBTITLED) Sara Massieu UK, 2022, 03:41 No matter who we are or where we are from, we are still not safe, if we have been attacked. Gender-based violence is still a contemporary worldwide problem. Women’s voices need to be heard now.

s/sw

IDENTITY AND PERCEPTION ARTISTS’ FILM 1

Wednesday

Friday

Friargate 19:30-20:30

Theatre Royal 17:30-18:30

Saturday Theatre Royal 15:30-16:30

15

A recurring theme in these films is how identity and reality are perceived, often challenging dominant societal narratives.

From the sonic journey of a composer, the perception of breasts in contemporary society, to the neglected history of Black people in Scottish royal courts, these stories share an underlying focus on the overlooked and the unconventional.

01

02

A/V

GIVE

OMOS

Kenya Gillespie USA, 2023, 15:37 A composer attempts to unravel the memories of his relationship with his classical singer ex-boyfriend. A sonic journey that blends film with lyrical visuals and poetry by Carol Ann Duffy.

Rhys Hollis UK, 2022, 20:00 Four performers pay homage to an overlooked passage in the history of Black people in the 16th century Scottish Royal Court.

They reclaim the story through dance, drag and performance.02

STRAND 4

03

04

SCAFFOLD

TITS: A VOYAGE INTO OBJECTIFICATION

Billy Klotsa UK, 2023, 11:06 Fragments of bereavement and collapsing love appear in an isolated house between the land and the sea. Death arrives. The landscape shivers. What holds us close in moments of rupture?

Will & Carly UK, 2023, 02:11 An exploration in the disparity between the male gaze and the reality of women’s breasts. “Tits Hotline,” an anonymous phoneline, appeals to men to leave their raw and uncensored thoughts.

05

06

A FILM ON FILM David Mcnulty UK, 2017, 06:00 Everybody is naked at some point in their life. This short six minute documentary film, shot on super 8mm in black and white, follows award winning artist and portrait photographer Selina Mayer.

BELLYBUTTON Hilary Eden USA, 2022, 08:06 A portrait of adolescent girlhood and the culture that shapes our understanding of identity. A Y2K teen girl struggles to juggle both fantasy and reality when she gets a piercing on her birthday.

89

S/Mh/ab/FLS/LNE

CONNECTION & PLACE

18

ARTISTS’ FILM 2

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

Theatre Royal 10:00-11:00

Friargate 19:00-20:00

Friargate 12:00-13:00

This diverse collection of films shares an immediate and rooted and connection to place. These shorts allow for what could be considered a more profound appreciation and understanding of ourselves, whether in the historical setting of Mycelium, the intimate nationhood tied to Into the Violet Belly, or the severe and visceral socio-political landscape in MMXVIII.

01

02

A/V

I AM THE WORLD Che Applewhaite UK, 2022, 09:00 I Am the World is a speculative documentary that explores how an archive of images, featuring famed ballroom hosts Selvin “MC Debra” Mizrahi and Kelly Gorgeous Gucci, enable ways of seeing.

STRAND 1

MYCELIUM (SUBTITLED) Maria-Elena Doyle Ireland, 2023, 15:00 Set in 1847 Ireland, Mycelium is an epic journey across a famine landscape, drawing parallels with the current refugee crisis, motherhood and our willingness to survive against all odds.

90

03

04

INTO THE VIOLET BELLY (SUBTITLED)

CAN BE

Thuy-Han Nguyen-Chi Germany, 2022, 19:30 Into the Violet Belly captures the experimental collaboration between an artist and her mother, Thuyen Hoa, who survived a sea journey after fleeing Vietnam during the American invasion.

Mohammedally Nashir Shushtari UK, 2023, 13:12 In a bereavement counsellor’s office, Noura and Faiz begin to unpack years of anger and conflict that, after the death of their father, has led them down a path of accusation, guilt and loss.

05

06

WINDOW

MMXVIII (NO DIALOGUE)

Versus Australia, 2023, 05:30 Perspectives shift when lenses tilt. Playing with metaphysical concepts of perspective and identity, Window features spoken word from A.Girl, choreography by Sela Vai and a score by Mo Aung.

WB.L USA, 2023, 07:15 This short film is an acoustic journey of time, place and experience, which demonstrates the absolute intersection of reality and fiction, alongside the past, present and future.

Fls/lne/mh

CHANGE & LOSS ARTISTS’ FILM 3

Thursday

Saturday

Theatre Royal 21:00-22:00

Friargate 10:30-11:30

Sunday YSJU 13:30-14:30

15

Each of these shorts features people dealing with significant change. The elderly refugee in The Song must cope with displacement, the protagonists in Myth and Phoenix face the disappearance and loss of a parent, whilst the protagonist in A Smoking Novel struggles with creative block. These films ask what it means to carry on in the face of excruciating loss.

01

02

A/V

THE SONG (NO DIALOGUE)

MYTH

Bani Abidi UK, 2022, 20:00 An elderly refugee, who has recently arrived in an unfamiliar European city, confronts the isolation of his apartment by creating soundscapes to draw up a sense of assurance and familiarity.

Alies Sluiter Australia, 2021, 11:00 A surreal and emotionally charged short on memory, grief and losing it all. When a strange being appears outside her window and lures her mother away, seven-year-old Sophie follows her.

STRAND 3

03

04

SUBWAY STOPS

A SMOKING NOVEL (SUBTITLED)

Joe Zakko USA, 2023, 18:00 In this cinematic experience of New York's subways, commuters, pan-handlers and performers populate the city's incredibly busy undercurrent. This is a film about bodies moving through space.

Sally Tissington UK, 2022, 01:23 "Every night after work I go to the woods to write my novel. The unreadable words squeal with delight. They love this disorder."

A short film about creative block, indebted to a strange form.

05

06

PRAIRIE

PHOENIX

Saman Maydani USA, 2023, 04:38 What does it mean to lose a community? This artist's film looks at the relationship between isolation, motherhood, modern technology and the "prairie madness" phenomenon of the 19th century.

David Alexander UK, 2022, 05:00 Somewhere between a memory and a dream, Phoenix explores the emotional 24 hours that followed the passing of his father.

Starring Olympic swimming hopeful, Cameron Brooks-Clarke.

91

BV/fls/lne/sw

TAKE CONTROL

18

COMEDY 1

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

City Screen 1 10:00-11:30

NCEM 19:00-20:30

NCEM 13:30-15:00

The chaos of life makes us feel like careening pinballs pushed this way and that by uncontrollable forces. But that doesn't mean we're powerless. Be it a man increasingly out of sync with the world, friends with a dead date to dispose of, or a career-killing cough, these six stories see people try to take charge of the tricky circumstances in which they find themselves.

01

02

A/V

SLICE RIGHT Sara Joyce UK, 2021, 13:37 Two female friends accidentally and unfortunately murder an internet date. Oops. Now they need to clean the blood off of their beloved taxidermy cat. Oh, and also get rid of the body.

STRAND 5

SWEET JUICES Will Suen, Sejon Im Australia, 2021, 14:58 Sweet Juices is set in a world where Chinese food is the supreme currency with more power than sex, drugs and money. In this alternate world, lovers must make a choice between love and war.

92

03

04

SPOOKY BASTARD

CHOKED UP

Michael Bird, Rafe Bird UK, 2021, 16:38 A loud crash in the middle of the night ... Jamie has found himself in a horror movie – and boy does he hate it when that happens.

But what happens when things just aren't as spooky as they seem?

Jill Worsley UK, 2021, 12:57 A comedy about the insanity of modern politics. A tickly cough derails the career-defining interview of Minster for Environment Fiona Lacey (Maxine Peake). Can she deliver her crucial message?

04

05

06

FAIRPLAY (SUBTITLED)

THE DELAY

Zoel Aeschbacher France, 2022, 17:32 Three characters battle it out on the competition highway ... a teenager in search of recognition, a worker ready to do anything to hit the jackpot and a senior executive at the end of his career.

Mattia Napoli Italy, 2022, 15:00 A clap of hands: palms meet, but the snap comes later. Arturo is out of sync, the delay is growing each day. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, he will have to question the pace of his life.

AB/MH

GOT YOUR BACK COMEDY 2

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

City Screen 2 17:30-19:00

City Screen 3 10:00-11:30

Friargate 21:00-22:30

15

Genuine care can be expressed in many ways, not all of them obvious. Be it a woman's misguided willingness to avenge the wrongs committed against her sister, a last minute attempt to pitch a short film, or the negotiation of organising a family trip, these films express tough love. No matter the form, they demonstrate the comfort in knowing someone has your back.

01

02

A/V

FESTIVAL OF SLAPS

KATE IS SAD

Abdou Cissé UK, 2023, 12:00 An action packed tale from the palms of a Nigerian mother, full of twists and turns. One fateful night, a woman serves her son a set of slaps so powerful that it will crucially change his life forever.

Annie Foulkes UK, 2023, 17:50 After a failed suicide attempt, Kate moves in with her estranged Aunt Trish; a woman she hasn't seen since she was a child. The pair navigate each other's flaws in a northern working-class town.

STRAND 3

03

04

GOOD BOY

SPARKS LAMPINI

Tom Stuart UK, 2023, 16:00 Out of money and out of luck, a desperate Danny (BAFTAwinner Ben Whishaw) attempts to rob a bank with the help of his wholly anarchic mum, Jackie (SAG-winner Marion Bailey).

Rebecca O'Neill USA, 2022, 18:04 After hints of possible abuse, a young Turkish-American woman stops by the greasy pizza joint where her teenage sister’s boyfriend works. She decides now it's about time to confront him.

05

06

ROOM FOR ONE MORE

KILLING OURSELVES (SUBTITLED)

Jesse Vogelaar Australia, 2023, 07:00 When an entire house collapses on him, Alex realises he’s close to death. Will he use his final moments to reconnect with loved ones? Or will he pitch his short film idea to old friend Bruno?

Maya Yadlin Israel, 2022, 15:00 Maya takes her parents and sister to the desert to capture an additional scene for her film. But the day turns into an argument, as it becomes unclear whether they will manage to cooperate.

93

BV/MH/sw/bv/AB

END OF THE LINE

15

Wednesday Friargate 21:00-22:30

COMEDY 3

Friday

Sunday

City Screen 1 12:00-13:30

Friargate 10:00-11:30

Death lies in wait for everyone. But before that final curtain call we invite you to laugh long and hard at its expense. Here, a couple discover an aquatic oasis, a woman goes on a date with the Grim Reaper and a man cheats mortality by living on in the memories of others. These shorts play with the forces that hold our balance in order, making us smile all the while.

A/V

02

A DISHONOURABLE DEATH

7 MINUTES

Blok UK, 2023, 12:11 This darkly comic debut satirises traditional manifestations of honour through a warped masculine lens, as it explores prejudice across the board: class, race, sex and the perception of "the hero."

Ricky Gervais UK, 2023, 09:57 A desolate train track seems the perfect spot to end it all, until someone else turns up with the same idea. Awkward. BAFTAwinner Ricky Gervais directs Seroca Davis and Joe Wilkinson.

STRAND 4

01

94

03

04

DATE WITH DEATH

JELLYFISH AND LOBSTER

Harry Sherriff UK, 2023, 11:48 Depressed and recently widowed, Liv (Kimberly Nixon, Fresh Meat) agrees to go on a blind date, but when she turns up she’s greeted by Death himself. Surely, she won’t go home with him?

Yasmin Afifi UK, 2023, 20:00 A magical realist, dark comedy drama set in a gritty British care home. Two terminally ill patients discover a magical blue pool that restores them back to their younger selves beneath the water.

05

06

DEATH & RAMEN

CLAUDIO'S SONG (SUBTITLED)

Tiger Ji USA, 2022, 14:16 A ramen chef spends his final night alive hanging out with the Grim Reaper. In this surreal and hilarious short, a noodle bowl answers the existential question of what it means to be human.

Andreas Nilsson UK, Ukraine, 2022, 09:41 A man faces the wrath of a family of criminals that target people who are famous online and extort money from them. When their scheme fails, the plan to kill him takes a truly unexpected turn.

DU/mh/s/sw

WORLDS ASKEW COMEDY 4

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

NCEM 11:30-13:00

City Screen 2 15:30-17:00

City Screen 1 15:30-17:00

15

This programme presents a canvas of unconventional stories. Each world holds its own surreal logic, whilst having plenty to say about the human condition. Included is a window into the challenge of living with dissociative identity disorder during a zombie outbreak, the stresses of a happy family charade coming apart, and a man's operatic visions.

01

02

A/V

THRIVING: A DISSOCIATED REVERIE

ROAD RAGE!

Nicole Bazuin Canada, 2022, 09:45 Thriving is a surreal exploration of dissociative identity disorder (DID) based on the experience of Black, non-binary, disabled multidisciplinary artist and former sex worker Kitoko Mai.

James Button UK, 2020, 05:42 Grumpy Welshman Derw Derw is late for an interview so the last thing he needs is to get sucked into a vortex. This short imagines what happens when it all goes wrong, just when you need it least.

STRAND 2

03

04

THE TADPOLE TRILOGY (SUBTITLED)

ROUND ROBIN

Leonard Giovenazzo Canada, 2022, 21:06 Alain has been locking himself in the family basement where he conducts experiments on amphibians. Louise, in response to her husband's behaviour, embarks on a quest for new sensations.

Jessica Morris UK, 2023, 11:44 Round Robin is a beautiful and brutal tragi-comedy. Think Edward Albee through the lens of Martin Parr. On a summer’s day, a family try to capture the perfect Christmas photograph.

05

06

EXPECTATIONS AND OTHER PRODUCTS (SUBTITLED)

CANTATA

Dali Rust Lithuania, 2023, 14:20 A kiosk vendor stands in a market daydreaming and meeting strangers. This short explores the inside life of objects and commodities, realising "although they don't speak, they feel pain."

Dave Fox Ireland, 2023, 11:44 Darren needs help. His fears are manifesting in the most unusual of ways – opera. He visits his therapist to find a solution. Except, sometimes, restoring harmony is just about facing the music.

95

bv/lne/mh

BETWEEN THE SHEETS

15

COMEDY 5

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

City Screen 1 13:30-15:00

City Screen 1 10:00-11:30

Friargate 19:30-21:00

The drive that literally keeps the human race going – sex and desire – takes centre stage here. Lean in to these hedonistic stories of appetite and the awkwardness that accompanies it. Ranging from the butterflies of flirting, the promise of a hot and heavy hook-up, through to a society where gratification leads to demise, these shorts can find the fun in fornication.

01

02

A/V

MANTIS

Ben S. Hyland UK, 2023, 09:59 Tony and Lindsay are looking for a permanent solution to their family's expanding numbers, but, for Tony, the surgery threatens his masculinity. Now, which one of them will go under the knife?

Will Peppercorn UK, 2022, 18:19 All life is sex and death, but here the two things are not mutually exclusive. In Mantis, the natural order of things observes the following rule: that the male is there for the sole purpose of sex.

STRAND 1

THE SNIP

96

03

04

FANCY THAT

FISHMONGER

Stuart Elliott UK, 2022, 08:03 Charlotte has a dilemma: the guy in her attic laying insulation is also on her dating app. She wants to swipe right, but is worried she'll go from a charming meet-cute to looking like a meet-creep.

Neil Ferron USA, 2023, 25:30 An erotic anxiety saga. In this supernatural dark comedy, an Irish fishmonger must survive a sex pact with an ancient fish creature in order to save his mother's soul from burning eternally in hell.

05

06

SORRY I AM LATE I WAS MASTURBATING

MAN>CODE

Alena Shevchenko Germany, 2022, 06:00 Hanna texts a friend. She's got pre-date nerves. A friend advises that she needs to relax and masturbate. This modern short throws the taboo surrounding female freedom and pleasure wide open.

Adrian Gardner UK, 2023, 14:24 Man>Code, explores hook-up culture amongst Black queer men in Britain. Lucas invites Theo around for what he thought would be no-strings-attached fun, until his ex-girlfriend returns home.

BV/s/sw

OUT IN THE OPEN COMEDY 6

Wednesday

Friday

Sunday

Yorks. Museum 19:30-20:30

Yorks. Museum 19:00-20:00

City Screen 2 12:00-13:00

12

Is it better to live in blissful ignorance or let the unvarnished truth see the light of day? The couples in these films get to find out first hand, as infidelity is put on public display and strung up on gallery walls. Here, unspoken thoughts are shared and comforting assumptions are shattered. Once the truth is out will any of these relationships ever be the same again?

01

02

DO NOT TOUCH

TALL DARK AND HANDSOME Sam Baron UK, 2022, 13:59 Varun (Amit Shah, Crashing) thought he was Ellie's (Laura Aikman, Gavin and Stacey) first Indian boyfriend. He was wrong. Director Sam Baron explores expectation in a way that you've never seen.

03

04

STRAND 3

James Newman, Harrison Newman UK, 2022, 08:00 An adulterer (Seann Walsh) discovers his one-night stand is the subject of an art exhibition and his current girlfriend has tickets.

He now must do everything in his power to destroy the artwork.

SKEWERED

F**KED

Nick Ray Rutter UK, 2023, 16:36 Sex, lies and vegetarians. What more could you want? Different sexual appetites and dietary ethics bring a stagnant relationship to a stark halt as a revelation confronts the elephant in the room.

Sara Harrak UK, 2023, 06:03 What are the rules in an open relationship? When Dani tells Jess she's interested in sleeping with guys again, it doesn’t go down too well and it looks like they might have hit their first hurdle.

05 CLOSE Tom Gentle UK, 2022, 15:48 When two 30-somethings lock themselves out in the communal stairwell and arguments start to get real heated, they’re forced to consider that maybe they aren’t as close as they once thought.

97

AB/D/FLS/SW

LIFECYCLE

PG

WEDNESDAY Friargate 12:00-13:00

DANCE 1 (SUBTITLED)

Saturday

Sunday

YSJU 10:30-11:30

YSJU 18:00-19:00

This is a journey of hope and loss. We travel through the bright and vibrant world of Yn Y Golau / In Visible Light. We strive for connection and perfection in Retrieval Loop and Spicy Pink Tea, before landing disorientated in the land of Witch-Hunt, then moving through the magical imagined world of Siamese Futurism. Finally, we arrive at a funeral parlour in On Duty.

01

02

A/V

RETRIEVAL LOOP (NO DIALOGUE)

Kate Lawrence, Joanna Wright UK, 2023, 12:25 An experimental vertical dance film. Two dancers take on a journey through natural light phenomena, in a reminder that dance is not only a visual art form but an accessible and kinetic one.

Thomas Ellis UK, 2023, 02:34 A retrieval courtship in suspended animation. The pair of dancers balance upside down on chairs before launching into graceful, fluid movements in mid-air. Their bodies strive for connection.

STRAND 1

YN Y GOLAU / IN VISIBLE LIGHT (SUBTITLED)

98

03

04

SIAMESE FUTURISM (NO DIALOGUE)

WITCH-HUNT (NO DIALOGUE)

Montika Kham-on Thailand, 2021, 08:40 The Great Boonchan rolls the gong, as its bang reverberates from the deepest abyss of the Sa-erg-guan whirlpool. Siamese Futurism reimagines the historic Holy Man’s Rebellion in Thailand.

Lauren Jane Pringle Germany, 2023, 13:32 Join Suzette, a hunted witch, as she grapples to understand her own intuitive body. Fearful and avoiding an inner voice, this film takes us on a journey that combines both dance and narrative.

05

06

SPICY PINK TEA (SUBTITLED)

ON DUTY (SUBTITLED)

Aqsa Arif UK, 2022, 12:25 In reverence to the British paintings that watch over her from inside a desolate stately home, a young Pakistani girl aspires to become the perfect upper-class lady as she embroiders her sari.

Yoona Degrémont USA, 2022, 09:27 To combat boredom, an employee that is on duty at a funeral home in Korea daydreams about an imaginary fight – which is about to become, to his great surprise, an actualised thing.

BV/cw/d/s

CAPTURE DANCE 2

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

NCEM 19:00-20:00

YSJU 15:30-16:30

NCEM 12:00-13:00

12

These films escape the restraints of an everyday and mundane life. They find beauty through unexpected movements and stillness. A camera endlessly rolls towards a dancer who plays a game of hide and seek in ?!%$&*#@$^*()}!@#|%>? Dance is shown through the still images of Animal Origins, whilst boundaries blur together in Postcode Beef and Fallen Memories.

01

02

A/V

?!%$&*#@$^*()}!@#|%>? (NO DIALOGUE)

ANIMAL ORIGINS

Clare Chong Singapore, 2021, 01:45 Two bodies emerge, one of flesh and one of metal. Both are slowly cautious, yet compelled towards each other. It asks, "Can you see me now?” What evolves, is a poignant game of hide and seek.

Siobhan Davies UK, 2022, 14:00 At the heart of this experimental documentary is the reflections of dancer and choreographer Siobhan Davies, as she unravels the complex processes that underpin a life’s work in dance.

STRAND 2

03

04

MOVING PORTRAITS (SUBTITLED)

DOLOROSA (NO DIALOGUE)

Lisa Simpson, Sima Gonsai UK, 2021, 03:45 Moving Portraits is the sequel to award-winning Suspended Motion (2021). The film is a series of five portraits from dancers who experience deaf, blindness and / or are living with complex disabilities.

Emma Martin, Hugh O'Conor UK, 2021, 18:40 A young woman yields to a predetermined fate. A son wrestles inside the abyss of his own skin. A woman’s face is marked by hope, as a young girl rebels against expectation and success.

05

06

FALLEN MEMORIES (NO DIALOGUE)

POSTCODE BEEF

Keng U Lao Singapore, 2021, 08:46 Waking up to an alternate reality, a man encounters a sewing machine and a batik left on the pedestal, that arouses his desires.

As he interacts with the material, he quickly realises he is trapped.

Kevin Muendo UK, 2021, 13:00 In a dystopian England, two rival London gangs meet at their border to settle some old scores. This dance short provides a touching commentary on boundaries, class and culture.

99

SW/FLS/MH/D/AB

THE WORLD THAT WE CODE

18

DOCUMENTARY 1

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

NCEM 10:00-11:30

Friargate 21:00-22:30

City Screen 1 13:30-15:00

This programme explores the ways in which technology shapes our lives, from revenge porn, incel culture and social media, to the isolation experienced by those excluded from virtual spaces. It’s not all doom though – as Apostles of Cinema reminds us, sometimes exclusion from the online world can open up new and interesting avenues for powerful connections.

02 THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Amélie Hardy Canada, 2022, 07:55 Capture, document, record, share, restart. We make ourselves more memorable than ever as we archive each bit of daily life. But what happens if this means that we lose something along the way?

Lucy Jane, Joya Berrow UK, 2023, 08:10 Doctors appointments, job applications, benefits forms and school schedules are online. Yet, one in seven people in the UK live without digital access. This film asks what it means to log-off.

STRAND 2

01 ABOUT MEMORY AND LOSS (SUBTITLED)

03

04

THE MECHANICS OF FLUIDS (SUBTITLED)

MY BLONDE GF

Gala Hernández López France, 2022, 38:47 In 2018, an incel called Anathematic Anarchist posted a suicide letter on Reddit entitled "America is responsible for my death."

The Mechanics of Fluids is an attempt to find answers to his words.

Rosie Morris UK, 2023, 18:39 Helen discovers that deep-fake images of her in sexually explicit and violent scenarios have been uploaded onto a porn site. Horrified, she goes on a journey to understand what has happened.

05 APOSTLES OF CINEMA (SUBTITLED) Cece Mlay, Darragh Amelia, Gertrude Malizana, Jesse Gerard Mpango. Tanzania, 2022, 16:09 Apostles of Cinema follows Frank, DJ Black and Rehema, three devoted film workers in Tanzania, as they reintroduce a classic piece of the country’s cultural film history to their audiences.

100

ALL IMAGES DISAPPEAR DOCUMENTARY 2

Wednesday

Friday

City Screen 1 13:30-15:00

City Screen 1 10:00-11:30

Saturday Theatre Royal 17:00-18:30

12

All images – whether captured in analogue photographs, as digital files, or imprinted on the mind – disappear. In these films, people undergo grief and loss in the aftermath of bereavement, exile, health crises and invasion. A young artist contemplates her vanishing sight, an old man grapples with dementia and a director clings onto the image of his grandmother.

01

02

A/V

PICTURING WONDERLAND

IN THE LAND WE LIVE

Alfie Elms UK, 2022, 08:24 Picturing Wonderland reflects a collaboration between the filmmakers and Maud Rowell in an experimental documentary short that examines what it means to live with degenerative blindness.

Alice Kidd UK, 2022, 08:05 In a mix of animation, digital and film, this sensory journey moves through the New Forest. It highlights the formative years of an elderly man who is now suffering with dementia in New Zealand.

STRAND 4

03

04

OUTLETS

NOW I AM OLD AND DO NOT NEED THE MOON (SUBTITLED)

Duncan Cowles UK, 2022, 19:00 Unable to move on from the death of his granny, a filmmaker desperately searches for the right film idea to finally allow him to seek true acceptance. Outlets asks, how can we finally let go?

Dasha Bough USA, 2023, 11:35 In a Roma village in Moldova, an old woman named Daria lives in fear of the Russian-Ukrainian war at her doorstep. Mischievous kids and watchful babushki surround her, as she contemplates life.

05

06

NEW YORK 81 (SUBTITLED) Jannicke Systad Jacobsen Norway, 2022, 32:00 In 1996 a young film student finds a mysterious photograph misplaced in the camera store where she works. The snapshot starts an investigation, as it delves into a web of lost memories.

EMPTY ROOMS (SUBTITLED) Zhenia Kazankina Russia, 2022, 05:31 "This film is a love letter to the people who can no longer be near me." Kazankina addresses friends and lovers in Moscow, following the emigration of people from Russia after February 2022.

101

MH/D/DU

BODIES AND MINDS

15

DOCUMENTARY 3

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

City Screen 2 12:00-13:00

City Screen 1 17:30-18:30

Friargate 12:00-13:00

These films investigate the connections between body and mind. A group of Arab women discover their physical bodies under the eye of a therapist. A trio of queer individuals unearth themselves through cosmetic procedures. Elsewhere, two autobiographical filmmakers grapple with the psychological and bureaucratic burdens attached to addiction and illness.

01

02

A/V

CLEAN

Lamees AlMakkawy UK, 2022, 07:48 What are the implications of not understanding our own bodies?

On one side, gynaecologist and psychosexual therapist Dr. Wafaa addresses this through a series of conversations and exercises.

Miranda Stern UK, 2022 18:42 Clean presents a woman’s love letter on addiction. It documents what is a final goodbye to heroin, as she attempts to come off the synthetic opiates that have kept her sober for the past six years.

STRAND 1

THE TALK (SUBTITLED)

03

04

FAIL FIRST (SUBTITLED)

BEING SEEN

Desiree Jade Schippers USA, 2022, 17:39 Through a series of calls and animations, Fail First is a crucial watch. It follows a woman that navigates the absurdities of fighting an insurance company for access to chronic illness treatment.

Ren Faulkner UK, 2023, 14:36 Barbering, massaging and tattooing services are seen by many as superficial appointments. For queer people, the emotions that come with appearance changes mean a reclamation of bodies.

05 MAMA'S FATTEH (SUBTITLED) Alia Carita Tompkins USA, 2023, 04:33 From across the world, a mother teaches her daughter how to make her favourite Palestinian dish for Eid. This story charts belonging, identity and what it means to reconnect with home.

102

FLS/SW

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE DOCUMENTARY 4

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

City Screen 2 13:30-15:00

NCEM 15:30-17:00

YSJU 19:30-21:00

18

From the cockle-scattered beaches of the Welsh coast to the red soil of a Nigerian village, the tight-knit terraces of West Yorkshire and the biodiverse and luscious forests of Taiwan, these films journey through a series of places – some real, some imagined – which hold a strong emotional significance for the filmmakers and subjects that we meet along the way.

01

02

A/V

SHE SELLS SHELLFISH (SUBTITLED)

RED SOIL (NO DIALOFUE)

Lily Tiger Tonkin-Wells UK, 2023, 13:06 Shot in black-and-white Super 8, this is a collage of two Welsh women’s lives, intertwined with the past. It explores the cockle gatherers of South Wales, powerful shellfish and secret seaweed.

Joshua Ighodaro UK, 2023, 08:30 Exploring burial traditions like the Benin Kingdom, this poignant short follows the family of Mama, a Nigerian elder, as they now prepare for her funeral, offering an insight into life and death.

STRAND 5

03

04

LISTEN CLOSELY (NO DIALOGUE)

LIMINAL SPACE: DIVING WITHIN (SUBTITLED)

George Hiraoka Cloke UK, 2022, 09:00 This ecologically conscious short celebrates bio-diverse Taiwanese soundscapes, ranging from the ethereal chirp of cicadas to the raucous cackle of the region's incredible Blue Magpies.

Anahita Safarnejad Choobary Germany, 2022, 22:22 Anahita grows up in front of her father's camera. A dreamy life fulfilled with love and poetry evolves into a nightmare in which she witnesses her identity get lost as her father dies of cancer.

05

06

WARBIRDS

VOLVER (SUBTITLED)

Catherine Louise Ruby Yeats UK, 2023, 21:16 This film is a glimpse into people's lives in Rhosneigr, a Welsh seaside town coexisting with an RAF base. Jude, a young resident, guides us and eventually shares his own experience of the planes.

Borja Larrondo, Diego Sánchez Spain, 2023v, 17:20 A collective of LGBTQIA+ artists travel back to their hometowns aboard a pride float. This road movie travels through the Spanish landscape, as it examines what it means to clash with the past.

103

AB/D/FLS/MH/SW

BUT HOW DO YOU WANT TO LIVE NOW?

12

DOCUMENTARY 5 (SUBTITLED)

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

City Screen 1 15:30-17:00

NCEM 10:00-11:30

Yorks. Museum 13:30-15:00

In What is Wola?, a young man struggles to unpick the secret to a meaningful life. What does home mean? How do we access support? Throughout this programme, filmmakers offer different responses, presenting visions of alternative communities, digging into difficult questions around identity and turning to wise elders in search of direction, hope and meaning.

01

02

A/V

THE ARCHIVE: QUEER NIGERIANS (SUBTITLED) Simisolaoluwa Akande UK, 2023, 15:00 “When will you come home?” Timinepre’s mother demands. Little does she know that Timinepre has fled Nigeria to seek asylum in the UK. If she explains, it means coming out to her family.

STRAND 5

WHAT IS 'WOLA'? (SUBTITLED) Marcin Kasperek UK, 2023, 03:52 A young filmmaker challenges himself to create a documentary in which he strives to find an answer to a physical and philosophical question. He asks, "how do we live a meaningful life?"

03

04

PAMILYA (SUBTITLED)

WILL YOU LOOK AT ME (SUBTITLED)

Miles Blacket UK, 2023, 14:35 Pamilya centres around a West London flat. It tells the story of the Filipino Domestic Workers Association (FDWA) headquarters, and is dedicated to supporting the victims of modern slavery.

Shuli Huang China, 2022, 16:00 As a young Chinese filmmaker returns to his hometown in search for himself, a long overdue conversation with his mother dives the two of them into a quest for acceptance, belonging and love.

05 NAI NĂI & WÀI PÓ (GRANDMA & GRANDMA) (SUBTITLED) Sean Wang USA, 2023, 31:24 Nai Năi is my grandma. Wài Pó is also my grandma. Together, they are a grandma super team that dances, farts and stretches their sorrows away. This short expands the bonds that unite us.

104

CW

STATES OF EMERGENCY DOCUMENTARY 6

Wednesday

Friday

Sunday

City Screen 2 15:30-17:00

City Screen 2 12:00-13:30

Friargate 21:30-23:00

15

Sometimes it feels like we are in a state of emergency. These films offer the perspectives of different people living through crises past, present and future. Whilst the context of these encounters is radically different, together they offer reflections on the most pressing issues shaping contemporary society – environmental meltdown, workers' rights and displacement.

A/V

01

02

FRONTIER TOWN

THE MEDALLION

Theo Tennant, Tom Tennant UK, 2023, 30:00 By 2054, Fairbourne will be decommissioned and left to the sea. . As scientists test coastal defenses in a lab, the people labelled "the UK's first climate refugees" confront an uncertain future.

Ruth Hunduma UK, 2023, 18:34 When Ruth was young, she was given a medallion etched with a Nefertiti portrait. This story follows her mother's early memories of the Derg Genocide, her escape and the object's true story.

STRAND 3

03

04

FATA MORGANA (SUBTITLED)

THE VEILED CITY

Daood Alabdulaa Germany, 2023, 29:00 Truck driver Abu Husain, like many guest workers in Qatar, spends countless hours in a self-contained world of standing, waiting and tenaciously moving trucks on the absolute fringes of society.

Natalie Cubides-Brady UK, 2022, 12:54 The Veiled City is a sci-fi city symphony inspired by London’s Great Smog of 1952. Created from archive footage, the film unfolds through fictional letters from a post-apocalyptic future.

CELEBRATE THE BEST FILMS. JOIN US AT THIS YEAR'S AWARDS CEREMONY. SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER, YORKSHIRE MUSEUM | 16:30-19:00 Our 13th edition closes with an awards ceremony where we recognise films from each genre, as well as our Audience Choice, Best of Fest and Special Guest Awards. Be part of the celebration.

105

SW/BV

BAGGAGE CLAIM

15

Wednesday City Screen 2 10:00-11:30

DRAMA 1

Thursday

Saturday

Yorks. Museum 19:00-20:30

Friargate 19:00-20:30

We all gather, hold and carry the hurt we feel. Identity is affected by each and every decision, influence and encounter, positive or negative. Our experiences of joy, anger and grief combine to create individual identities. Whether it be the energy showcased in Jamal Tosmal or the acceptance exhibited in Stella, these films show the importance of human interaction.

A/V

02

SMILE

YELLOW (SUBTITLED)

Jo Smyth UK, 2022, 13:42 An emphatic and powerful watch. Smile is about a woman in her 50s and how she has to navigate day-to-day existence of sexism, the fall out of sexual assault and how she decides to fight back.

Elham Ehsas UK, 2023, 12:49 In Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full body veil from a Talib shop-keeper.

Yellow is the story of navigating a future governed by oppression.

STRAND 5

01

03

04

STELLA

MUSCAT

Alison Titulaer New Zealand, 2023, 14:14 Stella is out for a special date with her husband Stanley, whose health and mind are failing. She yearns for connection, capturing brief moments of lucidity before he slips away, this time forever.

Philippe Grenier Canada, 2023, 16:29 Samir, a 16-year-old Moroccan fisherman, discovers his attraction towards men when he meets Louis, a tourist travelling with his wife.

When Louis faces difficulty, Samir is the only one who can help.

05

06

JAMAL TOSMAL (SUBTITLED) Martina Pastori Italy, 2022, 16:53 Jamal Tosmal is a cynical and eccentric comedy-drama. A succession of unexpected events bring two opposing outcasts together on an adventure through Marseille's hectic suburbs.

106

IF YOU'RE HAPPY Phoebe Arnstein UK, 2023, 18:00 A woman (Erin Doherty, Chloe, The Crown) struggles with the pressures of motherhood and uses a childish game at a local baby group to vent her fury, sparking an unexpected reaction.

AB/SW

CAUGHT BY SURPRISE

Wednesday City Screen 2 13:30-15:00

DRAMA 2

Friday City Screen 2 10:00-11:30

Saturday YSJU 19:00-20:30

Try as we might to avoid it, life has a tendency of throwing curve-balls when we least expect them. This can cause the solid ground beneath our feet to feel like it's giving way in the wake of unforeseen situations. The characters in this collection are all caught off guard by forces outside of their control. How they choose to react will shape them and their relationships.

01

02

A/V

PIECE BY PIECE (SUBTITLED) Reza Rasouli Austria, 2023, 08:58 Two teenage friends are roaming the neighbourhood together.

The boy asks his friend about her headscarf, playfully ripping it off. The following chase leads the two of them to new insights.

03

04

MONITOR

THE FADING (SUBTITLED)

STRAND 3

FUCK YOU I'M MILLWALL (SUBTITLED) Romain Dumont France, 2023, 16:00 On their way home, Lola and Moha come across a car with an open door. The opportunity seems to good to be true. Lola convinces her lover to climb inside what they realise is a "bait car."

Margo Roe UK, 2023, 16:18 An insight into parenthood and power. Jenna and Fi want to start a family and must undertake the fitness-to-parent trial required by the state: three months under observation with a robot "baby."

Rafaël Beauchamp Canada, 2023, 15:35 In a foggy Quebec winter, Luce, a grieving mother faced with the disappearance of her son, is taken aback when three local hunters track down the alleged killer, a seemingly harmless young man.

05

06

SIBLING (SUBTITLED)

PHAEDRA

Laura Van Passel Belgium, 2023, 17:52 Kato, a 16-year-old girl, goes on a skiing holiday with her halfbrother Alex. The two teenagers don't know each other that well but try, very tentatively, to build a brother-sister relationship.

Jeremy Artis Australia, 2023, 15:30 Loosely based on a true story that took place in the Greek Orthodox community of Melbourne, Phaedra, a 45-year-old dentist, finds a 25-year-old service worker to help end her life.

107

AB

DANGER LURKS

15

DRAMA 3

Wednesday

Friday

City Screen 1 15:30-17:00

NCEM 12:00-13:30

Saturday City Screen 1 21:00-22:30

The comfort of the everyday belies the fact that the possibility of danger is an ever-present threat, lurking beneath the surface. This is a realisation that becomes grievously apparent to a group of friends who make an irrevocable mistake; fuelling the nervously uproarious applause of a party assembly; and eating away at a son with a desire to avenge his father.

01

02

A/V

ANIMALS Greg Cruttwell UK, 2023, 16:42 Heartache, grief, rage and resentment. Liam is a young man, who can’t come to terms with what happened to his dad after a football match. He normally would have been there with him.

STRAND 4

TEN WITH A FLAG Vasco Alexandre Denmark, 2022, 15:58 A timeless dystopian drama. In a society where the government predicts the genetic intellectual capacity of every newborn child, a pregnant woman's foetus is rated a perfect, but unusual, ten.

108

03

04

CHEZ ALI (SUBTITLED)

BOTTLENECK

Anne-Lise Morin Belgium, 2023, 16:14 Ali, the owner of a night shop, is the victim of a robbery that ruins his business and disrupts his life. Helped by his friend Fabien, he tries to restore things, but his moral principles are put to the test.

Tatjana Hamilton Australia, 2022, 13:00 On a day intended to be a celebration of new life in suburban Campbelltown, a series of events and decisions made by a group of friends lead to a mistake which can never be undone.

05

06

APPLAUSE (SUBTITLED)

BLESSED BY SUNLIGHT (SUBTITLED)

Guilherme Daniel Spain, 2023, 13:01 A message of praise to the president concludes a party assembly, sparking applause. Meanwhile, in the middle of the crowd, the state police look for the slightest sign of dissent in the ovation.

Sebastian Krolak UK, 2023, 13:35 Jua, a carefree Tanzanian girl with albinism, spends time playing soccer and reading books. Her father tries to protect her from any danger, but in the case of such an unruly girl, it proves impossible.

FLS/bv/lne/sw/ed

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

Wednesday Friargate 17:30-19:00

DRAMA 4

Friday City Screen 1 15:30-17:00

Saturday YSJU 21:00-22:30

15

We don’t like seeing the same thing time and time again. Sometimes it’s great to witness what was previously unfamiliar, to look at unique visions from around the world. These films deal with the rare and often unseen. From a florist with a disfluent speech condition, to a man with a memory disorder and a serial eater-influencer, this programme will captivate you.

01

02

A/V

EVERYTHING AT ONCE (SUBTITLED)

FOOD FOR A TRASH BIRD (SUBTITLED)

Henrik Dyb Zwart Norway, 2022, 08:18 You’ve heard it before: a moment can change your life. It's possible to point to the instance when things changed. But for Jakob, there's just memories, as if everything happened at once.

Leevi Axel Pellas Finland, 2023 16:48 What happens when we lose our ability to reflect on ourselves?

In Food For a Trash Bird, an absent father is forced to take care of his son after running into his ex-wife at a store on Father's Day.

STRAND 1

03

04

GUTTER (SUBTITLED)

THE TALENT

Theodore Drusba Canada, 2022, 21:31 A bowling alley in the middle of a thunderstorm. A pregnant girl, a businessman and a widower find shelter. Gutter is an elegant and surreal short on what it means to connect and get a strike.

Thomas May Bailey UK, 2023, 14:55 A lyrical meditation on masculinity and desire. On the set of a luxury car commercial, an overlooked assistant seizes his chance to get noticed. Starring Golden Globe nominee Emma D'Arcy.

04

05

06

VOICE ACTIVATED Steve Anthopoulos Australia, 2022, 12:00 A short film about avoidance, acceptance and what it means to speak. A florist with a stammer is suddenly forced to cooperate with a voice activated car on the way to a very important delivery.

MUKBANGER (SUBTITLED) Hugo Becker France, 2023, 17:53 Mukbang is a phenomenon that involves cooking and eating, often swallowing inordinate amounts of food whilst filming oneself and interacting with an audience. Inspired by real events.

109

D/sw/ab/mh 15

CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE! DRAMA 5

Wednesday

Friday

NCEM 21:00-22:30

Yorks. Museum 20:30-22:00

Sunday City Screen 1 10:00-11:30

A selection of shorts with children at the centre, ranging from the raging hormones of teenagers to the innocence of adolescents caught in mature situations beyond the depths of their experience. Whatever the circumstance, this programme shows us how young people can powerfully stir our emotions – and how we can learn from their growing ways of seeing.

01

02

A/V

GORKA Joe Weiland UK, 2023, 18:29 A short that demonstrates the power of personal connection. A French exchange student visits England for the first time and finds himself at the centre of a very particular British family dynamic.

STRAND 5

RICKSHAW Raphaël Hernandez UK, 2023, 08:00 Rickshaw creates a poignant medley of fate, injustice and personal choice. Paul and his family are going for a fun rickshaw ride when a sudden surprising encounter stops them on their journey home.

03

04

FATTY (SUBTITLED)

THE SPACE IN BETWEEN

Riwen Huang China, 2022, 29:45 A story about expression, friendship and finding love in the most unexpected of places. Sensen joined the cheerleading team to accompany her best friend Huahua, but is troubled by her body.

Rhys Holland UK, 2022, 12:26 A film showing the scope of escapism. Woken up by his arguing parents, a timid nine-year-old-boy attempts to wedge himself in between them. In the process, his own mental health is on the line.

05

06

SAFE AS HOUSES Mia Mullarkey Ireland, 2022, 16:11 On a Dublin council estate on a hot summer's day, Aggie, a woman with Down's Syndrome, immediately offers her home up when she finds a distressed little girl who is crying in her front garden.

110

NOTHING, EXCEPT EVERYTHING Wesley Wang USA, 2022, 12:52 A story about the whirlwind of uncertainty that faces our current generation. A graduating high-schooler navigates a world of seemingly inevitable chaos by finding order in the number seven.

THE TIES THAT BIND

Wednesday Yorks. Museum 21:00-22:30

DRAMA 6

Friday NCEM 20:30-22:00

Sunday

PG

Yorks. Museum 10:00-11:30

How are we shaped by our closest relationships? These films each take a look at these formative bonds. They pay attention to the approach of death, our modern attitudes toward mental health and disability, and also look at the ties between the past and the future. These shorts delve into the most important things in life and how exactly we handle their pressures.

01

02

A/V

RAPLH

CONSIDER THE LILIES

Archie Rowell UK, 2023, 05:00 A story on grief, heartache and what it means to remember the ones you love. After a family bereavement, Ralph must carry on as he is left with only pieces of his past that he held so dear.

Cristina Spina Italy, 2023, 23:00 A woman, possibly homeless, enters a​Brooklyn apartment's open house​. We sense that she loves and mourns the space.

The woman grabs a pair of keys, and during the night breaks in.

STRAND 2

03

04

F.O.G

THE THREE OF US (SUBTITLED)

Malinda Kaur UK, 2023, 10:11 F.O.G (Fear, Obligation, Guilt) is a nuanced portrayal of a mother -daughter relationship. It shows the associated obligations and family ties of being a Sikh woman in contemporary British society.

Claudia Bottino France, 2022, 18:00 Julien, 30, visits his six-year-old daughter, Cléa, whom he has not seen for a long time. Whilst the child looks for his attention, Julien makes every effort to come home to Lucie, Cléa’s mother.

05

06

BY HAND (SUBTITLED) Rhys Prichard UK, 2022 11:00 Oscar and his deaf younger sister Nia are sent down to a remote coastal town to visit their estranged fisherman father Mark. In an afternoon, the trio are ripped apart and then brought together.

THIS WILD ABYSS Thomas Mendolia USA, 2022, 22:30 A former cowboy-turned-janitor with an eighth-grade education forms an unlikely friendship with astronomer Edwin Hubble when he assists him with important research at Mt. Wilson Observatory.

111

MH PG

AND WITHIN US, THEY LIVE DRAMA 7

Thursay

Friday

City Screen 1 11:30-13:00

City Screen 1 21:00-22:30

Sunday NCEM 13:30-15:00

From oral histories and ancestral wisdom, to navigations of grief and celebrations of our time on Earth, the selection of films in this programme offers musings on memory, the complexities of loss and how they intertwine with spirituality, identity and culture. Each of these films exists as a space to reconnect with the self, reflect on the now and reimagine the future.

01

02

A/V

MUNA Warda Mohamed UK, 2022, 18:50 Teen Muna is desperate to go on the school trip. Tragedy strikes when her grandfather dies in Somalia, and Muna has to navigate a confusing mourning period for someone she never really knew. .

STRAND 1

SET LAM (SUBTITLED) Vincent Fontano France, 2023, 20:00 In a city's ghetto, in the midst of a trance, a young girl finds herself paralysed by fear. She is afraid her loved ones may disappear.

Her grandmother then tells her the truly strange tale of Edwardo..

112

03

04

ZIMMERMANN (SUBTITLED)

OBA

Nikolai Brokolovsky UK, 2022, 28:34 Across the countryside of 1990s Germany, an ominous travelling craftsman leaves a trail of death in his wake. However, what may seem random and homicidal could actually reflect a pattern.

Femi Oladigbolu UK, 2023, 11:17 In a re-imagined future, a King of a Nigerian village passes away.

The village kingmakers consult with traditional Gods until Ayo, a young man from South East London, is selected as the new Oba.

05

06

EID MUBARAK (SUBTITLED)

JUST A LITTLE LONGER (SUBTITLED)

Mahnoor Euceph USA, 2022, 16:00 A privileged six-year-old Pakistani girl embarks on a mission to save her beloved pet goat from being eaten on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Azha, only to learn the meaning of sacrifice.

Siggi Holm Sweden, 2022, 15:28 Just A Little Longer recounts feelings of grief, heartache and loss.

It focuses on the father of a young daughter, who must come to terms with the passing of his wife, as he keeps her body at home.

MH/Sw

WITH YOU I FEEL FOREVER

Thursday NCEM 13:30-15:00

DRAMA 8

Saturday Friargate 13:30-15:00

Sunday

15

City Screen 2 15:30-17:00

This selection is an ode to communion – whether it be family, siblings, parents, partners. It reveres those we hold and are held by. At its core, it's a celebration of love. These films evoke nostalgia and encourage introspection, as they invite us to reflect on our relations and the spaces they inhabit. What does it mean to cultivate a home? And, how do we hold on to it?

01

02

A/V

THE GIRLS ROOM

FOR MY SON (SUBTITLED)

Tracey Lopes UK, 2022 12:24 A beautifully intimate portrait of young womanhood. Set in 2000s London, three teen sisters share a council bedroom where they undergo a journey of textured self discovery and growth.

Mathilde Jouaud UK, 2022, 13:54 How much is love worth? In a world where consumerism and possessions are synonymous with happiness, a mother struggles to buy a video game console for a very important Christmas.

STRAND 5

03

04

INHERITANCE

MUD QUEEN

Erin Lau USA, 2022, 18:28 What does it mean to connect with the past? How can we belong?

In this short drama, a struggling nature photographer must confront the pain his family has carried for several generations.

Nathan Fagan and Luke Daly Ireland, 2023, 18:17 A remote farmhouse in rural north county Dublin, Ireland. The early 1990s. Ryan is determined to celebrate his 12th birthday with style. But will mam's erratic behaviour derail the whole night?

05

06

BEYOND THE SEA (SUBTITLED)

SHEE

Hippolyte Leibovici Belgium, 2023, 25:00 Lady Casca, a drag queen in her 60s, is about to go on stage at her cabaret for the last time. Tomorrow, retirement by the sea awaits. But her son interrupts the festivities with some sad news.

Lia Campbell UK, 2023, 10:00 Shee and Magnus confront an unexpected pregnancy. They must decide whether to seize their only chance to have a family, as they battle the difficult facts – same-sex adoption is illegal in Kenya.

113

AB/mh

BETWEEN ALIENATION & BELONGING

PG

DRAMA 9 (SUBTITLED)

Thursday

Saturday

City Screen 1 19:00-20:30

City Screen 1 15:30-17:00

Sunday Friargate 17:30-19:00

The characters in these shorts are outsiders. Here, we have a cast that includes daughters, best friends and drivers. Each of the following protagonists long for a deeper connection to the world around them. They have a fear of being abandoned and lost and, as a result, must show humility. The question is: in times of crises, will they be able to support themselves?

01 ANY PLACE (SUBTITLED)

A/V

LOWER GROUND (SUBTITLED) Firas Itani UK, 2023, 13:14 When a concierge prepares dinner for his nephew, a resident demands his assistance. The concierge finds himself torn between attending to his employer’s requests and the boy's hunger.

STRAND 4

Minerva Rivera Bolaños Mexico, 2022, 13:09 In a society where children are not heard and traditions are not questioned, the peaceful life of a five-year-old is disturbed by a terrible event that forces her to find a way to save her loved ones.

02

114

03

04

BEAN FEASA (SUBTITLED)

BOY (SUBTITLED)

Daniel Butler Ireland, 2022, 17:04 The sceptical daughter of a traditional healer has her certainties challenged when she suddenly encounters one of the "Good People." A supernatural drama inspired by Donegal folk-tales.

Ginte Regina UK, 2023, 16:30 Lina is Elena’s best friend, but now she is pregnant with Tomas’ baby. The trio of Lithuanian immigrants in England set out on one last illegal fishing day trip before the arrival of their child.

05

06

OYSTERS (SUBTITLED)

SAME OLD (SUBTITLED)

Maïa Descamps Belgium, 2021, 23:20 At a bachelorette party, Charlotte, 30-years-old, reunites with friends she hasn't seen for a while. She has a secret that she keeps to herself ... but like the oysters, these women start to open up.

Lloyd Lee Choi Canada, 2022, 15:10 A Chinese delivery driver in New York City discovers his e-bike has been stolen. In this poignant short drama, the driver must come to terms with the fragility of the life he has built in America.

BV/mh/AB/SW/s

SEARCHING TO BE SEEN

Thursday Theatre Royal 15:30-17:00

DRAMA 10

Saturday YSJU 13:30-15:00

Sunday YSJU 21:30-23:00

15

Recognition is something characters in this programme seek out in different ways. Whether this means being recognised as part of your culture as in Whiteboy, or proving you are worthy of chasing your dreams like the chef in Salmon, it's a desire to be seen correctly. In life's toughest moments, we pursue honest connection even under the looming threat of rejection.

01

02

A/V

SALMON (SUBTITLED)

TREACLE TOWN

Mattis Heurlin Denmark, 2023, 22:43 A young chef with big dreams, gets an opportunity at a Nordic Michelin restaurant. He meets André, an uncompromising chef who pushes him throughout the evening to see if he can perform.

Casey Hennessy UK, 2022, 11:57 Two teenage best friends commemorate their last night together by camping out overnight in a giant department store, but tensions begin to boil, as the reality of leaving each other hit home.

STRAND 3

03

04

THIRSTYGIRL

SHEEPHEAD (SUBTITLED)

Alexandra Qin USA, 2023, 10:00 A raw, intimate film about addiction and sisterhood, following the lives of two women travelling together. On a road trip with her sister, Charlie struggles to hide a struggling secret sex addiction.

Spencer Creigh USA, 2022, 09:24 Frankie plays the role of both local celebrity and recluse, having lived in a tourist town his entire life. But when he discovers that a long-time acquaintance has possibly died, it upends his persona.

05

06

CHERUBS

WHITEBOY (SUBTITLED)

Anne-Sophie Bine USA, 2022, 18:00 At arts camp, a 13-year old girl feels seen for the first time when an older counsellor takes her under his wing. As the boundaries of their friendship blur, she must reckon with her brutal discovery.

Matty Crawford UK, 2022, 20:00 A British-born boy struggles to assimilate with his Filipino identity. Whiteboy’s first visit to his "home" country of the Philippines takes a strange turn when he encounters a local spirit.

115

Ab/d/fls/lne/mh/s/sw

WOMEN FIGHT WORLDS THAT DISMISS THEM

15

DRAMA 11

Thursday

Saturday

City Screen 2 15:30-17:00

City Screen 2 10:00-11:30

Sunday NCEM 19:30-21:00

Shame is a powerful force of oppression. It keeps women cooped in small cages within their minds, fearfully unable to express their beliefs or act according to their true selves. These central characters take charge and confront those that attempt to make them small. By pushing back, they uncover a world that is far more dysfunctional and oppressive than it seems.

01

02

A/V

THE DATE Amy Hodge UK, 2023, 12:52 Sasha, a loud mouthed teenager, goes on her first date. Except when she gets turned on and takes charge of her own sexuality, it reveals the confusing nature of what girls are allowed to want.

STRAND 4

NOCTURNAL BURGER (SUBTITLED) Reema Maya India, 2023, 27:27 A 13-year-old girl and a 30-something man are brought to a police station. Amidst questionable motives and unreliable narrators, a female constable must investigate what happened.

03

04

HOME (SUBTITLED)

EVERYTHING GOES DARK

Aditi Sharma India, 2022, 15:42 A resident tea plantation worker dreads her rapidly approaching retirement, as she must choose between keeping her home or saving her daughter from a highly exploitative labour system.

Alex Casimir USA, 2023, 15:00 Beauty, language and fragility. A Black high school student prepares to take her senior yearbook photo when insecurities and a tense friendship push her towards a very difficult breaking point.

05 MY EYES ARE UP HERE Nathan Morris UK, 2022, 13:48 A deep insight into the lives of those who are unseen in mainstream media. A disabled woman sets off on a mission to get the morning after pill. The only thing in her way is ... everything.

116

AB/bv/su/lne/s/sw

SURVIVAL, POWER & GREED

Thursday NCEM 21:00-22:30

DRAMA 12

Saturday NCEM 17:00-18:30

Sunday Yorks. Museum 19:30-21:00

15

What would we do to get what we want? And where do we set our limits? The Golden West presents a rapidly escalating feud between warring sisters, whilst Calf follows Cáit's fight not only for herself but her family too. Mark of Distinction presents one boy's attempt to assert his independence. These characters fight tooth and nail for survival, with everything they've got.

01

02

A/V

PLEASE HOLD THE LINE (SUBTITLED) Tan Ce Ding Malaysia, 2022, 18:30 Please Hold the Line is a film about class, choice and wealth. A young scam call operator is thrust into a moral dilemma, as she must frantically hustle money for a life-changing personal crisis.

03

04

STRAND 2

THE GOLDEN WEST Tom Berkeley, Ross White UK, 2021, 24:38 It's November 1849. Having fled the Great Famine, two warring Irish sisters seek their fortunes in the gold rush. But with winter fast approaching, their feud soon threatens to become deadly.

CALF

LÍMITE

Jamie O'Rourke Ireland, 2022, 14:55 A dark drama about the violence of control. A near fatal farm accident leaves teenager Cáit with a terrible decision to make.

She must do everything she can in order to protect her family.

George Nicholas Mexico, Bulgaria, USA, 2023, 29:59 Manuel is a 16-year-old living in Tijuana with his grandfather whilst his mom works in the USA, supporting them. When he meets a girl, he sees an opportunity to assert his independence.

ENTER NEW AND IMMERSIVE WORLDS. JOURNEY INTO THE SCREEN SCHOOL VR LAB. 8-12 NOVEMBER, CITY SCREEN BASEMENT | 11:00-21:00 Aesthetica Our 13th edition and LCC’s closes Screen with aSchool live prize invite ceremony you intowhere the exciting we recognise world ofthe interactive best filmcinema. from each genre, Discover our 360° Lab and our essential panel discussions at York Explore.

Booking advised. as well as our Audience Choice, Best of Fest and Special Guest Awards. Be a part of the celebration.

117

Ab/du/fls/mh/sw

IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY

12 15

DRAMA 13

THURSDAY

Saturday

City Screen 2 10:00-11:00

Yorks. Museum 16:30-17:30

Sunday YSJU 10:30-11:30

Family relationships can be hard. It’s not always easy to get along with those closest to you. In this heavy hitting programme, we are reminded of the bonds between individuals and what happens when they are broken or damaged. We are encouraged to ask, can they ever be mended? Beyond this, what happens when a stranger invades our personal space?

01 INDUCTION

A/V

_ELICIT_ Stacha Hicks UK, 2022, 16:00 "A story for the isolated, the ageing and the cruciverbalists." A crossword maker. A librarian. 40 years of shared marriage, memories and tangled lives. But isolation can change people.

STRAND 4

Derek Anderson UK, 2022, 08:56 As Johnny readies himself, he is overcome with a familiar sense of anxiety, whilst his father screams at him from the back room.

Johnny takes a breath, pauses and leans against the cold mirror.

02

118

03

04

IRONSTONE (NO DIALOGUE)

SAFE

Craig Ronald Bingham UK, 2022, 04:44 Imagine a society where, to be accepted, you must take the place of someone else. Ironstone presents a brooding and thrilling short drama inspired by an old and darkly violent Yorkshire tale.

Debbie Howard UK, 2023, 09:53 A short about the repeated experience of harassment and danger in public spaces. Anne, an office cleaner, finishes work late one evening to be pursued and harassed by a man at the bus stop.

05

06

STONES

KIRAN (SUBTITLED)

Matthew Hopper UK, 2023, 14:33 On a trip to his old family home in the Scottish Highlands, a troubled man argues on the phone with his stoic father. The conversation reveals a complex problem in their relationship.

Bhulla Beghal UK, 2022, 07:59 Kiran, once a happily married business owner, is now the full time carer of her elderly mother who is suffering from dementia.

In the throws of routine and repeating calls for help, Kiran breaks.

FLS/LNE/BV.CW

SPATIAL RELATIONS EXPERIMENTAL 1

Wednesday

Friday

NCEM 15:30-17:00

NCEM 10:00-11:30

Saturday City Screen 2 15:30-17:00

12

In this programme, we present a kaleidoscopic journey into the relationships between people and space. From a journey through the streets of Copenhagen, contemplating history, images and memory, to an expansive poetic and political portrait of England – this list has it all. In this collection, we ask viewers to reflect on their own stories that are held within.

01

02

RELIÉF RELIEF (SUBTITLED)

OH MY NIGHT (SUBTITLED)

Johannes Gierlinger, Mira Klug Austria, 2023, 09:00 Relièf Relief meanders downstream along the border line of the Austria-Slovakian river Morava, posing questions about memory, landscape and the reverberations of historical circumstances.

Isis Mihrimah Cabolet Netherlands, 2022, 25:00 A short pop musical inspired by the closure of night life as a result of Covid lockdowns. Human (Merel Baldé) is painfully stuck.

Challenged by her alter ego Blue, she steps out of her house.

A/V

STRAND 5

03

04

ROBART (SUBTITLED)

BEING SEEN SEEING (SUBTITLED)

Owain Train McGilvary UK, 2023, 07:24 A moving-image project about a gay bar in Bangor, North Wales, that was victim to an arson attack in 2014. It occurred on the same day that same-sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales.

Majse Vilstrup Denmark, 2022, 21:52 A walk down a Copenhagen street is part of something more murky and complicated than first imagined. Being Seen Seeing is an interweaving of a city's back-stories and half-captured voices.

05

06

IRIS

MIRRORS

Bea Macdonald UK, 2022, 04:58 "Iris" is the name of a curtain shop on Deptford High Street in South London. Here, the camera floats along the street, following the eye to observe moments of concealment, privacy and safety.

Paul Daly UK, 2022, 29:00 Mirrors witnesses the history of England over seven years. From volatile public demonstrations to intimate domestic scenes, the film reveals the emotions and experience of living on this island.

119

D/fls/lne/s/mh

RE(CONSTRUCTION)

15

EXPERIMENTAL 2

Wednesday

Friday

Sunday

City Screen 2 21:00-22:30

Friargate 20:30-22:00

City Screen 2 13:30-15:00

A mosaic of reconstruction and response. This excavation delves into the intersection of histories, real and imagined. It uses reflection, archival response and re enactments. From engagement with Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, to a retelling of The Thief of Bagdad, there is space here to re-imagine, rethink and re-engage with history, as we question narrative.

01

02

A/V

AFTER WE’RE GONE Ima Iduozee Finland, 2022, 09:52 Zena enters an underground shrine to meet a royal priestess.

As the ritual begins, she re-imagines the journeys of the African Diaspora. The resulting film collages archive, fantasy and myth.

STRAND 3

QUIET AS IT'S KEPT Ja'Tovia M. Gary USA, 2023, 25:36 A cinematic response to Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye (1970), viewers are transported to Ohio in 1941 to witness the everyday particulars of colourism and its total effects on the intramural.

03

04

SKYSCRAPER FILM (NO DIALOGUE)

EXTERIOR TURBULENCE

Federica Foglia Italy, 2023, 07:56 Can skyscrapers transform into something else? Can solid lines melt into natural sensuous curves? Skyscraper is an assemblage of camera-free shots, made from scraps of 1970s 16mm films.

Sofia Theodore-Pierce USA, 2023, 11:07 Seizure dreams, horses, and long distance conversations from bed. Loose re-enactments from Marguerite Duras Baxter and Vera Baxter. A year of storms, a mother and two star-crossed lovers.

05 THIEVES Michelle Williams Gamaker UK, 2023, 27:00 This fantasy adventure reclaims the role of marginalised stories by retelling two versions of The Thief of Bagdad, the silent blackand-white film from 1924, and the colour version from 1940.

120

CW

TRANSFIGURED REALITIES EXPERIMENTAL 3

Thursday

Saturday

Theatre Royal 11:30-13:00

YSJU 21:00-22:30

sunday NCEM 10:00-11:30

15

These films question what it means to be alive – through the lens of our experiences. What does it mean to fall? This risky act opens up new dimensions, bringing with it a whole set of feelings. These shorts dive into alternative spaces, worlds of movement and the imagination. In this exploration of the real and virtual, viewers are brought into a world of innovation.

01

02

A/V

DEEPLY, MADLY

CYCLEPATHS (NO DIALOGUE)

Helen Anna Flanagan UK, 2022, 27:44 Burdened by an irrational fear of being pushed onto the metro tracks, a woman muses on what it is to fall. To be, heavily in love, deep into sleep, or into a holiday pool on a faraway Greek Island.

Anton Cla Belgium, 2023, 12:25 An old woman is carrying her shopping bags. A child with a rifle across his back rides a scooter. Birds fly by. A city falls. A party catches fire. The events of Cyclepaths rack up, frame by frame.

STRAND 1

03

04

HARDLY WORKING

WHILE WE WERE HERE (SUBTITLED)

Total Refusal Austria, 2022, 20:00 Hardly Working sheds a light on characters that normally remain in the background of games: NPCs. Total Refusal observes their labour routines, painting an analogy for work under capitalism.

Sunčica Fradelić Croatia, 2022, 15:10 A cinematic meditation on inevitable change. While We Were Here depicts fragments from characters' lives through a brief seasonal cycle. It's a melancholic short that explores grief, loss and love.

05 THE EMPTY SPHERE Stéphanie Roland Belgium, 2022, 19:00 Nothing really survives here. The bottom is so deep that no light ever reaches it. This experimental documentary portrays a space object and its fall into the darkness of a space cemetery.

121

D/fls/lne/s/mh

IMAGE MIXTAPE

15

EXPERIMENTAL 4 (SUBTITLED)

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Friargate 14:00-15:00

NCEM 12:00-13:00

Yorks. Museum 21:30-22:30

The imagery in this programme is extraordinary. What does a soul look like? How do we draw a woman that is half-horse and half-tiger? What is the cultural and emotional significance of a sunflower? Each of these shorts contends with the production of the image. In the process, they journey into an intersection of exploration, liberation, reflection and resistance.

01

02

A/V

SOMETHING MORE THAN MASQUERADE (SUBTITLED) Shamica Ruddock UK, 2022, 05:53 Something More Than Masquerade sees a young Pierrot Grenade contemplate carnival traditions. Here, he reflects on celebrations such as Notting Hill Carnival and its origins in the Caribbean.

STRAND 4

I FOUND WATER (SUBTITLED) SJ Ramir Australia, 2023, 09:33 Experimenting with custom made lens filters to diffuse and distort, I Found Water is an autobiographical, ecological film that explores the connected threads of nature, memory and the sensory world.

03

04

I AM A HORSE (NO DIALOGUE)

ROADSIDE PICNIC (NO DIALOGUE)

Chaerin Im Denmark, South Korea, 2022, 07:58 Where are the girls? Unable to find women in the artwork of the Korean artist Lee Jung-seob, Chaerin Im unravels a fierce tale of women born with half of their bodies being a horse and a tiger.

122

Erica Shires USA, 2023, 04:40 A trip into a hazardous and desolate wasteland. Roadside Picnic is an experimental, looping projection. It is a time capsule that examines the obsolescence built into technology and images.

05

05

COSMIC RAGE - DARK CONSTELLATIONS (NO DIALOGUE)

THE EYEBALL PERSON (SUBTITLED)

Emilia Izquierdo UK, 2023, 09:30 Using Maya Deren's Haiti footage and her book on voodoo, alongside Alejo Carpentier's book A Kingdom of This World, this short explores myth, freedom, survival and the power of the body.

Yuri Muraoka Japan, 2023, 11:42 This film is about gazes and goodbyes. In an attempt to weave images with words, this Japanese short examines womanhood, using the symbol of the sunflower as a metaphor for growth.

REAL/VIRTUAL EXPERIMENTAL 5

thursday

saturday

NCEM 15:30-17:00

Friargate 17:00-18:30

sunday YSJU 19:30-21:00

15

Here we present the convergence of image-making and technology. What does it mean to live in a developed world? From the progress of AI and data shifts, to a computational system that falls deeply in love with a stranger, this collection of innovative work brings into focus our ever-evolving relationship with the digital, reflecting on its possibilities and limitations.

01

02

A/V

CONTRAPUNCTUS V

LOVE AT FIRST BYTE

Kenji Ouellet Germany, 2022, 17:30 This experimental documentary features mind fragmentation in a search for patterns and in Japanese urban architecture. Director Kenji Ouellet presents a layered work on capitalism and labour.

Felizitas Hoffmann, Theresa Hoffmann Germany, 2022, 05:30 This short distorts reality as it shows a missed connection between a lovelorn surveillance system and an ordinary female passenger, using security camera footage obtained via a CCTV data request.

STRAND 2

03

04

ALGODREAMS

THE SUNSET SPECIAL

Vladimir Todorovic Australia, 2023, 10:33 "Algodreams" are made by prompting AI systems to imagine the future of life on Earth. This short explores such fantasies: of time machines, sentient bicycles and flamingos that can save the sea.

Nicolas Gebbe Germany, 2021, 17:30 A secluded beach location, the perfect partner, the most exclusive hotel – the life of your dreams. Join an eerie trip into the world of unfulfilled dreams, nostalgia, desire and total luxury.

05

06

IMMACULATE GENERATIONS NO. 1 (NO DIALOGUE)

ECHOES OF REALITY (DRONE WALKTHROUGH) (NO DIALOGUE)

Vito A. Rowlands Belgium, 2022, 11:00 If the eyes are the window to the soul, this short presents a look into thousands of souls. Animated between 12-24 frames per second, it makes for a dazzling rush into the maelstrom of life.

Estela Oliva UK, 2022, 11:53 Echoes of Reality reflects on the technological changes projected by the arrival of web 3.0, AI and the Metaverse. It shows the shift in identities online, demonstrating the impact it has on society.

123

Family friendly Inspire your children with incredible films.

Join us for Family Friendly screenings and be part of the most exciting cultural event in York this year. Watch Family Friendly animations, engaging dramas and laugh-out-loud comedies for young people. Foster a lifelong relationship with film through our children's workshops.

124

DETERMINATION FAMILY FRIENDLY 1

Recommended for ages 4-10 years

Wednesday

Saturday

Sunday

NCEM 12:00-13:00

YSJU 10:30-11:30

YSJU 13:30-14:30

U

Resilience is a trait that we must develop as young people. In the face of a challenge, we need to learn that if, at first, we do not succeed, we must try and try again. It’s important to be able to get right back up again if you are knocked down. The characters in these animations teach us the power of self-belief and show us what it takes to carry on and never give up.

01

02

A/V

BOOM (NO DIALOGUE)

THE BRAVE LOCOMOTIVE (NO DIALOGUE)

Augerai, Augier, De Figueiredo, Di Cicco, Jacquin France, 2022, 05:36 A couple of dumb birds try their best to protect their four eggs from a volcanic eruption, coming up with increasingly silly ways to escape the island in one piece. Will they all make it out alive?

Andrew Pierce Chesworth USA, 2023, 07:18 An Old West musical tale with 1940s flair about a mighty little train facing harrowing disaster. Join Linus, the little blue train, and his conductor, Henry, for a truly exciting and unforgettable ride.

STRAND 5

03

04

FLUTTER (NO DIALOGUE)

SWING TO THE MOON (NO DIALOGUE)

Adam Reed Levy USA, 2023, 05:46 Jerry, a plump hummingbird, tries to fit in with his siblings but often weighs them down – literally. But, when a hungry house cat plans to make his family dinner, it turns out he is their only hope.

Bordessoule, Bouissie, De Boer, Drique, Lauzu, Levrero, Moreau France, 2022, 06:40 Night after night, little spider Temi throws a webbed lasso at the sky. She's mesmerised by it. In this beautiful and touching short animation, she will do absolutely anything to catch the moon.

05

06

I'M NOT AFRAID! (SUBTITLED)

WITCHFAIRY (NO DIALOGUE)

Marita Mayer Norway, 2022, 07:02 During a game of hide and seek Vanja ends up in a dimly lit court -yard, full of dark corners, weird shadows and strange noises. In order to overcome the fear, Vanja turns into a dangerous tiger.

Cedric Igodt, David Van de Weyer Belgium, 2022, 15:00 Rosemary, a young fairy, is bored of living in her fairytale castle.

She wants to be a witch so she can scream and be messy. Since mother doesn't approve, she takes matters into her own hands.

125

ME, MYSELF & I

U

FAMILY FRIENDLY 2

Recommended for ages 7-10 years

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

NCEM 17:30-18:30

YSJU 12:00-13:00

YSJU 12:00-13:00

It’s not easy growing up. There are so many things to learn and the care-freeness of youth is something to be treasured. In this programme we meet characters who go through hardship by either being different or experiencing loss. Each story is unique and teaches us that, in spite of the obstacles that may be in the way, there is always something around the bend.

02 SHACKLE (NO DIALOGUE)

Leto Stojanovic Meade UK, 2022, 11:32 The story of a hug. The little boy's giant used to be able to carry the whole house but now he is smaller than ever. Follow along for his journey across a surreal world to find his missing giant.

Ainslie Henderson France, 2022, 09:54 It's all about balance. In a peaceful forest, three archetypal woodland spirits explore the conflicting human drives of creativity, possessiveness and inner desires to ascend and succeed.

STRAND 4

01 DEATH OF THE GODS

126

03

04

PATCHES

CORVINE (NO DIALOGUE)

Jasmine Elizabeth Foo UK, 2023, 03:47 Patches is blue, orange, purple and yellow all at once. But when they go to school, Patches learns everyone else is made up of just one shade. Will Patches learn to love their many colours?

Sean McCarron Canada, 2022, 10:30 Every morning, a young boy wakes up excited to hop and fly with the crows. But, when he goes to school, he learns that soaring with the birds is much easier than fitting in with his classmates.

05

05

WOODIES ORIGIN

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF MIRACLES

Bitzer, Choi, Löffler, Roze, Weber Germany, 2022, 03:40 Once upon a time in Wondermist Forest, there was a tribe of magical trees who would play and laugh together every day. But one fateful evening, the trees are all mysteriously chopped down.

Elle Van Knoll UK, 2022, 27:20 In this tale of love and loss, we follow siblings Elsie and Theo as their imaginations lead them on an unforgettable journey to find a real life miracle that will fix everything that’s gone awry.

WE ARE ALL UNIQUE FAMILY FRIENDLY 3

Recommended for ages 10-16 years

THURSDAY

saturday

sunday

NCEM 10:00-11:00

YSJU 12:00-13:00

YSJU 12:00-13:00

PG

This programme is designed for slightly older children. It looks at themes surrounding identity, disability and bullying.

Throughout this collection, the central characters are faced with challenges but, with determination and resilience, they can overcome difficult situations. After all, it’s the bond of family and friends that can help us to grow and develop as people.

01

02

A/V

NEWBIE

PACEMAKER

James Robert Skinner UK, 2022, 08:00 Starting at a new school, novice teacher Mike is worried his class won't be able to see past his disability. However, he soon realises that he, too, has a few lessons that he probably needs to learn.

Brian Vincent Rhodes, Christopher Lennertz UK, 2023, 09:00 An animated musical about a lonely widower awaiting a pacemaker to save his life who gets his real second chance at true love by opening his heart and accepting his grandson's identity.

STRAND 3

03

04

IF

THE PRESENTER

Didier Charette Canada, 2022, 12:55 Ryan and his lifelong imaginary friend Jo have gone on countless adventures together. But, when they embark on their ultimate quest together, Ryan is suddenly forced to confront his worst fear.

Josephine Lohoar Self Ireland, 2022, 02:26 At a busy news channel, shy production assistant Niamh tries her best to fulfil the demands of her job. But when she is beckoned by an anchor, Niamh realises she will have to present the news.

05

06

SPINES

THE INNKEEPER

Joseph Inman UK, 2023, 10:24 For Thomas, a neurodivergent child, reading is an exciting retreat from a world he finds sensorily challenging. When he starts a new friendship with Agnes, storytelling is what connects them both.

Paudie Baggott Ireland, 2023, 13:45 When a spirited eight-year-old lands the part of innkeeper in the school nativity, she battles her perfectionist teacher who insists that she "stick to the script" and refuse Mary and Joseph a room.

127

S/sw/fls

TEXTURES OF LIFE

15

FASHION 1

Inside every moment is another moment. Each and every experience becomes part of who you are. The nature versus nurture conversation persists. Are we "us" because of our DNA, or are we products of our environments? The films in this selection navigate this topic, as they move between surreal and humorous meditations that observe our true identities.

01

02

A/V

MA FASHION 'TURN TO THE LEFT' (NO DIALOGUE) Liam Leslie UK, 2023, 15:26 Shot over five days, Turn to the Left documents the 44 final collections of the Central Saint Martins MA Fashion class of 2023. The best 20 collections shown at London Fashion Week.

STRAND 4

MY STYLE IS...

Matt Vega USA, 2023, 05:40 Under the towering skyline of New York, this short unites nine distinct characters, all with a love for self-expression. Across iconic landmarks, they put their bold, vibrant selves on display.

128

03

04

CITYCENTERDC - "CELEBRATING YOU!"

FROM THE JUMP

Dean Alexander USA, 2022, 01:00 Filmed on-location in Baltimore and Washington DC, Celebrating You! creates a TV vision for DC’s biggest shopping and dining district with a crazy, quirky train journey full of eclectic characters.

Jin Keon USA, 2021, 01:48 From the Jump explores self-identity in absolute time and space.

Inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey, it adopts a retro-futurism aesthetic, mixing truth, fantasy, past and present all together.

05

06

INTER FIGURA

THE BREAK

Marie Zechiel Germany, 2021, 05:20 Inter Figura portrays a woman switching between gender defined appearances. It questions the concept of identity and how women must behave in order to be successful in our patriarchal society.

Dorothy Sing Zhang UK, 2022, 03:58 The Break presents Eileen Gu, who appears in the middle of nowhere, trapped in a landscape of never-ending snow mountains.

She then receives an ambiguous phone call from a familiar voice.

07

Wednesday

Friday

Sunday

City Screen 2 19:30-20:30

Theatre Royal 10:00-11:00

NCEM 21:30-22:30

08

U

A/V

L´AMOUR (NO DIALOGUE)

ABANTU

Victor Claramunt San Millán Spain, 2022, 01:40 Desire, empowerment, flirtation, joy, jealousy, lust. Set in Palau de les Arts of Valencia, L'Amour, is an aesthetic experimental journey that explores all the facets, positive and negative, of love.

Emily Ong UK, 2022, 03:58 The multiplicity of identity is a reality loaded with emotional relief, as well as turmoil. Stranded in an alien environment, a community struggles and perseveres to mend itself and heal.

STRAND 4

09

10

THE LAST MAMBO (SUBTITLED)

THE TRAGEDY (SUBTITLED)

Luis Castro Spain, 2022, 03:16 Determined to rob a goldsmith, three young robbers break into the man's country house. Except the man and his wife turn out to be a whole lot less defenceless than they actually look like.

Mikel Cubillo Oliva Spain, 2022, 01:45 How do we continue to smile at life in the face of tragedy? The short is dedicated to the people who continue to live in the face of adversity. It is a poem that documents resistance and survival.

11

12

SUNDAY BEST (NO DIALOGUE)

FUTURI APRILI (SUBTITLED)

Zena Annis Utsalo UK, 2023, 02:25 An exploration into the adornment rituals of the Black community within a religious context, looking at the ways in which negative categorisations regarding beauty have been redefined over time.

Enrico Bellenghi Italy, 2022, 02:55 Futuri Aprili is a film that focuses on the sensitivity of young subcultures towards important social issues. It features interviews with individuals who are in an age of transition and uncertainty.

129

mh/lne

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

PG

FASHION 2

Stepping into the unknown is exhilarating. It's an experience filled with a mixture of excitement, anticipation and a touch of fear. When we take that courageous leap into uncharted territory, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities. The unknown pushes us to grow as individuals but – as these films show – it also requires a willingness to embrace vulnerability.

01

02

A/V

GHOSTING (SUBTITLED) Fabrizio Albertini Italy, 2023, 01:19 Ghosting is a training technique consisting of simulating shots in ping pong without the racquet and the ball. Two friends challenge each other to a game, which slips between being real and virtual.

STRAND 1

AN ODE TO PROCRASTINATION Aleksandra Kingo UK, 2023, 04:22 In An Ode to Procrastination we follow the thought process of a young artist named Sarah. She tries to create the project of her lifetime, but procrastinates as she struggles to actually start.

130

03

04

HERMÈS|BIG PARIS MOMENT

488 (NO DIALOGUE)

Matthew Frost France, 2022, 03:49 Things are looking up for Marcus after booking an exciting job that’ll see him travel out of town, but, as he gets ready, he must consult the tumultuous relationship he has with his reflection.

Uyeong Ryu South Korea, 2022, 03:24 Last year, 488 million animals suffered from animal testing in Korea alone. This experimental fashion film partners with vegan fashion brand Vegantiger, as it focuses on animal rights.

05

06

LUNA

A NEW VOYAGE

Charlotte Wales France, 2022, 01:23 Luna is a tale of personal and environmental transformation, between noire and fantasy. It presents a passage from human to otherworldly as night gives out to day and dark turns to light.

David Witton Davies, Jin Keon USA, 2022, 03:34 "We are like birds in a cage, although we can walk freely, we still feel insecure about the future." Kangol imagines the future of society, using an excerpt of the French novel The Little Prince.

Thursday

saturday

Sunday

Friargate 10:00-11:00

City Screen 2 12:00-13:00

YSJU 18:00-19:00

07

08

OBLIVION

RAUSCH

Man Liu UK, 2023, 03:31 Oblivion explores the memory of the Southern Silk Road from a futuristic perspective, as it encourages millennial children to develop a sense of caring for their elders from an early age.

Paula Romy UK, 2023, 07:30 Thousands of years in the future, a solitary man is living the same day over and over again, desperate to break the cycle. But what happens if he's not the only person trying to break free?

15

STRAND 1

09

10

STEP ABOARD

MYRAMID' - RAISA VANESSA FW23/24 (SUBTITLED)

Harry Deadman UK, 2022, 01:42 “A woman waits for a bus but can’t seem to see it when it arrives.

Everyone else can.” Set in sun-drenched British suburbia. Step Aboard is love letter to those of us who feel like the odd one out.

Tom Dream Turkey, 2023, 02:00 Shimmers and glints of metallic costumes. This showcase of Raisa Vanessa’s 23/24 season is packed with classic surrealist references, such as Magritte’s blue skies and eye-shaped apertures.

11

12

THE SCRIPT (NO DIALOGUE)

NÁTTURÁ MANTRA

Mathias Broe Denmark, 2023, 15:00 Clara is booked for a shoot, but when she arrives at the location, the film crew is not there. Instead, she finds herself confronting Marie, who has been cast to play the role of her sister in the film.

Christophe Chudy France, 2023, 04:08 She is one with nature. She is one with the elements. She is the waves. She is the flames. Do you not see what I see? Inspired by medieval Nordic poetry, Nátturá Mantra asks these questions.

131

DU

COLLECTIVE MEMORY

12

FASHION 3

The past and the present form a rich tapestry of human experience. Each thread shapes the societies we live in today for better and for worse. Collective memory reminds us of our capacity to dream and pursue our aspirations, leaving a legacy that inspires future generations. Filled with hopes and reflections, these films are a testament to ideation and imagination.

01

02

A/V

I AM WHOLE

Laís Sambugaro Brazil, 2023, 05:15 The Vintage Hunter looks at the story of Camilla Gonçalves, owner of one of the biggest thrift shops in Brazil. Through her eyes, we see the magic within second hand clothes and objects.

Bianca Poletti USA, 2022, 03:00 A girl is surrounded by friends who ask: "Have you done it yet?"

Enter a touching coming of age story about a young woman finding her voice within a sea of conflicting societal pressures.

STRAND 2

THE VINTAGE HUNTER (SUBTITLED)

132

03

04

LA FOLIE

WE ARE 1 | NIKE

Jessica Danielle Batson USA, 2022, 02:23 A vibrant short that's completely mad. La Folie is a visual treat of colours and whimsy. Based on the idea of "folly," three characters spend their time daydreaming in a ethereal, nonsensical world.

Enrico Poli Italy, 2023, 02:17 We Are 1 pays homage to the iconic and celebrated Nike Air Force 1' as it celebrates its 40 th anniversary. The film shows its significance in sport, music, fashion, art, the street and the city.

05

06

THE UNICORN SYMPOSIUM

DUENDE (NO DIALOGUE)

Max Simonson Australia, 2022, 08:59 A young woman enters a colourful and quirky clothes shop to try on some new looks, only to be surprised by a group of friendly strangers who insist that today is going to be a very special day.

Gina Onegina Spain, 2023, 02:03 Delve into the contentious world of bullfighting. Duende provokes introspection into the concept of men's fashion with its exploration of Spanish culture and its nuanced portrayal of masculinity.

07

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

NCEM 17:30-18:30

NCEM 15:30-16:30

YSJU 16:30-17:30

08

12

A/V

NGURRAWAANA

AL NIHAYA (SUBTITLED)

Kieran Satour Australia, 2023, 02:55 Ngurrawaana was originally established as a place of recovery for Yindjibarndi people who had lost their way. Wimiya shows us a group of people who find hope and spirit in their ancestors.

Fabio Modonutti, Sana Jamali UK, 2022, 02:40 Al Nihaya showcases a dystopian world in which solar radiation and global warming have warped a planet. Years after the disturbances have subsided, it has become a tropical region.

STRAND 2

09

10

FOREVER BOUND (SUBTITLED)

THE OCCURRENCE OF COLOURS BY NIGHT (NO DIALOGUE)

Rob Bell Italy, 2022, 07:02 What is fate’s adversarial role in a relationship? How does destiny shape our lives? Forever Bound unveils the forces that irrevocably and romantically bind all of humanity together as one entity.

Sophie Lenglachner Germany, 2022, 05:07 Darkness and texture combine in this fashion film that meld the dystopian gender fluid designs of Sophie Lenglachner and the choreography of contemporary dancer Jan Kollenbach.

11

12

THE DIGITAL RITUALS (NO DIALOGUE)

THE BURNING HALLUCINATIONS OF MARY GRACE MCNALLY

Reiki Zhang UK, 2023 03:24 How might human births, weddings and funerals be presented in the Metaverse? Using nature worship ceremonies as a starting point, this project explores the forms of digital religious rituals.

Sam Mandich USA, 2022 03:00 The emotional state of comparison leads to burnout. We are in a constant state of observing others. The yearning to escape these patterns is reflected in the choreography of this conceptual film.

133

AB/bvd/du/cw/fls/mh/sw 18

GET UP, STAND UP: PLASTIC AND POLITICAL REVOLUTION MUSIC VIDEO 1

This programme spotlights creators who use the music video format to deliver a vibrant but unshakeable visual and aural voice against the issues plaguing our society. From boys in bags and animated shadow puppet shows to girls crying into lattes and a stop-motion journey around London, you are bound to be entertained with moments of poignancy and levity.

01

02

A/V

SHELTER Alice Halstead UK, 2023, 03:25 Shelter mixes video and stop-motion in a hands-on feature of over 1,600 cut up photographs of hip-hop artist Dale May. This music video pieces his face around the outer streets of London.

STRAND 3

INSTITUTION Cole Morris UK, 2022, 06:30 This animated shadow puppet film portrays a frightening world of myth, monsters and demons, telling stories of contemporary and historical colonialism, institutional racism and social injustice.

134

03

04

CHLOE MORIONDO - PLASTIC PURSE

ETON MESS - KAMBU

Bedroom UK, 2022, 02:25 Moriondo is enraged by the boys who won't stop ghosting and toying with their feelings They decide to take matters into their own hands by adding them, one by one, into a plastic purse.

Jay Green UK, 2021, 01:55 Whilst sweeping the shop floor, Kam-BU catches a glimpse of the re-election campaign for "Richard Fibber" on the TV. As Fibber's nose grows bigger, it becomes even easier to see through the lies.

05

06

DISTANT SPIRIT

DESPERATE SOUL - HILLARI

Ben Dylan Sloan USA, 2023, 04:20 An abstract look at the intertwined relationship between technology and self. Hand-drawn animation, paper scans and digital rendering creates an alluring, surrealist and unsettling world.

Eskil Hoel Abrahamsen, Arjan Aziz Vinje Norway, 2023, 04:15 A young woman meditates on what it means to be broken. What happens when we grow up and lose sight of who we once were?

We never got a chance to properly say goodbye in the first place.

07

A/V

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

NCEM 19:30-20:30

Theatre Royal 19:00-20:00

Yorks. Museum 21:00-22:00

08

THE RACE

WALK ON WATER

Simon Rajchl Austria, 2023, 02:52 The Race is about being human. Imperfections, failures and wins in life. The ups and downs of being creative. In the end, all of these things give you the opportunity to tell an excellent story.

Hynek Gannon UK, 2023, 04:18 " We're all trying to get better." Walk on Water features Clavis 7Even and. Jabbz. It explores the concept of sin, contextualising the topic in wider everyday moments of faith, hope and love.

STRAND 3

09

10

SPARKS - THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

RAJ MAHAL - DEATH 2 VINYL

Richie Starzec, Ron Mael, Russell Mael USA, 2023, 03:02 Actress Cate Blanchett is flanked by Sparks' Ron Mael and Russell Mael. Deadpan and expressionless throughout, her movement is a direct reaction to the emotions and musicality of the track.

Matthew D Taylor Australia, 2023, 03:12 Death 2 Vinyl is the lead single from Raj Mahal’s LP, Disturbed.

This poignant music video considers the corrosive effect of pornography and violent imagery on the soul of an individual.

11

12

TIM AMINOV | ULTRAVIOLENCE (SUBTITLED)

WHEN IT RAINS

Andrei Maica Kazakhstan, 2022, 03:31 When does a person lose its individual self and be-come part of the herd? Where does this collective unconscious come from, making us ready to kill and indulge in the idea of total violence?

Hector Dockrill UK, 2023, 05:53 Jack McMullen plays a young man who can't seem to catch a break. Waking up to threats from his enemies, getting his lottery ticket stolen ... all he wants is one cigarette. When it rains, it pours.

135

BV/DU/FLS/MH 15

SONDER

MUSIC VIDEO 2 This collection speaks to love, journeys, freedom, trials and tribulations. The realisation that everyone around you lives a life just as complex and multifaceted as your own is really important. These films feature makers from around the world, centring on one of the most important aspects of society that seems to be growing less and less apparent – empathy.

02 TO THE DESERT (SUBTITLED)

Luis Hindman UK, 2023, 18:35 Set to the songs of Joesef's critically acclaimed debut album, Permanent Damage traces a moving four-part story of love, longing and loss lit by the pale moon and neon strobe lights.

Dana Ivgy Israel, 2022, 03:48 An attempt to escape the loop of day-to-day life and the loop in our heads. To get out, to get off, to stop that obsessive need to create for just one minute. To the Desert asks: is it possible at all?

STRAND 5

01 PERMANENT DAMAGE (NO DIALOGUE)

03

04

WILD DOGS (SUBTITLED)

CHATMRE (NO DIALOGUE)

Roy Maayan Israel, 2023, 05:54 For the song Kalbey Pere (or Wild Dogs in Hebrew), three artists create a martial art fantasy. Here, two tribes meet and exchange gifts, drink tea and sword fight in a historic ancient ceremony.

136

Kin Shing Kwok, Ka Lee Cheuk Hong Kong, 2023, 04:13 Every day, a young musician tries to bring warm melodies to melancholy places. Whilst the AI watching over him witnesses his cold reception, the guitarist perseveres, continuing unfazed.

05

06

DEBBIE FEAT. BERWYN - COUSIN'S CAR

KISS OF SPRING (SUBTITLED)

Relta UK, 2022 02:44 In attempt to block out her overwhelming surroundings, Debbie dreams of driving away in her cousin's car. In this video, silky vocals accompany retro visuals that transport us back in time.

Anna Gudnicheva UK, 2023, 01:41 A suited figure runs towards a lake. Moments later, a booted foot emerges from its blue depths. In this video, Vlad and Dima (Otvaal band) plunge into spring waters and become one person.

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

Friargate 17:30-18:30

YSJU 15:30-16:30

YSJU 15:00-16:00

07

08

14

I'D RATHER FALL

Rachel Brown USA, 2023, 05:53 Water From Your Eyes explores the personal demons and the relentlessness of rapid change in the black and white video for 14, the third single from their latest album, Everyone's Crushed.

Clemente Lohr UK, 2023, 04:19 In I'd Rather Fall, an underground boxer needs three minutes to ready himself for his last fight. Facing his reflection in the mirror, he begins his unconventional preparations for the battle of his life.

STRAND 5

09

10

CORES|BACARÁ (NO DIALOGUE)

PHOAM - BE AWARE (NO DIALOGUE)

Patrick Hanser Brazil, 2023, 03:42 Enter an ever-changing world of intense colours, abstract shapes and funky rhythms. In this energetic and pulsing music video, Brazilian grunge outfit Bacará presents their song Cores (Colours).

Mei Fa Tan Switzerland, 2023, 03:43 Inspired by the lyrics of Be Aware, we follow one girl's attempt to create a perfect world where her family live happily together.

What price will she be willing to pay to make this utopia last?

11

12

CHARLOTTE BY ROSE ROSE (MUSIC VIDEO)

LAVA LA RUE - VEST & BOXERS

Noé Pradel-Fraysse France, 2022, 03:48 A couple in their 60s lose their passion and love for one another.

One day, however, Charlotte sees a TV advert for a magic ring.

She hopes the piece will spark a second flame in her relationship.

Bedroom UK, 2022, 03:23 After finding a note taped to the wall asking them to go on a date, La Rue gets ready in a love struck daze whilst imagining a future together – could she be the one, or is it all in their head?

137

BV/DU/FLS/MH 18

BODYSNATCHERS THRILLER 1

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

Friargate 10:00-11:30

City Screen 1 19:00-20:30

City Screen 1 17:30-19:00

Depictions of metamorphosis continue to be a trend in the outputs of filmmakers all over the world. They respond to our in-built fear of the biology and mechanics of our own bodies. Nowhere can this be seen more prominently than in the splendour of these grotesque offerings, spanning anthropoidic encounters, family reunions and unruly relationships.

01

02

A/V

GRAVID Laura Jai Smith UK, 2023, 14:30 A woman discovers something repulsive growing inside her. She fears it's a manifestation of her secret: she doesn't want children.

He does. And he's delighted because he thinks she is pregnant.

STRAND 3

LIKE A FLOWER (SUBTITLED) Raphaël J. Dostie Canada, 2023, 11:14 Julien visits his older sister, Sarah, who leads a cloistered life and no longer wants to see anyone. He discovers that she has taken refuge in a hermetic world, surrounded by frightening terrariums.

138

03

04

MANTRA (SUBTITLED)

DEAD SKIN

Pascal Bourelier, Stef Meyer France, 2022, 17:03 Emma and Paul have moved into an old suburban mansion. Paul is forced to leave on a work trip. Isolated and lonely, Emma finds a praying mantis with whom she starts to develop a close bond. w

Ciara Lilly O'Rourke UK, 2023, 11:11 Disgruntled teenager Jess has an itch she just can't scratch and she's willing to do whatever it takes to be rid of it. What results is something as far removed from relief as can possibly be.

05

06

THE HERITAGE

HIDE YOUR CRAZY

Andrew Rutter UK, 2022, 11:45 After growing up adopted, a man makes a gargantuan discovery when meeting his biological father. A family should always be together, but, in this circumstance, perhaps not quite like this.

Austin Kase USA, 2023, 13:46 Iris is hiding a supernatural secret from her boyfriend. When he surprises her for her birthday, they have to face it together as a couple. A horror rom-com about the fear of being truly seen.

Ab/bv/cw/mh/s/sw

THERE ARE WORSE THINGS I COULD DO THRILLER 2

Wednesday

Friday

sunday

NCEM 17:30-19:00

Friargate 12:00:13:30

City Screen 1 13:30-15:00

15

Helmed entirely by women directors and led by all-women protagonists, this reel of pertinent stories challenges the anxieties and fears of living with continued patriarchal values. Discover powerful shorts on career struggles and chilling moments of emotional abuse. Elsewhere, concerns mount surrounding fears of motherhood, pregnancy and constant war.

01

02

A/V

ONLY YOURSELF TO BLAME

SCORCHED EARTH (SUBTITLED)

Noomi Yates UK, 2023, 09:14 When Mai sends her drunk friend Sian home in a taxi, she finds herself being pursued by a shadowy assailant who is copying her every move. Unable to outrun her stalker, she confronts them.

Markela Kontaratou Greece, 2023, 16:00 It is summer in Greece and Stela escapes to her holiday house in coastal Attica. Procrastinating whilst writing her thesis, she mixes things up by spying on her neighbour and his girlfriend.

STRAND 5

03

04

NOCTURNE

YUMMY MUMMY

Kate Graham UK, 2023, 19:30 Nocturne presents a series of terrifying and uneasy events in a gifted composer's life. Following the birth of her son, a presence stalks a cellist's house. A stalker is quietly watching her family.

Gabriela Staniszewska UK, 2022, 14:30 Pregnant and ignored, Lilith's identity is being smothered by her burgeoning motherhood. Now, her anxieties are beginning to have physical manifestations, as she starts to literally fall apart.

05 THE TASTER (SUBTITLED) Sophia Bierend Germany, 2022, 29:12 The Danube Delta, Romania. Near future. The young Ozana is chosen to work as the new taster girl for the occupying forces.

But on her first day of work she breaks the most important rule.

139

AB/bv/du/mh/sw

THE FILM OF MY LOVE

15

THRILLER 3

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

Friargate 13:30-15:00

YSJU 13:30-15:00

YSJU 21:30-23:00

It's all in the grain. This concoction of strange, throwback vintage-style thriller films reminds us that there is something in the aesthetic of celluloid that still fascinates filmmakers and audiences alike; whether shot with film or not. Folk-horror tales, whimsy and strange cults inform this reel. In the process, this selection leaves us to consider who we should fear.

01

02

A/V

HONEYMOON AT COLD HOLLOW Nat Rovit UK, 2022, 14:05 In the winter of 1974, newly-weds are snowed into a cabin in the wilderness. Starvation quickly begins to define their situation, as they start to learn that they never really knew each other at all.

STRAND 2

THE LICENSED FOOL Gareth Bowen UK, 2023, 16:49 A travelling court jester, known as The Licensed Fool, begins to unravel when he learns of a sinister motive behind being hired for an upcoming performance. Medieval entertainment, with a twist.

140

03

04

SHADOW

THE GUEST

Kamell Allaway USA, 2022, 12:00 A game of hide-and-seek between mother and daughter takes an unnerving turn. Later on, the older woman's shadow comes to life, terrorising her and her child over the course of one fateful night.

Jonathan Fransman UK, 2023, 09:44 In this psychological thriller, a young woman looks after a large, abandoned home by herself. She finds her peaceful existence is unable to last for long, as she is disrupted by a stranger's arrival.

05

06

SMILE SCHOOL

THE WYRM OF BWLCH PEN BARRAS (SUBTITLED)

Nick Alexander UK, 2022, 19:19 Smile School Lloyd is a self-help guru, with a grin as wide as his ego. One day, Eva, one of his many dedicated followers, starts to doubt whether he can really help her build what he has promised.

Craig Williams UK, 2023, 17:20 Early one winter morning in the rural town of Rhuthun in North Wales, three men are called upon once again to carry out a truly a terrible assignment on the Bwlch Pen Barras mountain pass.

Ab/bv/mh/lne/s/sw

CAN'T YOU SEE THRILLER 4

Thursday

Saturday

sunday

City Screen 1 21:00-22:30

Theatre Royal 21:00-22:30

NCEM 15:30-17:00

18

The thriller genre always gives you the opportunity to experience stories from wholly dark perspectives. It's not always a case of jump scares. Sometimes, instead, we are challenged to consider fears, personal anxieties or unfairness. Narratives can be complex, messy or misconstrued, as well as deeply unreliable. This mix of stories is sure to keep you guessing.

01

02

A/V

CATARACT (SUBTITLED)

IN YOUR HANDS (SUBTITLED)

Jonatan Egholm Keis Denmark, 2023, 24:24 In this hectic tale of overlooked and marginalised existences, a woman robs a gas station with her nearly-blind younger brother and catapults herself into danger to pay for his cataract surgery.

Luigi Sibona UK, 2023, 11:20 On a late evening in a London barbershop, an awkward stranger becomes enamoured with a charming barber. An unlikely attraction begins to spark between them after a life-changing shave.

STRAND 1

03

04

A BAD ROMANCE

TERROR

Bex Bradshaw USA, 2022, 13:37 Maggie, a love-starved woman, meets Melvin, a double-dealing loser in a forum for fans of classic romantic cinema. She's hopeful he’s her real life Romeo. It turns out he's really anything but.

Giles Buchanan UK, 2023, 10:40 The sole survivor of a mountain climbing accident on Ben Nevis struggles to come to terms with a supernatural incident. This cliffside thriller mounts fears of terrifying and unknown heights.

05

06

STRANGERS

THE RED SUITCASE (SUBTITLED)

Rob Price UK, 2023, 12:06 Whilst walking her dog, Clare is approached by a strange man with a disturbing story to tell. Now, she must question whether he is really telling the truth, as fears grow and tensions start to rise.

Cyrus Neshvad Luxembourg, 2022, 15:00 In this Oscar-nominated short, an Iranian girl decides to take off her Hijab in a life changing situation. The Red Suitcase is an essential story of choice, womanhood and what it means to be free.

141

SCREEN SCHOOL VR & IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES LAB The possibilities of 360° film are endless. Immersive experiences like these bring audiences closer to the action than ever before, positioning them in both real and entirely imagined environments.

For the sixth year, we present our 360° Cinema and Immersive Experiences Lab, realised in partnership with UAL’s London College of Communication. The Lab takes place in City Screen Basement, 8-12 November, 11:00-21:00. To attend the VR Lab, pre-booking is advised.

Alongside the VR Lab, we present daily VR panel discussions which tap into some of today’s most pressing issues in new technologies, from ethics and representation to data mining and empathic narratives.

Online audiences can immerse themselves in the experience and access the six 360° films with an at-home VR headset, from 8-30 November.

142

VIRTUAL REALITY LAB

8-11 November

12 November

City Screen Basement 11:00-21:00

City Screen Basement 11:00-18:00

SURFACING

12

Rossella Schillaci Portugal, 2022, 15:00 Surfacing is a creative VR documentary fairy-tale. The viewer is immersed in the everyday experience of prison and custody inmates with children. 360° footage at a child's eye level takes viewers on a journey through time from the iconic panopticon system of control to more recent developments in soft custody habitats.

01

THRESHOLD

PG

Malia Bruker USA, 2021, 11:20 Threshold is an experimental 360-degree film that opens a portal into the journey of four women. Isolated individuals grapple with the effects of trauma as they create a ritual space guided by resilience and strength. Threshold highlights these themes through a shifting environment, as well as the medium of dance.

VR LAB

02

AB

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE

18

Felicia Anna Aurora Bergström Germany, 2022, 07:30 Inside the four walls of Cycle of Violence, the visitor encounters the seemingly loving and playful Bunny. Giggling as she hops between hills of fluffy pink cotton wool, she beckons to us in attempt to charm and seduce. But the relationship at first so intimate and lustful, breaks down and starts to change.

03

MH/AB/SW

SELF DIALOGUES: HARD FOOD

U

Amber Pinkerton UK, 2022, 06:20 Self Dialogues by Amber Pinkerton is an ongoing, multi-chapter series that invites audiences to alternative and private worlds.

Hard Food excavates and focuses on Pinkerton’s personal journey, tracking her migration from Jamaica to England in 2016. It features a virtual video installation alongside photographic works.

04

LNE/MH

143

VIRTUAL REALITY LAB (CONTINUED)

05 GALUP VR EXPERIENCE

CW PG

15

Alex Ruhl UK, 2022, 07:00 Step into teenager Priya’s world and influence her story by playing the game Rock Paper Scissors against single-mum Lina. This is an interactive virtual reality coming-of-age drama.

VR LAB

Ian Wilkes, Poppy van Oorde-Grainger Australia, 2022, 08:46 In the heart of suburban Australia there's a lake with a buried history. Aboriginal Elder Doolann-Leisha Eatts spends her life sharing the story of what really happened there. Hear it for yourself.

06 ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

07 FROM THE MAIN SQUARE

BV/LNE/CW 12

KRISTINE IS NOT WELL

SW 12

Pedro Harres Germany, 2022, 24:00 A new town emerges, encircling a central square. Witness the rise and fall of a divided society. Learn how civilization blossoms, with all its contradictions, only to become a real danger to itself.

Seeyam Quine USA, 2023, 25:00 Kristine is Not Well is a social media simulation that highlights the resistance of online activists against algorithmic surveillance, showcasing the power of emojis, forums and memes.

09

10

BLACK HOLE MUSEUM + BODY BROWSER

U

Wen-Chi SU Taiwan, 2022, 13:39 Black Hole Museum + Body Browser is a project that imagines astronomy through dance, sound and light. This short film is the product of the colliding imagination of an artist and a scientist.

144

08

CASSAVA: THE ROOT TO REVIVING THE KIRIRI PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS David Gough U Italy, 2023, 09:58 Viewers can immerse themselves into the daily lives of the Kiriri native population in north eastern Brazil and find out how they have used their Indigenous knowledge to transform their lives.

8-11 November

12 November

City Screen Basement 11:00-21:00

City Screen Basement 11:00-18:00

11

12

LOCKER ROOM

IHYANGJEONG: CARVING WITH MEMORIES

U

Lee Harris UK, 2023, 12:30 Locker Room invites you to become Muhammad Ali moments before the biggest fight of his life. Ali and his corner-man run drills as they remember what brought them to this final pivotal moment.

U

Sunghwan Lee Republic of Korea, 2022, 17:00 Colourful and vibrant animations explore a memorialised childhood home: a 300-year-old traditional Korean residential complex that has been declared a national cultural heritage site.

VR LAB

13 KINDRED

D U

14 THE ABANDONED LIBRARY

PG

Bambou Kenneth UK, 2022, 09:00 Based on the true story of an aspirational parent called Syd and their journey through the UK adoption process, experience the first-hand highs and lows of a dream shared by so many people.

Judi Alston, Andy Campbell UK, 2023, 14:00 In a future Northern England devastated by climate change, a worker uncovers an abandoned library where books and technology have fused into the landscape to create new, brilliant stories.

15

16

TADPOLE

PG

Diane Catsburrow Linnet USA, 2023, 05:52 Polly's house is inhabited by 39 versions of herself: each one a year apart, living and growing older to replace the next, reliving the same life in a never ending cycle. This is a day like any other.

CRATE DIGGING THE STORY OF DEUNDERGROUND RECORDS

12

Peter Collis UK, 2023, 13:00 De Underground Records was both a recording studio and a record shop. It operated from 1991 until 1996. It was the birthplace of Drum & Bass. Experience the store's very first moments here.

145

LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMMUNICATION NEW TALENT SHOWCASE We are pleased to present in this guest programme four projects from London College of Communication. Here we will experience the breadth and scope of VR. This section is about supporting the next generation of talent, as VR becomes more and more part of the everyday through both immersive experience and 360 film.

In recent years we have seen screen culture expanding, which has redefined interactive entertainment. The worlds of film, games and VR merge, creating a unique set of possibilities for the future of storytelling.

As we look towards digital futures, we are thrilled to work in partnership with LCC to expand our horizons through VR, 360 and interactive experiences. Selection curated by Ana-Despina Tudor.

146

NEW TALENT SHOWCASE

8-11 November

12 November

City Screen Basement 11:00-21:00

City Screen Basement 11:00-18:00

ARCANA LIBRARY Hong Nam Le UK, 2023, Embark on an immersive VR journey in The Secrets of the Arcana Library. Step into the shoes of a student trapped inside a magical library after dark. Uncover hidden paths, unravel puzzles, and forge an unlikely bond with an unexpected companion to freedom in this captivating single-player escape room experience.

01

KEEP YOUR COOL Margarida Lira Gomes De Almeida Belo UK, 2023 Keep Your Cool is a virtual reality game that reframes violent video narratives. It places the player in a series of hostile situations, where instead of fighting, you must find a non-physical solution in order to diffuse the situation. It's all about staying calm, and navigating problems through negotiation and total patience.

VR LAB

02

KILLER DUCK Alexa Donahue UK, 2023 Killer Duck is a colourful programme where a player has to solve a mechanical puzzle in order to break free from the wrath of a giant rubber duck. By finding clues and pressing buttons you will be able to escape the cuteness that can destroy you in this thrilling game of wit. He's coming for you ... But are you ready?

03

VIRTUAL DELIVERY Margaret Hanna Pushkar UK, 2023 Virtual Delivery is a unique educational virtual reality experience that explains the necessary steps in pre-care and post-partum for a caesarean section. Through a series of different scenarios, the project looks to provide a completely comprehensive, honest, holistic and totally safe understanding of the whole procedure.

04 147

DISCOVER OUR BRAND NEW GAMES LAB Games are a big part of entertainment and contemporary popular culture. This year we are opening a brand new and fully interactive Games Lab where you can play outstanding and independent games as part of your festival experience in York.

Video games now provide an immersive experience. We see them as a crucial way to understand the way that storytelling is evolving and changing. We are celebrating game culture, design and production, with play sessions and a number of panels and talks.

There are 40 titles for you to try, across PC, console, headset and smart devices. This is an experience for adults and children alike.

The Games Lab is at Spark, York.

Free with pass and pre-booking recommended.

8-11 November 12:00-22:00 12 November 12:00-20:00

148

GAMES LAB

01

8-11 November

12 November

Spark 12:00-22:00

Spark 12:00-19:00

02

CHARLIE

U Charlot Lau, David Zhou, Shane Mills UK, 2023 Welcome to the Weird World! Join Charlie on a quest to free themselves from a place that doesn’t seem quite right. You'll control Charlie to unravel the mystery of how you arrived there.

A/V

WISP

U

Leon Thorn UK, 2023 This 2D platformer game was inspired by issues around disability.

A creature known as wisp accompanies you throughout your adventure as you embark on a journey to find friends and family.

GAMES LAB

03

04

REBOUND RUSH

SONAR

U

U

Blackwood, Marshall, McMahon, Meng, Zhou UK, 2023 A 3D momentum-based platformer in which you rebound past obstacles to quickly reach a goal. It features three levels with unique visual themes and a variety of custom assets and effects.

Giovanni Damian UK, 2023 A 2D action game shrouded in darkness. Relying solely on sonar that detects surrounding enemies, you must make your way out of a mysterious haunted mansion that wants to keep you trapped.

05

06

FEW SECONDS TO SEE

U

Zixuan Tang UK, 2023 You are blind and trapped. How do you escape? In this 3D microhorror game, players have blurred sight and are given a few seconds of special vision to solve puzzles and avoid enemies.

Bv/mh/sw

DARK NIGHTS WITH POE AND MUNRO D'Avekki Studios UK, 2020 This is a fully filmed adventure that invites you to guide radio hosts John "Poe" Pope and Ellis Munro through six episodes of supernatural strangeness and sizzling on-screen chemistry.

18

149

GAMES LAB

07 SOUTH OF THE CIRCLE

sw/du 12

08 GOLDEN TREASURE: THE GREAT GREEN

PG

Dreaming Door Studios LLC USA, 2021 On ancient Earth, nature is supreme and you will encounter amazing creatures, hunt dozens of species of prey, uncover lost cultures and perhaps even change the future of dragonkind.

09

10

GAMES LAB

State of Play UK, 2022 South of the Circle is a narrative experience about the emerging relationship between Peter and Clara, two Cambridge academics in a political conflict. The story focuses on their career and love.

AQUA

PG

Cascade Productions UK, 2020 Aqua follows the adventure of a lone traveller in search of a spirit with mystical powers to heal a crumbling world. You'll solve great puzzles with fire, ice and your smarts to reach your ultimate goal.

11 THE FLAME PREPARED

s 18

Catia Macnab, Matthew Cormack, Sidney Flavell UK, 2020 In the retro-futuristic Bronze Age, you manage a switchboard. The Pharaoh plans to massacre migrants but now its your job to use the power of the complex communications network to save them.

150

THE LONGEST WALK

MH 15

Alexander Tarvet UK, 2022 The Longest Walk is a deeply personal thought-provoking walking simulator. The project was inspired by having and guiding a loved one who lives with anxiety, depression and also suicidal thoughts.

12 MASK OF THE ROSE

12

Failbetter Games UK, 2023 Welcome to fallen London. This place is a darkly hilarious Gothic underworld where the sun doesn't shine, death is a temporary inconvenience, the rats talk and hell is only a stone's throw away.

13 MYTHWRECKED: AMBROSIA ISLAND

8-11 November

12 November

Spark 12:00-22:00

Spark 12:00-19:00

14 U

Polygon Treehouse UK, 2023 As a backpacker, you’re lost on a mythical island. You have to befriend the forgotten gods of Greek mythology and restore their memories. Explore the place, build friendships and save the gods.

THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY

SW/bv/s 18

Joe Richardson UK, 2020 The Procession to Calvary is a richly embellished pythonesque adventure game, made from different Renaissance paintings.

You are on an eventful journey to find the tyrant Heavenly Peter.

GAMES LAB

15 NUTS

AB U

Joon, Pol, Muuutsch, Char & Torfi Iceland, 2021 NUTS is a single-player walking simulator. In this surveillance mystery, you must record the squirrels, document your findings and piece together what is really going on in Melmoth Forest.

17 SEE ONLY EVIL

BV/SW 12

Jay Miles UK, 2023 Rebecca Redheart and her sister are in a world of superpowers.

Superheroes fight in a never-ending conflict with evil villains. As bystanders, they cheer on their protectors of peace and justice.

16 REALITY BREAK

SW PG

Element Games, LLC UK, 2023 Reality Break is a fast-paced looter shooter with interlocking systems and an opt-in roguelite structure, all modifiable through a Rewrite mechanic that will allow you to change the gameplay.

18 - BLINK -

BV/Fls 15

Elisha Fee, Khadijah Samsudeen, Jakub "Kuba" Krysztofiak UK, 2023 Blink is a survival horror game where you play as Takeshi, who wakes at his office in the middle of the night. Guide Takeshi as he walks down the office floors. Keep him sane. Blink when he is safe.

151

GAMES LAB

19 WHITE LAKE

MH/BV 18

WONDERPUTT FOREVER

PG

Damp Gnat UK, 2022 A world of wonder awaits in Wonderputt Forever, an adventurous mini-golf follow-up to the critically acclaimed Wonderputt. Sit back and enjoy three different game modes and unlock rewards.

GAMES LAB

Matthew Higgins, We Be Dragons UK, 2023 You are in a strange white space, where fragmented memories rise from the void. Explore the visions that emerge, encounter the splintered reflections and uncover the meaning of White Lake.

20

21 ASTERISM

BV/SW 12

15

Claire Morwood UK, 2023 Asterism is series of playable music videos. It is an exploration in hand-crafted worlds that relate to the music, presenting a loose narrative themed around personal expression and acceptance.

Brave At Night UK, 2020 In this kingdom management RPG, petitioners arrive at court to ask for your advice and assistance. Decide whether to help them or save resources for others. Remember: your supplies are limited.

23

24

ROLLERDROME

15

Roll7 UK, 2022 Rollerdome is a BAFTA award-winning third person action shooter that blends combat with fluid motion and action. Dominate in style with this experience that will get your adrenaline pumping.

152

22 YES, YOUR GRACE

SQUARES AND STUFF

U

Joseph Maltby UK, 2023 Squares and Stuff is a retro-style sandbox game where players create and interact with elements, like water, fire, sand, animals, humans, zombies and a controllable 2D platform character.

12 November

Spark 12:00-22:00

Spark 12:00-19:00

26

25 AUNTIE GRAVITY

8-11 November

U

James Kilduff UK, 2023 This is an adventure game where you are tasked to find Auntie Gravity's cat on a spaceship. This challenge will involve solving puzzles using the help of physics in addition to also platforming.

HYPERCHARGE: UNBOXED

12

Digital Cybercherries UK, 2020 Hypercharge is the first and third-person shooter action figure game you've always dreamed of. Grab your friends, complete tasks, protect the Hypercore from enemies and defeat Major Evil.

GAMES LAB

27 NEURONET: MENDAX PROXY

mh/sw 15

28 UNEARTHU

u

Dream Harvest UK, 2023 You are Arc, a city management AI, designed to manage an AR metaverse: the NeuroNet. Meet its users, build relationships and help or hinder them whilst trying to balance the needs of the city.

Kara Stone Canada, USA, 2021 UnearthU is a program designed to support you in living your life on the highest plane of existence. Meet KARE, the AI system that will act as your personal life coach, dispensing mindful exercises.

29

30

WORKSHOP NO.25

u

Marco Ng UK, 2023 This exploration game uses the factor-based model to create a non-linear narrative. Follow the journey of Beau and Raymond discover what their grandfather has left behind in his workshop.

DRAGON'S FLOW

u

Julia Kolman UK, 2023 A top down bullet hell combined with the movement of Snake.

Weave around the attacks of a corrupted dragon soul to collect orbs. Unlock buffs to help you survive longer against enemies.

153

GAMES LAB

31

8-11 November

12 November

Spark 12:00-22:00

Spark 12:00-19:00

32

PAPER TRAIL

U

AWKWARD 2: THE PARTY GAME OF SAVAGE SECRETS

18

Snap Finger Click UK, 2023 Awkward 2 is an adult multiplayer party game filled with dark, hilarious and sometimes downright disturbing questions. Laugh, debate, defend and find out things you never wanted to know.

GAMES LAB

Newfangled Games UK, Coming Soon Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure about leaving home that is set in a totally foldable, paper world. You play as Paige, who leaves her home for the first time in pursuit of her studies.

s/DU

33

34

DESTA: THE MEMORIES BETWEEN

TIN HEARTS

12

ustw games UK, 2023 Fall into a beautiful dreamworld. Find your friends, unlock new abilities and overcome the odds in a surreal, tactical dodgeball adventure as you uncover the mysteries of a broken universe.

35 MARTHA IS DEAD

BV/mh 18

LKA Italy, 2022 Martha Is Dead is a dark and disturbing first-person psychological thriller. Set in 1944 Italy, it blurs the lines between reality, superstition and the horrendous tragedy of conflict during wartime.

154

12

Rogue Sun UK, 2023 Discover an epic tale spanning multi-generations and dimensions.

Guide a troop of mischievous tin soldiers through a world full of beauty, magic and mystery in the immersive realm of Tin Hearts.

GAMES LAB: VR

36 SANDBOARD

A/V

fls

U

8-11 November

12 November

Spark 12:00-22:00

Spark 12:00-19:00

37 VENTURE'S GAUNTLET

U

BearHammer Games Ltd UK, 2023 Venture's Gauntlet is an immersive VR game set in breathtaking landscapes. Test your stamina, accuracy, wit and reflexes as you navigate unstable terrain, solve puzzles and navigate obstacles.

38

39

GAMES LAB

Elliot Mann UK, 2022 Sandboard is a VR sand surfing and grappling game. Zip down sandy slopes, fly off boosts and use your grapples to propel yourself through the badlands, all with a sandboard at your feet.

THE JOURNEY

U

Austin Wolfe UK, 2020 The Journey is an unnarrated VR story about the route of a whale.

Players are invited to interact with certain elements within the experience, all the while driven by music, visuals and movement.

BV/SW

THE LAST WORKER

15 Wolf & Wood / Oiffy UK, 2023 An immersive narrative adventure centred around a worker’s final stand in an increasingly automated world, The Last Worker is a unique blend of simulation and stealth strategic gameplay.

40 THE HIGHGATE CANVAS

12

An Zhou, Yazhe Li, Alexa Donahue UK, 2023 Step into The Highgate Canvas and embark on a captivating journey as the Graveyard Keeper to find specific objects hidden

by Edward Lear, a whimsical resident known for his limericks.

155

vr & Games happy hour meet. network. create. the future starts here.

Thursday 9 November, 1331 Lounge

17:00-18:00

A destination for those working – or interested in – new technologies and the role they play in the future of cinema and games. Meet other individuals interested in virtual reality and game play.

Network and chat, generate ideas about the future possibilities for Gaming &VR. Open to all.

156

Famously, cinema is an empathy machine – a space where we can engage and see the world through the eyes of others. In this strand, we invite different curators from around the world to meet our audiences and share their unique outlooks.

This year’s organisations include Directors Notes, Iris Prize, T A P E collective, We Are Parable, amongst many others. These champions of new filmmaking offer compelling narratives that broaden the scope of cinematic representation and tell us stories from around the globe, which covers a broad spectrum of experiences.

These films offer powerful opportunities to experience someone else’s point of view and to immerse yourself in ideas beyond your own. In doing so, you’ll open yourself up to new cultures, horizons and landscapes. Sit back, watch and enjoy.

157

A/AB/bv/du/fls/mh/sw

15

MADE OF TRUTH Immerse yourself in a special selection of new, cutting-edge UK documentary shorts supported by the Made of Truth BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund. Each one of these films pushes creative boundaries.

They capture how archive, animation and even gaming technology can be harnessed to build compelling and rich non-fiction stories. In these films, we follow journeys into the past, finding important lessons that we can bring to our future. They examine the nature of family dynamics, traverse a land before time and expand our collective imagination.

The screening is followed by a Q&A with directors Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane (Undiscovered Country) and Natalie Cubides-Brady (The Veiled City), hosted by Fiona Fletcher (BFI Doc Society Fund).

158

Thursday 9 November Friargate 11:30-13:00

01

02

THE VEILED CITY

TRUST ME

Natalie Cubides-Brady UK, 2022, 13:00 A speculative symphony inspired by London’s Great Smog of 1952. Created from archive footage, The Veiled City invites us to understand this significant period in light of the climate crisis.

Melanie Cura Daball UK, France, 2022, 18:55 As animation and live-action intertwine in this bold, hybrid documentary, Anne battles with a life-changing diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Despite forced hospitalisation, she remains resilient.

03

04

PEMÓN

UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY

Brandon Ra Pestano Brazil, UK, 2023, 15:00 This documentary explores the spiritual beliefs of the Pemón Indigenous People of Venezuela, a threatened culture that inhabits the surrounding land of one of the oldest ever mountain ranges.

Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane UK, 2023, 22:00 Sam Crane aka Rustic Mascara attempts the impossible task of mounting a full production of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet inside the ultra-violent and iconic online world of Grand Theft Auto.

159

S

15

JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY Coming-of-age is a lifelong pursuit comprising moments of realisation and development. Our younger years are particularly formative, and it is during this period of time that we start to form an understanding of who we are and who we might become. From burgeoning teenage sexuality to the fracturing identities in the digital age, this poignant collection by Directors Notes highlights how animation can be an ideal artistic conduit for formative, important and life-shaping experiences.

160

thursday 9 November Theatre Royal 13:30-15:00

01

02

HOMEBIRD

CHADO

Ewa Smyk UK, 2021, 10:00 In this hand-drawn short, a young artist struggles to make it in the big city. In order to escape her urban present, she retreats into her rose-tinted memories, thinking of the village she has left behind.

Dominica Harrison UK, 2021, 07:28 During a long hot summer in the forest, Child is forced to grow up.

First, her dog becomes ill, then her mother returns to their dacha with a new lover. Suddenly, Child’s world is turned upside down.

03

04

MY YEAR OF DICKS

BLUE BOTTLE

Sara Gunnarsdóttir USA, 2022, 25:43 In 1991, Pam, a 15-year-old from the outskirts of Houston, embarks on a comedic journey of disappointment and self-discovery as she attempts to find the right boy to lose her virginity with.

Jenny Wright UK, 2021, 07:00 This hand-drawn animation shows what happens when a hot water bottle gets left out in the cold. In a sensitive, silent narration, it looks at the shared value of independence in relationships.

05

06

CONCRETE

BABBLE BUBBLE

Aira Joana, Luca Struchen, Nicholas Roth, Pirmin Bieri Switzerland, 2018, 07:34 A restless backpacker seeks his place in the world. In the middle of exploring a concrete building, he experiences a mysterious and surprising encounter, that gestures to the space where he belongs.

Richlin Li USA, 2020, 03:45 Norah’s head detaches from her body and is replaced with ... different heads. This personal story speaks to the dissociation that accompanies our busy, frantic and non-stop modern lives.

161

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15

BLACK BRITISH EXPERIENCES: 10 YEARS OF WE ARE PARABLE This year, We Are Parable celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since 2013, the collective has been motivated by finding and championing great stories from exceptional Black British creatives. The filmmakers highlighted in this programme include talented contemporaries from the UK and beyond. Each of them understand what it means to craft a compelling narrative. From parents discussing the merits of the UK’s education system to an audiovisual experience of a love fable in Ghana, these films remind us of the power of storytelling and its ability to engage and transform.

162

01

02

THE BOX

MOON OVER ABURI

Ammad Saddiq UK, 2022, 15:00 A young man confronts troubled memories and reflects upon his torn relationship with his brother in a box. This film tenderly traces an emotional journey in which the past comes to light.

Shelia Nortley, Anniwaa Buachie Ghana, UK, 2022, 19:49 Two strangers: a man and a woman. Each with a secret. Told from both male and female perspectives, Moon Over Aburi shows how childhood pressures can ripple into adulthood.

Thursday 9 November Friargate 15:30-17:00

03

04

TEXTURES

A PLUS

Mike Calandra Achode Ghana, UK, 2022, 12:03 Yaa and Nana have returned to Ghana to make their dreams come true. When an unexpected argument breaks out in the middle of the night, known certainties are called in question.

Michael P. Spencer UK, 2023, 07:32 Two dedicated young parents, who want only the best for their 10-year-old daughter, take matters into their own hands, as they consider what they are willing to do to ensure her success.

05

06

THE PERFECT KNIGHT

A PROMISE MADE

Stephane Alexandre UK, 2023, 11:39 Alie is a hopeless romantic, with an emphasis on hopeless. Until she is set up on a blind date with the encouragement of her best friend. The result turns out to be an unforgettable night.

Chimaobim Nathan UK, 2023, 10:22 Whilst waiting for an ambush, Fola has an intimate conversation with his brother about the merits of revenge. He finds himself at a painful fork in the road when attempts to dissuade him fail.

07 NIA Chantelle Ampomah Aboraah UK, 2023, 15:14 After the sudden passing of her grandmother, Nia struggles with her identity and where she came from. She focuses on finding her birth mother, wondering if their relationship can be rekindled.

163

AB/BV

18

FINAL GIRLS BERLIN: YOUNG & DEADLY SHORTS Some of the most impressive and impactful horrors feature young girls who have just come into their power. This is often in the face of authority, classmates, family and other oppressive forces that are hell-bent on opressing individual agency. This programme depicts the ubiquitous, myriad ways in which women can exercise their burgeoning courage, energy and strength. It encompasses both satisfying and morally ambiguous solutions that both charm and unsettle us. Even when not totally righteous, we can’t help but root for these characters.

164

Friday 10 November Friargate 15:30-17:00

01

02

AMYGDALA

SPELL ON YOU

Maria Hatzakou Greece, 2022, 22:21 Two sisters, Anna and Melina, spend their last days of holiday in their vacation house. Anna is having a birthday party, but Melina is not invited. What ensues is a hot summer night to remember.

Sarah Lasry France, 2022, 22:38 Salomé has a wart on her nose. At night, she spies on her parents through the keyhole. Strange things are happening, which no one speaks of. Despite her disgust, she must harness her own powers.

03

04

THE CHRISTENING

SANGUE NERO

Molly Scotti USA, 2022, 10:48 Ruth is a televangelist-obsessed little girl. In a chilling turn of events, things start to grow increasingly nightmarish. Her religious fervour escalates, quickly manifesting into violence.

Ophélie Nève Belgium, 2022, 19:11 16-year-old Chiara lives in the countryside with her mother and her violent step-dad. One night, he abuses her. On the same day, she experiences a vision that leads her to a life-saving encounter.

165

PG

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBJECT AND FILMMAKER Stories help us make sense of our lives and the world around us. They are how we share our experiences and construct meaning from what we’ve been through. But, as a documentarian, how do you tell someone else’s story?

Everyone’s truth is different. Perspective and memory can change from one person to the next. How do we ensure authenticity in storytelling? How do filmmakers collaborate with documentary contributors and apply empathy? Untold Stories, a partnership between Aesthetica and Sheffield Hallam, explores approaches to narrative. The programme considers the highly sensitive relationship shared between a filmmaker and their subjects.

Screening accompanied by a panel discussion with the filmmakers.

166

Saturday 11 November City Screen 2 13:30-15:00

01

02

MIRRORS

DROWNING

Paul Daly UK, 2022, 29:00 Mirrors is a poetic map of an island. It depicts its customs, rifts and relationships, through stories of community, history and diverse individuals. Discover a journey that spans seven years in England.

01

Gemma Whitworth UK, 2023, 06:22 Gemma grew up in a working-class home, then spent a decade and a half as a single parent, struggling to make ends meet. She’s now taken a huge leap and has started a film production degree.

03

04

BETTY’S STORY

I’LL BE BACK!

Shania Simpson UK, 2022, 09:12 This is the story of Betty from Tigray, Ethiopia, who made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean as she fled civil war and genocide. It raises awareness about the continuing crisis.

Hope Strickland UK, 2022, 10:58 Rebel slave Francois Mackandal was burned at the stake in 1758 for his crimes and powers of metamorphosis. This film interrogates the story, looking at spaces of history and power.04

05 SADACCA George Allen UK, 2023, 05:20 How dominoes helped to bring about a sense of community through the Sheffield And District African Caribbean Community Association. As told by immigrants from the Windrush Generation.

167

AB

15

THE MOTHERLOAD The Motherload is a tapestry of short films that delve into the many facets of motherhood. This programme reckons with the sacrifices we make, the challenges we face and the deep and often overwhelming love that comes with it. These are stories that document the reality of parenthood, offering moments of persistence and pain as mothers attempts to support the young and old. This selection is curated by Rianne Pictures, a media company supporting female filmmakers through curation, production and script development.

168

saturday 11 November YSJU 17:00-18:30

01

02

LAMB

BIRDS

Sinead O’Loughlin UK, 2022, 15:00 An ordinary day takes a sinister turn for a woman and her child when a stranger walks into their isolated rural home. What plays out is the ultimate “What would you do if the worst happened?”

Tyro Heath UK, 2022, 11:44 When her nine-year-old daughter’s gymnastic dreams are on the line, a mother behind bars struggles to keep her whereabouts a secret. As inspired by the experiences of a former prisoner.

03

04

SALT WOUNDS

CERES

Hannah Renton UK, 2022, 17:00 Free spirited Myra returns home to care for her mother, Rose, after she has a fall. Whilst Rose struggles to accept her impending dependency, Myra finds herself horrified and haunted by the past.

Amelia Sears UK , 2022, 14:32 A daughter seeks refuge from her emotionally abusive partner at the home of her estranged mother. It follows their attempt to reconnect, despite the knowledge that their time is limited.

05

06

MY DEAR SON

DROWNING

Lilian Fu UK, Hong Kong, 2022, 09:00 In a capitalist city, where people have kids to be proud of, a woman unexpectedly gives birth to a cat son. However, the journey to educate her son brings back something she has forgotten.

Gemma Whitworth UK, 2022, 06:23 A solo project and personal reflection on the effects of poverty.

This confessional short film is affecting, now more than ever, as it speaks to the experience of being a single mother in the UK.

169

D/mh/s/du

18

CITY GAYS AND COUNTRY GAYS A selection of short films from the Iris archive explore the rural and urban experiences of LGBTQ+ people. Curated by Berwyn Rowlands, Founder and Director of the Iris Prize, they ask: is it easier to be gay in the city? Does it matter where you live? How does a post-Netflix world affect the evolution of gender and sex? What does privacy mean in a digital world? Some of these stories challenge stereotypes and some confirm them. Above all, they demonstrate the potential to connect and find yourself in community, regardless of age, gender or region.

170

Saturday 11 November Theatre Royal 19:00-20:30

01

02

ARTH

CARDIFF

Amy Daniel UK, 2018, 11:00 Arthur is an old carpenter who leads a quiet life in rural mid-Wales.

That is until one ultimately fateful day – when he discovers a new device that he realises will fundamentally change his life forever.

Sarah Smith UK, 2019, 25:00 Perpetually single, Frederick envies his friend Joe, who has a never-ending supply of paramours. But when Frederick’s mother arrives for a visit, a series of betrayals exposes long held secrets.

03

04

EADRAINN FEIN (BETWEEN US)

G O’CLOCK

Daithi O Cinneide Ireland, 2016, 11:00 In rural Irish Gaeltacht, a son and father struggle to find common ground when discussing gender identity. This emotional story asks – how do we find support in the most unexpected of places?

Mitchell Marion UK, 2016, 12:20 After being called out to an emergency, gay paramedic Alex saves the life of a young boy who had overdosed on GHB, soon, he discovers that his caring instincts come with a dangerous price.

171

12

EARTHSCAPES: HUMAN STORIES, SHIFTING CLIMATES 01

Earthscapes presents a contemplative exploration of the human experience in a rapidly changing world. Traversing China, The Philippines Uzbekistan and a Native American reservation, these films convey the severe impact of environmental degradation for individuals and communities. Although interconnected by struggle, these visually stunning reflections offer up hope, memory and powerful resilience. Presented

by ClimateCulture, a group of curators who have united to shape the cultures of tomorrow through environmentally conscious storytelling.

172

sunday 12 November Yorkshire Museum 12:00-13:00

01

02

ARALKUM

CONSUMED

Mila Zhluktenko and Daniel Asadi Faezi Uzbekistan / Germany, 2022, 13:40 A desert landscape, as if from another planet. In these varied cinematic textures, Aralkum reveals the impact of human activities on the Aral Sea, showcasing the experience of loss and memory.

Richard John Seymour China / UK, 2019, 18:56 A journey through the factories, minds and landscapes of Chinese production. This film reveals the world behind our everyday objects, as it investigates where humans may fit in.

03

04

TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE

ABALONE EYES

Joanna Vasquez Arong Philippines, 2020, 18:35 A contemplation of the effects of a typhoon in a Filipino city. A girl weaves in myths and memories, as she tries to understand how people can cope with devastation, sadness and trauma.

Jazmin Garcia USA, 2022, 09:20 This lyrical exploration looks at the Hoopa people’s connection with land. Using oral storytelling and symbolic imagery, Garcia encourages us to cultivate a symbiotic relationship with nature.

173

AB/S

15

SUN, SMOKE, SAND & CONCRETE To live in a city can be a love / hate experience. The places in which we build our homes can alienate, displace or swallow us. For those who have moved from somewhere else, who are made to feel unsafe or unwanted, the desire to escape can be even stronger. Here we see various attempts to push past urban limits – through summer vacations and trips to another planet. There are even wishes to retreats into the imagination. Yet, one person’s fantasy can be another person’s prison.

What happens when we find ourselves alone, dislocated and lost?

174

Sunday 12 November YSJU 15:00-16:00

01

02

COMING HOME

TABANKA

Naim Naif, Margot Bowman USA, 2022, 10:10 In this intimate portrait of Freedom Dabka Group, a collective of Palestinian-American performers uses the traditional Dabka dance as a means to build a supportive community in Brooklyn.

Lauren Marsden Canada, 2022, 12:00 Dampened by office life during a Vancouver winter, a genderqueer Trinidadian woman longs for Carnival season, until she discovers the power of masquerade, realising it comes from within.

03

04

OURS

PURA VIDA

Morgane Frund Switzerland, 2022, 19:00 An amateur filmmaker invites a student to digitise his work. Suddenly, however, the dynamic between visitor and host is upended when she makes a startling discovery that alters events forever.

Nata Metlukh Estonia, 2018, 09:50 A group of friends head from grimy New York to paradise in Costa Rica, discovering in the process that some holidays are as much about chaos and mayhem as relaxation and release.

05

06

CITY PARADISE

I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE A MARTIAN

Gaelle Denis UK, 2005, 06:00 In this lively animation, Tomoko arrives in London from Japan.

Here, she comes across a secret underground city. What she finds is mesmerising, opening up a realm that belongs to her dreams.

Smaragda Nitsopoulou Greece, 2022, 06:00 An astronaut finds herself stranded on a foreign planet. Her initial fear soon gives way to adventure and curiosity. Now, she wants to experience this new world with all her senses.

175

D

15

RECLAIM & REBUILD WINDRUSH: 75 YEARS In association with the British Council, We Are Parable presents Reclaim & Rebuild, a collection of films that is committed to reflecting the Black British experience in culturally innovative and relevant ways. This series explores the significance of the Empire Windrush – the boat that brought 500 Caribbeans to the UK in 1948, where this year marks the 75th anniversary of the first arrival. These shorts cover a pivotal moment in UK history from myriad angles, touching upon colonial legacies, intergenerational perspectives, as well as the complexities and nuances of diasporic identity.

176

Sunday 12 November Friargate 15:30-17:00

01

02

TURNING POINT

JERK

Tony Thompson UK, 2021, 40:00 Turning Point is an ambitious film that celebrates real Caribbean storytelling. It explores belonging, colonised minds, obedience and pride, delving into the complexities of colonial identity.

Raine Allen Miller UK, 2022, 09:00 Winston arrived in London from Jamaica back when the streets were paved with promise. A lifetime later, he’s become the smiling face that everyone knows. Today, the mask is beginning to slip.

03

04

THE ARRIVAL

OUT OF MANY

Anneta Laufer UK, 2021, 13:00 It’s 6 August 1962 – Jamaican Independence Day. Daisy, a young Jamaican woman arrives in the “Mother Country” of Britain to start a new life with her husband. But she’s keeping a secret.

Rebecca Williams Jamaica, 2022, 15:00 The privileged teenage daughter of a Jamaican politician is abruptly confronted with the realities outside of her sheltered life. Over the course of 12 hours, she must face up to the truth.

177

12

OSKA BRIGHT: MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN Oska Bright is the world’s leading festival for films made by, or featuring, people with learning disabilities or autism. With less than five per cent of disabled people working in the UK film industry, the festival is driven to make change happen. Working internationally with industry partners and funded by the BFI, the team produces the BAFTA-Qualifying Oska Bright Film Festival, promotes accessible screenings, runs training for venues and develops skills for aspiring filmmakers. Oska Bright puts people with learning disabilities or autism where they should be: on the big screen.

178

Virtual Release

01

02

FILTERS

THIS IS NEWS RADIO

Lianne Mackessy Australia, 2020, 9:20 After being met with discrimination and unrealistic beauty standards, Kira, a young woman with Down syndrome, is led to change her online appearance to gain employment.

Andrew Kavanagh Australia, 2020, 7:00 This is News Radio tells the story of two weary journalists who rediscover their passion for the job through a shared love of all things music and sound. Beautifully shot in black and white.

03

04

SECRET LIFE OF LIGHTFOOT

BEING A DOG

Ray Jacobs UK, 2020, 10:00 Tom is anxious, he holds a secret in his human heart, a wing beat and a flutter and its bursting to take flight. The Secret Life of Tom Lightfoot is a tale of magical realism to be witnessed and shared.

Felix Swahn Sweden, 2021, 8:03 Tim is longing for love. He’s a lonely human being who struggles with exclusion. Every time Tim feels different than others he transforms into a French Bulldog. Ginger makes Tim feel human.

05

06

BORN TO DANCE WITH AN EXTRA CHROMOSOME

GALOOT

Nikolay Nikolov UK, 2021, 09:44 Four drag artists with Down’s syndrome prepare for a show in East London. Each artist’s performance highlights their unique character and discusses life, love and achieving your dreams.

Devon Leaver USA, 2021, 08:34 Galoot is an experimental film following the journey of a space creature named Galoot, that immerses the viewer in the experience of growing up on the autism spectrum.

179

15

FICTIONS IN REALITY In 1998, revolution led to the collapse of the military dictatorship that had led Indonesia for three decades. In the aftermath, collectives began to redefine the nation’s art scene, giving a voice to people whose beliefs had been suppressed. One such organisation was Forum Lenteng, a non-profit who emerged in Jakarta to promote activism and dialogue through media. These short films are a fraction of hundreds produced by them over the past 20 years. They present the possibilities of language and change in an observation of Indonesian society.

180

Virtual Release

01

02

PEMANDANGAN PIKNIK / SCENERY

RUMAH / HOUSE

Forum Lenteng Indonesia, 2003, 08:00 Can you imagine it – sitting on top of a moving train with 1500 volts of electricity crackling above your head? What would you see? How would it make you feel? This short film explores it all.

Otty Widasari Indonesia, 2006, 08:00 A cosy courtyard in a Jakarta suburb. The camera approaches from two sides. As the scene splits, we see two worlds at once.

Widasari captures a spatial experiment from a dual perspective.

03

04

ALAM SYUHADA

THE RAIN AFTER

Hafiz Rancajale Indonesia, 2005, 09:00 Alam aspires to become a soldier. However, to relieve the financial burden of his parents, he has moved to Jakarta. Here, he recounts a story of dreams and identity, in a fight for survival in the big city.

Muhammad Fauzi Indonesia, 2014, 13:00 Children look at the camera. Posing for a few minutes, their background indicates a small glimpse of residential life in Jakarta.

Then, nature drastically and suddenly interrupts the quiet night.

05

06

PAGI YANG SUNGSANG

FIKSI / FICTION

Mashur Zikri, Pingkan Pola, Prashasti W. Putri Indonesia, 2018, 25:00 Morning, a market place. A monster awakes, his strong body now made of heavy iron, ready to sweep away the detritus of the day.

What remains is a surreal vision of everyday curiosity and magic.

Otty Widasari Indonesia, 2016, 11:00 Because history is fiction. A soundscape of voices floats across dioramas from Jakarta’s National Monument, dissolving the canonical and monolithic account of Indonesia’s official story.

181

DU/SW

15

BRAZILIAN FILM: THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR LANDSCAPE This programme, exclusive for Aesthetica Short Film Festival, gathers work produced in the state of São Paulo and prominently shown at the 33rd São Paulo International Short Film Festival – Curta Kinoforum. As the country goes through a period of dramatic change post-Bolsanaro, these films explore contemporary and historical issues from local perspectives. The majority come from creative teams made-up of young people. They signal a whole new generation of Brazilian storytelling, offering you a look into the universe of the São Paulo “Paulistas.”

182

virtual release

01

02

THROUGH THE DEEP WEST

ARARAT / ARARAT

Guilherme Xavier Ribeiro Brazil, 2022, 14:22 On the outskirts of the deep Brazilian inlands, Luquinha lives in a difficult and deeply conservative town. He must attempt to rescue his pet horse, as he battles a home that is torn apart by corruption.

Guto Gomes Brazil, 2022, 17:00 On the centenary eve of the Armenian Genocide, two brothers who own a confectionery shop in São Paulo have a clash after discovering that an event supervisor is a Turkish representative.

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CANTAREIRA / CANTAREIRA

LUNCH BREAK / CHÃO DE FÁBRICA

Nina Kopko Brazil, 2021, 24:00 Bento, a worker and resident of downtown São Paulo, returns to the place where he grew up: his grandfather’s house in Serra da Cantareira. Once there, he seeks not only peace, but also a job.

Nina Kopko Brazil, 2021, 24:00 1979. Lunchtime at a local steel plant in São Bernardo do Campo (SP). Four workers eat inside the women’s bathroom. Between conversations, each one proves to be harbouring a secret of her own.

05 COLLECTION OF EXTREMELY SHORT STORIES Pedro Fraga Villaça Brazil, 2022, 11:00 Twenty-seven and a half micro-stories portray the reality of characters, using sarcasm to do so. This rich collection allows us to connect with the diverse life experiences of other people.

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MOROCCAN NARRATIVES Every year, the Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) runs workshops with local creatives with the aim of developing new voices and platforming under-represented perspectives in global filmmaking. In 2023, ten young Moroccan filmmakers worked across three months to make five films, developed in partnership with SDI, FIDADOC and industry mentors from the region. The result is a selection of shorts that reflect and question Moroccan society. They offer original and grounded insights into regional stories on age, gender and friendship.

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Virtual Release

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SUSANNA

THE LAND

Safaa Bendhiba Morocco, 2023, 07:50 Susanna, a sturdy mule, carries the luggage of tourists hiking the High Atlas Mountains. A filmmaker dreams of climbing to the top.

The question is – are they going to reach the summit this time?

Omar Hazmiri Morocco, 2023, 07:30 Fatna bids goodbye to her family to travel hundreds of miles to her inherited land. Two taxis and a motorbike bring her there, yet she is confronted with the devastation a drought has left behind.

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MY HAIR IS THE VIEW

THE MIND OF A THIEF

Sanae and Safae Lahgazi-Alaoui Morocco, 2023, 06:51 In every Moroccan neighbourhood there’s a salon with an old straightener. Yet, increasingly, young women dare to wear their hair in curls in a culture that has long rejected its African roots.

Yasmine Mahjoubi Morocco, 2023 08:13 A playful exploration of the inner world of thieves and a chronicle of unusual friendship. Mahjoubi creates a series of hand-drawn animated sequences, as she interweaves them with live footage.

05 SMART CITY Yassine El Amiri Morocco, 2023, 04:51 Houcine, a 64-year-old rag-and-bone man, is one of Casablanca’s many invisible workers. This film follows his attempts to make a living in the face of hostile authorities and fast failing health.

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LISTENING PITCH: FILM PREMIERES The Listening Pitch is an innovative collaboration between Audible and Aesthetica. We are looking for original stories that demonstrate how listening helps us to understand different points of view. This year’s awards were given to the following filmmakers: Matthew Herbert and Meghan McDonough. We will also screen two of 2022’s winning films: Birdsong and Speed of Sound. After each screening, there will be a Q&A session with the filmmakers.

Saturday 11 November. Venue: NCEM, YO1 9TL. Free drink upon arrival.

Doors open 19:00 Screenings start at 19:30 Live DJ performance starts at 21:30 Free with Festival Pass, but pre-booking is advised.

YOU, BANANA Matthew Herbert UK, 2023 More than 250 million bananas are consumed daily. In this voyage from tree to breakfast bowl, You, Banana tracks the fruit’s journey, starting in the Dominican Republic, before telling the normally inaudible stories of pickers, ripening gas processes and workers that bring us our food everyday.

OLD LESBIANS (SUBTITLED) Meghan McDonough USA, 2023

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For the past 25 years, Houston native Arden Eversmeyer has travelled across the USA to record oral accounts of a fading community – old lesbians. This stop-motion animation documents the legacy of outstanding women who have carved out lives for themselves in a historically heteronormative society.

Saturday 11 November NCEM York, YO1 9TL 19:00-23:00

BIRDSONG Sparsh Ahuja, Omi Gupta UK, 2022 Birdsong explores the dying whistling traditions of the Hmong people of northern Laos, whose sonic exchanges straddle the boundary between music and speech. The film looks at the intimate personal stories of three individuals from Long Lan village as they reflect on their vanishing musical language.

SPEED OF SOUND Jade Ang Jackman UK, 2022 Speed of Sound is a sonic portrait of self professed adrenaline junkie Carina Edlinger, whose determination and athletic prowess led her to win gold at Beijing’s Winter Paralympics. She skis 80 kmph down a snow laden mountain at two percent vision with nothing but her guide’s voice and the rush of the wind.

LIVE DJ PERFORMANCE Electronic Music Set 21:30-23:00 Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of sonic enchantment in this live DJ performance. This event will transform NCEM into a playground of rhythm and beat. Join us on a journey through the realms of electronic music, where every drop and note will ignite your senses during this fantastic night.

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AWARDS CEREMONY JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE 2023 WINNING FILMS. SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER, YORKSHIRE MUSEUM | 16:30-19:00 Join us to see this year’s Official Selection, now including Games Selection in competition for awards in their categories. These accolades have a track record of launching and nurturing impressive careers in film, and we invite you to be a part of this exciting event.

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New Wave is your introduction to the next generation of filmmakers.

We are the only festival in the UK that offers a dedicated strand celebrating graduate filmmakers. This is your chance to see work by fresh talent and to meet the incredible visionaries who are now shaping the future of cinema.

Each New Wave screening is either introduced or followed by a panel with academics, filmmakers and industry professionals. In these discussions, we dig deeper into the craft and artistry of film and explore the contemporary issues shaping the industry (and the world) today. This year’s events will cover ideas including emotional storytelling, purposeful narratives and how fashion questions everything from identity politics to the rise of AI projects.

New voices, new ideas, new perspectives – welcome to the New Wave.

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LIGHT AND DARK: EMOTION ON FILM Film is a deeply personal medium. It engages our innermost feelings and encourages us to reflect on a wide range of emotions, from the depths of despair to peaks of hilarity. From a filmmaker’s perspective, it can be challenging. Capturing the complexities of human empathy on screen involves looking within and opening up to crews and audiences. This selection from York St John navigates vulnerability and pain, as well as self-discovery and triumph.

Get ready to dig deep. Followed by a panel discussion.

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Wednesday 8 November NCEM 13:30-15:00

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MILO BENDIKSEN: BLÅTONER (BLUE TONES) CHAPTERS 1-4

DESPONDENCY

Martine Lund UK, Norway, 2023, 13:40 A long-form music video series looks into the different stages of a relationship. This is a deep dive into the evocative feelings of love, lust and melancholy, each driven by personal growth.

Ryan Ashton UK, 2023, 06:35 An experimental film about the pressures of alienation under capitalism. We follow a protagonist in their anguish, up until the moment where they explode in an attempt to escape “normal life.”

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INTIMACY

TRIPPY

James Fox UK, 2023, 02:00 A cosmic and ethereal visual poem about the perfect night.

Confront starry skies, dissolving trees and waxing moons in a moment of meditation where the universe speaks gently back.

Kathryn Oghoetuoma UK, 2023, 06:29 An experimental film about losing touch with reality and the trips people experience with taking certain drugs. This film documents three trips, focusing on the narrator’s struggle with psychosis.

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GRAVEYARD SHIFT

BUTTERFLY

Mhairi Fox UK, 2023, 27:10 Took is having the worst day of her life. When her best friend drags her to the local graveyard, an encounter with Death leads all three on a painful, unexpectedly romantic journey.

Isabella Noulton UK, 2023, 14:29 This is you and your story. A tale so immaculately designed by nature. No one could have written it better than you. Butterfly draws out a focused mediation on grief, peace and transformation.

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VOICES IN MOTION Understanding the technical craft of filmmaking is one thing, but, beyond knowing how to put a film together, the question is: why are you making it in the first place? Regent’s University, London, presents a showcase of films from this year’s class that highlights the broad international outlook of the institution. It’s an opportunity to discover the unique voices that students have cultivated during their time at the university. BAFTA-nominees and Emmy-winners are amongst Regent’s University’s talented alumni. You will experience the brightest and best voices in innovative cinema. Followed by a panel discussion.

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Thursday 9 November City Screen 2 11:30-13:00

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LOOSE ENDS

CARÚPANO

Lenny Cossey UK, 2023, 06:53 An unlikely duo of professional killers learn that the person they just un-alived was very much supposed to be alive. This joyously absurd romp is assured to put a smile on your face.

Emanuele Monaco Venezuela , 2023, 10:05 Carúpano is a documentary looking into lives of fishermen in Sucre, Venezuela, as they discuss what they want for their children and how they hope to improve the wellbeing of their own lives.

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SOUL

TABLE FOR FIVE

Daria Romanova UK, 2023, 12:45 Leon has given up on having a happy life. The only one still fighting for it is his soul. But it’s not easy to reach out to Leon.

This is a story of resilience, asking what it means to begin again.

Chiara Anastasia Pal Switzerland, 2023, 05:18 A glamorous lady’s meticulously prepared dinner party falls through. Undeterred, she turns the evening into a delightful feast, sharing love and abundance with her four adoring dogs.

05 YMIT Yerkezhan Baizhan Kazakhstan, 2023, 10:50 Tired of her mundane life, drunken husband and overbearing mother-in-law, Asiya decides to run away. Her plans are then uncovered by her mother-in-law who is determined to stop her.

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THE VANGUARD: FASHION FILM AND CULTURE This showcase celebrates the inventive techniques in visual storytelling pioneered by students at London College of Fashion’s School of Media and Communication. Their collective aim is to influence and define the future of fashion media, communication and performance sectors by transcending the boundaries between physical and digital realms. These cinematic creations cross into interdisciplinary lines, breathing vitality into intricate topics such as dreams, culture and identity. Discover novel methodologies, reimagined critical approaches and considered, sustainable practices.

Summary

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Friday 10 Novemeber City Screen 2 14:00-15:00

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ODE TO CENTAUR

THE WIFE AND A HOUSE

Chenshuo Xu UK, 2022, 07:06 Ode to the Centaur is a queer film that explores masculinity through the representation of the centaur. Ancient myths act as a means of self-discovery for this horse-headed character.

Tereza Markova UK, 2023, 01:54 In the bitter-sweet day of a housewife, womanhood unfolds, interweaving struggles and pleasures with delicate precision. From dawn till 5pm, she navigates a world where expectations loom.

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NADAMAT

I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU

Palak Gangwal UK, 2023, 02:10 Will the world pull him by his hair and drag him down? Will the world make him feel abandoned? Nadamat is a poignant film on what it means to really struggle behind closed doors.

Iines Kaipanen UK, 2023, 01:30 I Just Wanted To Tell You walks viewers through a voice note of a dream. This surreal short depicts two people who share an intimate yet simultaneously melancholic moment on a motorcycle.

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LUCIFER

THE ELEGANT SURVIVOR

Jessica Curry UK, 2023, 02:12 Set in an overgrown jungle creeping far into the future, we find a hyper-evolved version of Lucifer as a parasitic corpse lily – reimagined in this rendition of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus.

Yifei Du, Chuqi Liu UK, 2023, 03:56 The Elegant Survivor contemplates the unparalleled resilience and selflessness of Chinese women who have lived through exceptional periods of history, alongside vast and drastic national change.

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IT ALL BEGINS WITH HAIR

OMNI

Ximan Tan, Haowei Li UK, 2023, 03:26 Hair is not just a part of the body, a style, or an appearance. It is a cultural and emotional touchstone. This film narrates the story of an Asian girl and her hair from her immediate point of view.

Tamaris Ellins UK, 2023, 02:50 Omni witnesses the interplay between the virtual and the real, alongside the gender binary that dominates society. All the while, it observes an aesthetic termed “Steampunk Nouveau.”

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AUTHENTIC SELF

UNSEEN

Chunqi Zhao UK, 2023, 03:15 Drawn from a traditional Chinese setting, Authentic Self is a short about a young woman’s struggle to find herself in the face of traditional social pressures and critical family expectations.

Ella Oulton UK, 2023, 03:23 Unseen is a documentary that uses authentic female experiences to challenge western perceptions of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, as it contrasts traditional and contemporary stories.

friday 10 November City Screen 2 14:00-15:00

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HOUSE OF UNENDING

WHO ARE YOU WEARING

Kexin Han & Jingjing Xu UK, 2023, 02:53 House of Unending introduces us to a girl trapped in an house that is relentlessly tormenting her. Things get complicated when she meets two of her future selves. But who will get to escape first?

Samiksha Vaidya, Dhruv Prakash UK, 2023, 04:04 This film highlights members of the Brown diaspora – focusing on their fashion value systems. Characters are asked who they are wearing, giving an insight into the influence of heritage on style.

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SEMANTIC ERROR

FUTURI APRILI

Haizhu Dong UK, 2022, 04:26 Semantic Error focuses on the perspective of a robot, Tenet, who is mistakenly made to be another gender. What tenderly unfolds is a meditation on the boundaries placed by society on our bodies.

Enrico Bellenghi UK, 2022, 07:06 Future Aprili is a fashion film that narrates the sensitivity of young subcultures towards important social issues, it shifts from the perception of one’s own physical self to visions of the future.

15 THE ENIGMA Yeva Wu UK, 2023, 03:04 The Enigma is a fake commercial for the external uterus, an invention which extends the capability of reproduction and liberates us from traditional gendered social restrictions.

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Catch up on Demand all films are available to view on our platform until 30 November.

For the fourth year running, we’re offering audiences the opportunity to attend the festival in York, as well as online. This is the ultimate film festival experience, as it combines the freedom to take part in our in person events, whilst being able to log-in and catch-up in your own time.

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INDUSTRY Whether you are an actor, cinematographer, director, developer, producer, screenwriter or a film aficionado, we've got you covered. This year's selection of masterclasses is world-class, bringing together some of the biggest names, organisations and agencies to share their knowledge.

For 2023, we welcome BAFTA, Oscar and BIFA-winning directors, actors and producers, who each represent prestigious organisations such as Aardman, BBC, BFI, Channel 4, Film4, Framestore, Guardian Documentaries, Industrial Light & Magic, Ridley Scott Associates, Ubisoft and more.

This year's line-up of industry speakers includes Director Mark Jenkin (Bait, Enys Men), Writer and Director Kathryn Ferguson (Nothing Compares), Producer Nicholas Brown (Human Planet, Luther), VFX Supervisor Julian Foddy (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Cinematographer Diana Olifirova (Bridgerton, Heartstopper), BAFTA Head of Games Luke Hebblethwaite and actress and artist Heather Agyepong (Two Many Blackamoors).

Industry sessions and workshops are included with your festival passes, although due to high-demand, pre-booking is essential.

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MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS HEAR FROM WORLD-CLASS SPEAKERS. This year's Masterclasses will run from 8-11 November. These sessions will be recorded and available to watch back On Demand, as part of our digital platform, which runs from 8-30 November.

Masterclasses are included with day or full festival passes, although online booking is required for in-person events. You cannot attend masterclasses with a single screening or digital-only ticket. All masterclasses should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment, due to capacity.

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INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

WEDNESDAY TUESDAY

A-Z of Filmmaking: Turning an Idea into Reality ​​ Filmmaking is a multifaceted process that requires a combination of creativity, technical skill and coordination. It all begins with an idea that sparks the imagination. Here, panellists from this year’s Official Selection will discuss their approaches when it comes to bringing concepts to the big screen. Hear the best tips for production, from scriptwriting to story-arcs, budgeting to location scouting and editing and colour grading. Learn how to move from concept to production. This panel covers the journey of a film, start to finish.

Date & Time: 8 November | 10:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 9 November

official selection filmmakers

Film4: From Shorts to Features Film4 is renowned for its ground-breaking projects, collaborating with international and UK talents such as Andrea Arnold and Steve McQueen. The prominent cultural broadcaster has contributed to the creation of critically acclaimed movies, including The Banshees of Inisherin, Enys Men and The Favourite. Join Development Executive Amy O’Hara in conversation with GRANDMAS, an award-winning directing duo and winners of Best Comedy at ASFF 2019, as they explore the process of transitioning from shorts to feature films.

Date & Time: 8 November | 10:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 9 November

Amy o'hara / GRANDMAS Development Executive / Director Duo

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WEDNESDAY

DNEG: A Deep Dive into a Virtual Production DNEG is one of the world’s leading visual effects and animation studios. In recent years, they have also become a leader in virtual production, working on a range of projects from the latest feature films, Bullet Train (2022) and Oppenheimer (2023), to gripping high-end TV shows like Stranger Things. Meet the multi-disciplinary team working at the forefront of VP and learn more about shooting with virtual environments, as they help to educate the industry on an exciting, non-linear and collaborative way of working.

Date & Time: 8 November | 12:00

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 9 November

ella kennea / simon went christian frausig / craig stiff

Youth, Rave, Pop Culture: Mark Leckey & the Art of Montage Years before the advent of YouTube, Mark Leckey (b. 1964) released Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore (1999), a film about Britain’s underground club scene. It was his breakthrough work, launching a career rooted in the experience of growing up in Britain from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Today he is one of the art world's most influential names: winning the Turner Prize and recently, transforming Tate Britain with a life-size replica of the M54. In this discussion, chaired by Sarah Perks, he discusses his multidisciplinary practice from cinema to performance.

Date & Time: 8 November | 12:00

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Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 9 November

Mark Leckey / Sarah perks Artist and Filmmaker / Curator

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

WEDNESDAY

Gaming for Good?

The Social Impact of Interactive Entertainment What good are games? Can they answer questions about the climate crisis, violence against women and girls, identity and colonial legacy? This masterclass brings together industry experts and advocates in conversation on contemporary debates and opportunities for games to do real good. Matthew Spokes (York St John University), Luke Hebblethwaite (BAFTA Head of Games), Des Gale (Altered Gene), Bettina Bodi (Leeds Beckett University) and Emily Stell (Firesprite) discuss how the future of gaming will impact our society.

Date & Time: 8 November | 13:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 9 November

BETTINA BODi / DES GALE / emily stell luke hebblethwaite / MATTHEW SPOKES

Nicolas Brown: An Insight into Producing Nicolas Brown is an experienced producer and executive for film and TV. Before joining Neal Street Productions in 2013, Nick was the BBC’s Director of UK Drama Production for six years, responsible for shows such as EastEnders and Luther. Work as a producer includes Ladies in Lavender, White Teeth (C4) and Gideon’s Daughter (BBC). At Neal Street, credits include Penny Dreadful (SKY / Showtime), Britannia (SKY/Epix), Informer (BBC / Amazon) and The Franchise (HBO. Listen to Brown talk about his career, the producer’s role and key changes in the industry.

Date & Time: 8 November | 13:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 9 November

NICOLAS BROWN Director and Producer

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WEDNESDAY

BBC Film: Shorts – What's the Point?

Is it about the journey or the destination? Shorts are both a distinct creative form and a path towards features, so how do creatives approach the work whilst balancing many priorities? BBC Film Development Executives, Alice Ojha and Anu Henriques, talk to Warda Mohamed (Director of MUNA) and Lorine Plagnol (Producer of AREA BOY ) about their experiences creating urgent and compelling short form pieces whilst also working towards their longer term ambitions.

Date & Time: 8 November | 15:00

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 9 November

Alice ojha / Warda Mohamed anu henriques / Lorine Plagnol

Viridian: Imagination to Reality Designing Award-Winning VFX Viridian FX creates high-end visual effects for film, TV and screenbased media, positioning itself as one of the leading VFX houses in the UK. The studio has helped to build numerous captivating worlds, working on projects such as HBO’s Golden Globe award-winning series House of The Dragon, alongside The Infernal Machine, Deus and Genesis. In this masterclass, Ben Louden and Oswin Wan will discuss how to conceptualise visual realities and refine in-camera imagery, bringing the fantastical worlds we cherish the most to life.

Date & Time: 8 November | 15:00

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Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 9 November

Ben louden / oswin wan VFX Supervisor / Creative Art Director

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

WEDNESDAY

Identity and Diaspora: Heather Agyepong Heather Agyepong is a trailblazing contemporary artist and actor.

Winner of the Jerwood / Photoworks Award 2022, she has achieved worldwide recognition from Foam Talent, Prix Pictet and more. She will discuss how lens-based practices and performance can explore mental health and wellbeing in diasporic communities through examining versions of history. Chaired by Artistic Director Nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf, the conversation will look at previous key projects that focus on identity, such as the series Two Many Blackamoors.

Date & Time: 8 November | 16:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 9 November

Heather Agyepong nephertiti Oboshie Schandorf

Mastering Cinematography: Crafting Iconic Shots Oona Menges is an award-winning cinematographer, admired for her exquisite compositions and artful lighting. She developed these skills by moving her way up through the camera department across every film genre. She has worked on movies such as LOLA (2022) and TV shows such as Ruby Speaking (ITV) and Lovely Little Farm (2022), an BAFTA-winning children’s series. Here, Menges will discuss her career, the secrets to shooting compelling scenes and the importance of positioning to capture the audience's full attention.

Date & Time: 8 November | 16:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 9 November

OONa MENGES Cinematographer

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THURSDAY

From Vision to Reality: Unveiling the Secrets of Immersive Content Production Join us for an engaging panel discussion that explores the production pipeline for VR, AR, mixed reality (MR) and 360-degree video.

Explore the intricacies of pre-production planning and post-production techniques as well as the ethical considerations encountered when crafting tech solutions. Sylvia Pan (Goldsmiths, University of London), Ella Kennea (DNEG), Piotr Nierobisz (Munching Square), Ana-Despina Tudor and Serra Ozdemir (London College of Communication) speak about how to navigate the world of immersive media.

Date & Time: 9 November | 10:00

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 10 November

ella kennea / PIOTR Nierobisz ana-despina tudor / SYLVIA PAN

BBC Writersroom: Next Level Scriptwriting BBC Writersroom works with emerging and established writers, offering practical advice on how to make a story stand out. It sits within BBC TV Drama Commissioning with a team of 15, including Development Exec Simon Nelson, working from five bases across the UK. Nelson has over 20 years' experience as a successful storyliner, script editor and producer. Here, he discusses the “dos” and “don’ts” of scriptwriting. Discover how to avoid clichés and receive useful tips on how to enhance your writing for both the big and small screens.

Date & Time: 9 November | 10:00

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Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 10 November

SIMON NELSON Development Executive

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

THURSDAY

Studio AKA: Developing Award-winning Animations Studio AKA is a multi-award winning group of directors, designers, technical artists and writers always looking for new ways to tell stories through animation. Their clients include Apple, BBC and Disney.

From Hey Duggee to the title designs for Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the independent team brings audiences captivating ideas and visuals across commercials, TV series and short films.

Studio AKA Partner and Director, Philip Hunt, takes us behind the scenes, sharing the studio's emphasis on story, design and character.

Date & Time: 9 November | 11:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 10 November

philip Hunt Partner and Director

How Gaming is Driving Production Visualisation Dimension VR creates virtual humans and worlds for film, games, TV, virtual reality and the metaverse. In this session, Rob McLellan, an award-winning writer, director, real-time artist and Creative Director of Dimension Studio, will take you on a deep-dive into production visualisation. Rob will provide expert insight and a demonstration of how real-time gaming software can transform the creative process. He discusses the exciting opportunities it presents for creative start-ups and new filmmakers to visualise and develop their ideas.

Date & Time: 9 November | 11:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 10 November

rob mclellan Dimension VR

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THURSDAY

Framestore: The World of Visual Effects New technologies have transformed film forever. Awe-inspiring visuals can be seen in cinemas and streaming platforms. Tim Webber is the Chief Creative Officer at Oscar-winning visual effects studio Framestore (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Endgame, Spiderman: Far From Home). Listen to Webber's insights into the ambitious world of visual effects, looking at projects such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Dark Knight, Avatar and Alfonso Cuarón's space epic Gravity – for which he received an Academy Award and BAFTA.

Date & Time: 9 November | 13:00

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 10 November

tim webber Chief Creative Officer

We Are Parable: 10 Years of Black British Film We Are Parable celebrates its 10 th anniversary in 2023. The team provides a platform for Black films and their creators, believing in “experience over everything” – a passion for providing culturally relevant and memorable opportunities for audiences to engage with Black cinema. Since 2013, it has collaborated with Ama Asante, Spike Lee as well as Steve McQueen, creating unparalleled, immersive screenings of blockbuster titles, alongside working with Warner Bros, Disney, MUBI and Netflix to get trailblazing new talent seen.

Date & Time: 9 November | 13:00

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anthony Andrews Founder

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

THURSDAY

Ridley Scott Associates Making Content: Advertising, Music Video & Installation How do we deliver and communicate products? Promotion takes on a new meaning in relation to the climate crisis, gender, and race. For over 50 years, Ridley Scott Associates and their music video and youth culture division Black Dog Films has worked with clients such as Adidas, BBC, and Vogue. It has made music videos for Beyoncé, Oasis, Selena Gomez and Stormzy. Hear award-winning animator Alice Bloomfield, producer Holly Wolfers, and Head of PR and Communications Jim Campbell discuss making outstanding content.

Date & Time: 9 November | 14:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 10 November

Alice Bloomfield Holly Wolfers / Jim campbell

Nainita Desai: Composing for Screen Music in cinema evokes feelings, creates tension and leaves hints for the audience. Nainita Desai is a multi-award-winning composer, labelled as one of the top five “composers of 2020 who should be on your radar” by Film4. She holds an Emmy, Royal Television Society Award and Soundtrack Awards's Discovery of The Year. As a composer, she has worked on For Sama (2019) and Sundance and BIFA-winning film The Reason I Jump (2020). Learn how to create versatile, colourful and rich music that takes viewers on a journey.

Date & Time: 9 November | 14:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 10 November

Nainita Desai Composer

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THURSDAY

Jennifer Sheridan Follow Your Own Path: Breaking into Directing Jennifer Sheridan is Aesthetica alumnus and an award-winning director. She has a comprehensive level of experience on set, ranging from fantasy for CBBC to drama for BBC. She has been in production on Extraordinary (2023) and her debut horror feature, Rose - A Love Story stars Matt Stokoe and Sophie Rundle. Sheridan will talk about her journey from making low-budget short films to high-end television, including the mistakes she made along the way. This is an essential masterclass for those who want to break into the industry.

Date & Time: 9 November | 16:00

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 10 November

Jennifer sheridan Director

Develop Your Directorial Style: Hear from Our Filmmakers Finding a distinctive style is fundamental to connecting with audiences and making work feel memorable. Join our Official Selection filmmakers, as they discuss how to develop a signature look and feel. This is a process of self-discovery that evolves over time and draws on various experiences both in and out of the studio. It can involve finding a mentor, watching other films, trying various techniques, meeting new people and learning different skills. Our panel will give tips on how to hone artistic sensibilities and make a mark.

Date & Time: 9 November | 16:00

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official Selection filmmakers

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

THURSDAY

Larry Achiampong: Cross Cultural and Digital Identities Larry Achiampong is an artist, filmmaker and musician who has been nominated for the Jarman Award (2021) and longlisted for a BAFTA in 2023. This year, he also won the Aesthetica Art Prize. His work uses archival material, film and live performance to explore cross-cultural and digital identity, class and gender. In this masterclass, he discusses how work, such as Wayfinder, which follows a girl's journey through England, examining communal and personal heritage, and the intersection between pop culture and colonialism.

Date & Time: 9 November | 17:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 10 November

Larry achiampong Artist and Filmmaker

Environmental Documentaries: BBC Natural History Unit in Conversation The BBC’s Natural History Unit is behind some of the most memorable series in recent television, including David Attenborough's series Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Dynasties. From high-octane showdowns between snakes and iguanas, to devastating scenes of plastic pollution in our oceans, these programmes document the world like never before. Creative Director, Mike Gunton, speaks to us about how the BBC reveals the wonders of nature. Expect exceptional storytelling, jaw dropping imagery and some truly cutting-edge science.

Date & Time: 9 November | 17:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 10 November

Mike Gunton Creative Director

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Ridley Scott Associates: The Future of Storytelling RSA Films is a global production company founded by director Ridley Scott, best-known for films such as Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000) and The Martian (2015).

This session is set against the backdrop of our fast-paced digital world, where attention spans are shortening and media is accessible anytime and anywhere. CEO Luke Scott, Global Managing Director Kai-Lu Hsiung, and CFO Richard Nicholas discuss the future of production, asking: what is the place of narrative storytelling today?

Date & Time: 10 November | 10:00

luke scott / kai-Lu hsiung richard nicholas / alex reeves

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 11 November

Balancing Creativity and AI: Navigating Risks & Opportunities in Media Production Dive into the risks and opportunities associated with using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the creative industries. Explore concerns such as losing human touch, training on biased data and fear of job losses. This session promotes a balanced approach to AI in creative processes. Panellists include Jenna Ng, Head of Creative Technologies at the University of York; Shelley Mannion, Product Lead at World of Women; Acting Co-Head of Barbican, Patrick Moran; Leon Kester from TNO; Eric Fanghanel, Lecturer at London College of Communication and Chair Ana-Despina Tudor.

Date & Time: 10 November | 10:00

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Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 11 November

shelley mannion / ana-despina tudor Jenna NG / leon kester / patrick moran

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

FRIDAY

Ubisoft: Interactive Narrative Design Video games offer an immersive cinematic journey where the role of narrative is crucial to players’ enjoyment and understanding of the game. Tom Knights, Senior Narrative Designer at Ubisoft, has worked on games such as Tom Clancy's The Division and the upcoming Assassin’s Creed: Nexus VR. He will discuss the many ways stories are conveyed in interactive worlds. Join a session that will cover everything from trailers and cutscenes, to player agency in game narrative, as well as the lasting impact of virtual reality.

Date & Time: 10 November | 12:00

Venue: YSJU Creative Centre Auditorium Available On Demand 11 November

tom knights Senior Narrative Designer

Kathryn Ferguson: Stories with Purpose Kathryn Ferguson is an award-winning director and writer. In 2022 she was awarded the BFI & Chanel Award for Creative Audacity for a first-time feature director. She has a decade of experience with short form work centred on identity and has recently completed feature documentary, NOTHING COMPARES, about late musician Sinéad O’Connor. She has also directed commercials and music videos with Amnesty International, Lady Gaga, Nike and Selfridges. Join her in discussion with Head of Guardian Documentaries, Lindsay Poulton.

Date & Time: 10 November | 16:00

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 10 November

Kathryn Ferguson / lindsay poulton Director / Head of Documentaries

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FRIDAY

Mick Audsley: The Editor as Storyteller and Collaborator Mick Audsley is a BAFTA-winning editor with nearly 50 years of cinema-defining films in his portfolio – from My Beautiful Launderette, High Fidelity, Dangerous Liaisons and The Grifters, to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Murder on the Orient Express, Everest and most recently Disney’s Pinocchio. Speaking about his career and long-term collaborations with directors including Stephen Frears, Terry Gilliam and Mike Newell, Audsley will discuss the narrative role of the editor in conversation with Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA.

Date & Time: 10 November | 11:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 11 November

Mick Audsley / Sara putt Film Editor / Chair of BAFTA

From Print to Screen: Adapting Stories with Terri White Terri White is a writer, broadcaster and the award-winning former Editor-in-Chief of Empire magazine. In 2020, she released her memoir Coming Undone (Canongate), which charts her experiences of abuse and subsequent trauma. It was published to critical acclaim, becoming a Guardian Book of the Year. Now, White is adapting her story for Netflix with actor Billie Piper (I Hate Suzie) set to star in the forthcoming production. This session asks: what does it take to translate from page to screen? How do you tell your story to the world?

Date & Time: 10 November | 13:00

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Venue: York Theatre Royal Studio Available On Demand 11 November

terri white Editor and Journalist

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

FRIDAY

Guardian presents: The power of true stories The Guardian’s documentary slate foregrounds urgent stories from filmmakers around the world. As we face the climate emergency and the cost of living crisis, storytellers hold those in power to account and inspire us into action for a better future. But, which stories should we tell? Lucy Jane and Joya Berrow, directors of Digital Divide (2023), as featured in this year's festival, will join Guardian Video Producer John Domokos and Head of Documentaries Lindsay Poulton to share their journey, offering tips for socially driven film.

Date & Time: 10 November | 13:00

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 11 November

lindsay poulton / lucy jane Joya berrow / john domokos

Iconic Animation: ​​Behind the Scenes with Aardman Aardman is a multi-award-winning British animation studio founded

by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. It creates unique, stop-motion films with clay and plasticine characters. Wallace & Gromit (1989-present) and Shaun the Sheep (2007-present) are some of their iconic projects whilst Chicken Run (1997) is one of the most well-loved and highest-grossing stop-motion films of all time. For 40 years, the studio has been creating unforgettable stories loved by multiple generations. Here, Becher speaks about his career.

Date & Time: 10 November | 13:00

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 11 November

will becher Senior Narrative Designer

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FRIDAY

Matthew Herbert: All Sound Can Be Music Matthew Herbert's 30-year career spans dancefloor tracks, musical scores and experimental albums. A thread tying his extensive work has been the commitment to sampling unconventional sounds, from a pig's life to a bomb exploding. Screen-based projects include the Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman (2017), Disobedience (2018), Noughts + Crosses (2020) and The Wonder (2022). In this masterclass, Herbert discusses his career and the process behind his latest record made from a horse skeleton, titled The Horse (2023).

Date & Time: 10 November | 14:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 11 November

Matthew Herbert Musician / Producer

Visual Effects: Realising the Impossible with ILM Industrial Light & Magic is a leading VFX studio, founded by George Lucas in 1975. Known for some of the most stunning images in the history of film, they have contributed to Star Wars, Black Panther and Jurassic World. Production VFX Supervisor, Julian Foddy has helped to build an array of captivating landscapes. Since joining ILM, he has worked on projects including Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One and Spiderman: Far from Home. Foddy considers how technological advances can help bring imagined worlds to life.

Date & Time: 10 November | 14:30

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Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 11 November

Julian Foddy Production VFX Supervisor

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

FRIDAY

Michel Haddi: An Icon of Fashion Photography Michel Haddi has worked in the fashion industry for over 30 years, collaborating with French Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire Germany. Armani and Yves Saint-Laurent are some of his clients, in addition to celebrities like Denzel Washington, Kate Moss and Keanu Reeves. Here, the photographer will speak with artist Sadie Clayton about the industry and the rise of fashion film.

He will explore the interdisciplinary nature of fashion photography as well as discuss his evolving career through new technologies.

Date & Time: 10 November | 16:00

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 11 November

michel haddi / Sadie clayton Photographer / Artist

Finding the Right Location: Where to Shoot Your Film The success of your shoot depends on selecting the right filming location and with such a range to choose from, picking the right one can be a daunting task. Alongside practical considerations, this decision influences the depth and richness of a story. Leon Seth is an experienced location manager who has worked on Peaky Blinders (2013-2022), Tin Star (2017) and Downton Abbey (2019). In this session, Seth guides us through the process of finding and securing the right place, whilst asking the ultimate question: studio or real world?

Date & Time: 10 November | 11:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 11 November

leon seth Location Manager

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FRIDAY

The Rules of Scriptwriting and How to Break Them What are the building blocks of a compelling script? How do you push a narrative beyond clichés, common tropes and expected conventions? In this session, our panel of talented Official Selection filmmakers offer insights into what it takes to craft a story that grabs attention. They’ll identify what makes stories work and why, exploring how you can play with genre. This session, chaired by Ted Wilkes, author of The Insider's Guide to Scriptwriting, is ideal for writers who are looking for tools to develop their next big project.

Date & Time: 10 November | 16:00

Venue: York St John Creative Centre Available On Demand 11 November

official Selection filmmakers

Mark Jenkin: The Rise of an Indie Director In 2020, Mark Jenkin won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut Director with his lo-fi debut, Bait. Three years later, his experimental folk-horror film Enys Men followed a wildlife volunteer on an island off the Cornish coast. It premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2022 and was a UK box office success. Jenkin is renowned for innovative writing, production and music. In conversation with fellow Director Jennifer Sheridan, he navigates approaches between script and screen, considering how to build a project from the ground up.

Date & Time: 10 November | 17:30

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Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 11 November

Mark jENKIN / Jennifer Sheridan Directors

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SATURDAY

Adam Trotman: It’s All in the Edit Good editing pushes a story forward, creating logical connections between scenes. It can add several layers to the narrative, change its scope and transform the plot. Editor and director, Adam Trotman, has 30 years' experience. He has directed and edited various TV series including Dr Who (2014-2017), All Creatures Great and Small (2020-2021) and Netflix’s popular Last Kingdom (2022). Trotman will discuss in detail the role of the editor, how to get the most from your project and practical tips for how to keep up with the industry.

Date & Time: 11 November | 10:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 12 November

Adam Trotman Editor and Director

Beyond the Frame: Embark on a Journey into 360 Documentary Filmmaking Are you ready to immerse your audience in captivating experiences? Join us for a session where we dive into the fascinating realm of documentary in 360. We will address the techniques and equipment necessary to capture authentic moments, seamlessly blending cinematic expertise with the immersive medium. Explore ways to enhance storytelling and gain insights from industry experts who have laid the groundwork for 360 documentaries. Panellists are Ana-Despina Tudor, Sammy Kingston, Lucy Hammond and Iona McEwan.

Date & Time: 11 November | 10:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 12 November

Iona McEwan / Sammy Kingston ana-Despina Tudor / Lucy Hammond

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SATURDAY

Ridley Scott Associates: Unscripted How to Research Your Project Ridley Scott Associates Unscripted Division’s dedicated and highly experienced development and production team produces genre defining documentaries, including their new multi-part Robbie Williams Netflix series, directed by Joe Pearlman (Bros: After the Screaming Stops). Join Head of Programming and Development Louis Mole and Development Producer Natalie Fiennes, as they discuss their process, from research through to production and development. They will offer insights into what they look for in new projects.

Date & Time: 11 November | 12:00

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 12 November

natalie fiennes / louis mole Development Producer / Head of Development

What is the Role of the Intimacy Coordinator?

Intimacy coordination is a crucial aspect of any film or television production. This topic has gained traction, as the industry strives to create a comfortable working environment for all actors. Coordinators Abigail Kessel, Haley Muraleedharan and Rufai Ajala have worked on shows from BBC’s Dreaming Whilst Black and Netflix' Lady Chatterley's Lover to adverts for Durex and Virgin Media. They discuss the role of the intimacy coordinator, its importance for projects and what to consider if you don’t have the budget for a coordinator.

Date & Time: 11 November | 12:00

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Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 12 November

haley muraleedharan Rufai Ajala / abigail kessel

INDUSTRY: MASTERCLASSES & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

SATURDAY

The Female Gaze: Women Depicting Women What is the “female gaze”? Film theorist Laura Mulvey introduced the term in the 1970s as a response to the predominantly male perspectives that have dominated visual culture. This discussion hosts cinematographer and BAFTA Breakthrough Talent Diana Olifirova who has worked on series such as We Are Lady Parts (2021), Heartstopper (2022) and the upcoming season of Bridgerton. This discussion with Melanie Iredale, Director of Reclaim The Frame, considers the importance of strong support networks and reclaiming women's narratives.

Date & Time: 11 November | 13:30

Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 12 November

Diana olifirova / Melanie iredale Cinematographer / Director

Sonja Klaus: Crafting Award-Winning Production Designs Leading film and television designer, Sonja Klaus, has an extensive career spanning over 20 years, with credits including Oscar-winning Gladiator (2000), the Tomb Raider series, A Christmas Carol (2019) and BBC’s recent hit Great Expectations (2023). In this session, Klaus takes us behind the scenes of these incredible worlds. She will teach you how to construct award-winning production designs that are atmospheric and unforgettable. Hear how she brings these scenes to our screens, from the initial concept through to the final product.

Date & Time: 11 November | 13:30

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 12 November

SONJA klAUS Production Designer

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SATURDAY

Women in Cinema: Building Careers Behind the Camera In 2022, the Celluloid Ceiling report, showed that just 24% of directors, writers, producers, editors and cinematographers within the top 250 grossing films were women. Sara Putt Associates is a leading UK agency working to redress the balance. They assist women with securing work by helping them to build solid networks and career strategies. Sara Putt, Laurily Adams, Katie Player, Caroline Cooper Charles and Nina Rice discuss how they got started, their successes, and what a female perspective brings to screen.

Date & Time: 11 November | 14:00

Venue: York Theatre Royal Studio Available On Demand 12 November

Nina Rice / Sara putt / Katie Player Caroline Cooper Charles / Laurily Adams

Primetime Presents: Sarah Gavron in Conversation Sarah Gavron is a BAFTA-winning filmmaker whose films highlight the experiences of women and girls in the UK. Her stories take an empathetic look into issues of today, including films such as BBC’s Suffragette (2015) and Rocks (2019). The latter premiered at TIFF, winning two BAFTAs and eight nominations. In this spotlight, actor and founder of Primetime, Victoria Emslie, speaks to Gavron about her progression from short film to TV and features. She also discusses the necessity for a more equally representative film industry.

Date & Time: 11 November | 15:00

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Venue: Yorkshire Museum Available On Demand 12 November

SARAH GAVRON / victoria emslie Director / Actor and CEO

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SATURDAY

Working with a Budget: Financing Your Film Finding the best route for financing a project is often one of the biggest challenges to overcome in order to make a film. Creating a realistic budget is essential and perseverance is key. Whether you are applying for screen agency funds and or approaching private investors, it's crucial to present your film as a valuable investment opportunity. This panel introduces our Official Selection filmmakers, who provide a candid discussion on how to effectively fund your film, stay on budget and market your project to funding bodies.

Date & Time: 11 November | 15:00

Venue: York Explore Available On Demand 12 November

official selection filmmakers

HOW TO BOOK YOUR MASTERCLASSES & WORKSHOPS We're running an unparalleled programme of industry events alongside our film programme: masterclasses, workshops, panels, VR Lab, Games Lab and more.

All masterclasses, workshops, panels, VR Lab, Games Lab are included with your Festival Pass, however seats are limited and booking is essential.

TO BOOK VISIT: WWW.ASFF.CO.UK/EVENTS 223

WORKSHOPS TEST OUT YOUR IDEAS. LEARN SOMETHING NEW. This year we are running a series of practical workshops at Pitcher & Piano, StreetLife Hub, The Guildhall and York Theatre Royal’s Studio, with a host of key organisations from the London College of Communication and The Pitch Film Fund to Viridian FX and Canon. These workshops are centred around expanded realities, making them essential for those looking to try out new technologies and learn from industry professionals.

Travel to the past to uncover the tactile magic of traditional printmaking. Or look to exciting futures with Test Bed of AI Generators and Writing in 360: A Practical Workshop.

Sessions last two hours.

Free with Festival Pass. Pre-booking is essential.

THURSDAY

Testbed of AI generators Are you fascinated by the power of artificial intelligence? Join us as we explore the testbed of AI generators. Gain a solid understanding of AI generators and their role in transforming various industries by discovering their history, development and potential applications.

Gain practical skills through interactive exercises and guided tutorials.

Topics such as bias and fairness will also be discussed, as we look at the ethical implications of AI technologies. To attend, you will need to bring a laptop and download free software. Pre-booking required.

Date & Time: 9 November | 14:00- 16:00

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Venue: Pitcher & Piano Capacity: 50

Ana-Despina Tudor

INDUSTRY: WORKSHOPS

THURSDAY

The Pitch Film Fund: Learn How to Pitch your Project Want to hone your pitching skills and get advice and tips from the experts? This workshop will look at how to prepare, practice and perfect your presentation, as well as give you the opportunity to try out the all-important skills for yourself. The ability to speak confidently and clearly about your ideas is essential. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, screenwriter, producer or industry enthusiast, our workshop will equip you with the expertise needed to captivate your audience, secure funding and bring your cinematic dreams to life.

Date & Time: 9 November | 10:00-12:00

Venue: Pitcher & Piano Capacity: 30

pete sinclair

From Concept to Screen: A Virtual Production Demonstration and Collaborative Conversation Join Viridian FX and XR Stories as they delve into the fundamentals of virtual production. This workshop offers insights into the creative opportunities of cutting-edge technologies. Learn about the core concepts and tools of virtual production, including Unreal Engine, Vive Mars camera tracking, state-of-the-art camera equipment and lighting. Attendees will gain hands-on experience in merging physical and virtual elements, helping them to explore these new concepts and enabling them to create captivating visual narratives.

Date & Time: 9 November | 14:00 - 16:00

Venue: Guildhall, YO1 9QL Capacity: 15

Ben Louden / Oswin Wan 225

INDUSTRY: WORKSHOPS

FRIDAY

Writing in 360: A Practical workshop When embarking on a film project, you start with a script or an idea. However, in the realm of 360-degree filmmaking, the writing process must adjust to a completely different set of guidelines centred around interactivity. This process is flipped and twisted, requiring narratives to encompass a greater degree of subtlety and complexity. In this session, participants will gain insight into how to maintain a well-structured narrative whilst incorporating the possibilities presented by these immersive tools into their projects.

Date & Time: 10 November | 13:30-15:30

Venue: Pitcher & Piano Capacity: 50

Ana-Despina Tudor

FRIDAY

open your eyes to cinema cameras: a practical workshop with canon Are you looking to enhance your cinematography skills? Here is your opportunity to explore the full range of cinema cameras and test out the functionality. Cameras have come a long way in recent years. It used to be that capturing that cinematic quality was only reserved for those with the biggest budgets. But cinema camera technology has never been more accessible. This workshop is a practical walk-through of the latest Canon Cinema EOS range and will help you understand which camera is right for your work.

Date & Time: 10 November | 14:30-16:30

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Venue: York Theatre Royal Studio Capacity: 65

canon team

INDUSTRY: WORKSHOPS

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Step Back in Time: Experience the Magic of Print Are you captivated by traditional printing methods? Join us for a journey into the world of printmaking in the era of the old printing press. You'll delve into its rich history and come to appreciate the craftsmanship that went into producing printed materials before the digital age. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you'll learn typesetting, ink mixing and printing using an authentic, vintage printing press. Experience the tactile joy and satisfaction of turning the press handle as your designs come to life on paper.

Date & Time: 11 November | 10:00-17:00 12 November | 10:00-17:00

Venue: Streetlife Capacity: 30

Helen smith / elizabeth holling

SUNDAY

Toy Stories: discover motion Capture animation Ever dreamed of your toy coming to life, like they do in Toy Story? Join XR Stories to make dreams come true. After scanning a toy to capture a 3D digital replica, the children will storyboard a simple script starring that toy, before directing an actor using motion capture technology.

The workshop will wrap up with an exclusive screening of their very own short film! This session, open to 7-14-year-olds. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Please be aware that this event does involve brief strobe lighting anyone who is sensitive to this will be able to look away.

Date & Time: 12 November | 15:00-17:00

Venue: Guildhall, YO1 9QL Ages: 7-14 | Capacity: 15

xr stories team

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KIDS' FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION We believe in the power of film. It is for everyone. We also believe that children and young people should be encouraged to make, create and participate. As part of this year’s festival, we are offering 7-14 year olds the chance to learn how to develop, direct and make their own films. These two-hour workshops are led by the expert team at Pauline Quirke Academy, York. PQA is the largest provider of Film and TV education for young people in the UK, offering brilliant tuition that is confidence-boosting and fun.

Pre-booking is essential for all sessions due to capacity at our venues.

Still: Pacemaker, dirs. Christopher Lennertz, Brian Vincent Rhodes.

Book your place at: www.asff.co.uk/tickets. Sessions £10

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SATURDAY

SUNDAY

In this workshop led by Pauline Quirke Academy, children will get the chance to explore a variety of filmmaking roles, from initial storyboarding all the way through to shouting “action” and “cut”!

Working as a team, children will learn how to bring their ideas to life using state-of-the-art camera equipment, whilst having fun. The session is a wonderful opportunity to discover new talents supported by professional film and television makers. Inspire a lifelong love of film, and make new friends in a safe and comfortable environment.

Venue: York St John Creative Centre, YO31 7EX Capacity: 20

How to Make a Film: Creative workshop This workshop will help young people harness their creativity to tell wonderful, original stories, using industry-standard equipment. An excellent introduction to development, pre-production and production techniques, participants will take on roles in front of and behind the camera, working in teams that mirror how professional film sets are run. The session will help them discover their filmmaking abilities in a fun and practical environment, but also skills they can use in life such as: teamwork, communication and problem-solving.

Date & Time: 11 November | 14:00 - 16:00 (11-14yrs) 12 November | 14:00 - 16:00 (11-14yrs)

Still: Woodies Origin, dirs. Choi, Löffler, Roze, Weber.

Date & Time: 11 November | 10:00 - 12:00 (7-10yrs) 12 November | 10:00 - 12:00 (7-10yrs)

Still: I'm Not Afraid!, dir. Marita Mayer.

Do you Want to be a Director?

Venue: York St John Creative Centre, YO31 7EX Capacity: 20

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KIDS' GAMING WORKSHOPS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Calling all gamers and aspiring game developers. Get ready for a fun and action packed adventure with our exciting Kids' Gaming Workshops. Dive head first into the exciting realm of interactive storytelling, learn the hidden secrets behind game design and unleash your creativity in immersive worlds. Our workshops are designed to cater to two age groups: 7-10 and 11-14. There's something new for everyone, whether you're joining as a total beginner or already have some game-making knowledge under your belt.

Pre-booking is essential for all sessions due to capacity at our venues.

Still: Flutter, dir. Adam Levy.

Book your place at: www.asff.co.uk/tickets. Sessions £10

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SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Join experienced instructors who are passionate about gaming and nurturing young talent in a workshop that will teach you how to use Click-team Fusion 2.5. They'll guide you through the whole process, providing support and reassurance along the way. Click-team is perfect for introducing coding to children, enabling them to create digital stories, games and animations, whilst encouraging their creativity and problem-solving abilities. Together you'll boost your development skills, make friends and unlock endless possibilities.

Venue: York St John Creative Centre, YO31 7EX Capacity: 20

Do you want to be a Game Developer?

In this workshop lead by Impact Games, you will begin your journey to become a game developer by learning the basics of game design.

Discover the fundamentals of character development, level creation and storytelling. You will also learn about coding and programming and get hands-on experience learning to create your own games.

Unleash your imagination as you bring your own ideas to life. Get ready to dive into the world of game development tools and software, and see how code transforms into interactive experiences.

Date & Time: 11 November | 10:00 - 12:00 (11-14yrs) 12 November | 10:00 - 12:00 (11-14yrs)

Still: The Brave Locomotive, Andrew Pierce Chesworth.

Date & Time: 11 November | 14:00 - 16:00 (7-10yrs) 12 November | 14:00 - 16:00 (7-10yrs)

Still: Corvine, dir. Sean McCarron.

How to Make a Game?

Venue: York St John Creative Centre, YO31 7EX Capacity: 20

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NETWORKING Build relationships, seek out collaborations and make lasting memories.

Our Networking Sessions, Pitching and Social Events are a key part of the festival, and are a place where connections are made.

The 2023 Networking events are attended by leading organisations who will advise you on how to navigate the film festival circuit and pitch to distributors. These sessions focus on expanded realities and immersive tech.

Here, we offer both in-person and virtual attendees the opportunity to meet and interact with representatives from some of the world’s leading organisations, from BBC to Film4 and Guardian Documentaries.

Read more about these events in the following pages, and be sure to book where necessary. *Guests are subject to change at any time.

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NETWORKING SESSION 1

The Art of Conversation: Refining Your Pitch 8 November | 12:00-13:30 | Pitcher & Piano, Upstairs Function Room

Pitching is an essential skill. The ability to discuss your film is crucial, whether you’re seeking funding, looking to build your team or searching for a distributor.

Successful pitches include being able to summarise a film’s key subject matter, the landscape and narrative, whilst identifying its potential within the wider market and what it could achieve at other film festivals. Pitches are also useful for offering essential feedback that can help you develop. This networking session is open to all filmmakers and is the perfect place to test your skills and spark a conversation about your works in progress. Hosted by The Pitch Film Fund.

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NETWORKING SESSION 2

how to Master Visual Effects on a Budget 9 November | 12:00-13:30 | York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer

Visual effects can often be seen as too expensive or complicated for lower-budget filmmaking. But it’s key to bringing the imagined and fantastical universes we most cherish to life. Viridian FX, based in the heart of York, is a team of VFX artists and filmmakers committed to finding visually inventive ways to support powerful stories, whatever the budget. Their recent projects range from on-set supervision for low-budget shorts and features to visual effects work on HBO’s House of the Dragon. Whatever your experience, join them for an informal conversation about VFX and the future of storytelling.

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NETWORKING SESSION 3

Canon: Getting to know Cinema Cameras 10 November | 12:00-13:30 | York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer

Capturing video in cinematic quality is no longer reserved for those with the biggest budgets. However, with so many options, knowing which camera to choose for the job gives you a lot to consider. Researching the best equipment to use, how it operates and when to put it into practice can be a big task. Join the Canon team during this networking session where you will learn about the latest range of Cinema EOS cameras. Find out the ins and outs of how they work. Get professional input on how you can harness new equipment across your future film productions.

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NETWORKING SESSION 4

FESTIVAL FORMULA: PREPPING FOR YOUR FESTIVAL JOURNEY 11 November | 12:00-13:30 | York Theatre Royal Upper Foyer

Festival Formula is the leading film festival strategy consultancy and submission service in Europe. They focus on helping filmmakers navigate the worldwide circuit, increasing their probabilities of acceptances and helping them save time. Drawing on extensive experience in the industry, Festival Formula creates bespoke strategies tailored to the budget and assets of each film. This session, hosted by Festival Formula, will be based around finding your place within the circuit and exploring today’s landscape amongst other like-minded directors, producers, actors and more.

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NETWORKING SESSION 5

Collaboration and Inspiration in Stage and Screen 12 November | 12:00-13:30 | 1331, Lounge

Collaboration is at the heart of every film; each contribution is an important part of bringing stories to life in the most authentic, convincing and inspiring ways.

At The Northern School of Art, collaboration is highly valued because it prepares students for exciting careers in Stage and Screen. This networking session provides all attendees with the opportunity to share ideas and meet other likeminded individuals. Come along and meet other producers, directors, actors, cinematographers and academics who are interested in building relationships, sparking conversations and crafting new and long-lasting partnerships.

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PITCHING SESSIONS SHARE YOUR NEXT BIG IDEA. Developing a new short or feature project? Looking for advice and pointers on ways to advance your idea?

Pitching Sessions are a chance to get work in front of decision-makers from leading production companies.

Meet one-to-one with Development Executives from Film4, Goldfinch, BBC Film, Guardian Documentaries, The Pitch Film Fund, Scottish Documentary Institute, Neal Street Productions and BFI Doc Society.

This is a major opportunity to receive invaluable feedback on your work. Successful applicants are invited to a 20-minute, one-to-one Pitching Session with a representative from one of our guest organisations. All of these pitching sessions take place in-person at Malmaison York or virtually.

You must register for a full festival pass to be eligible to apply for pitching. Free to enter.

Find out more and submit your proposal at asff.co.uk/pitching-sessions by 28 September.

BBC Film (Narrative Shorts) BBC Film is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing and co-producing feature-length productions. Committed to developing new talent, it collaborates with some of the foremost writers and directors, with new releases including Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir II. BBC Films was awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.

Date 8 November Malmaison Time 10:00-12:30

Goldfinch First FLights (Narrative shorts) First Flights is an incubator for first-time feature film directors and producers, supporting each individual to create financially successful features and launch their international profiles. The First Flights team is adept at spotting emerging creative talent, working with individuals to produce their first feature. Goldfinch has worked with Gary Oldman, Anjelica Houston, Bill Nighy and Sam Riley.

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Date 8 November Malmaison Time 10:00-12:00 14:00-16:00

CONNECTIONS: PITCHING SESSIONS

Film4 (Narrative Features) Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, which develops and co-finances projects from the most distinctive talents in the UK and the rest of the world. Some Academy Award-winners include Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, and notable recent releases are Last Night in Soho, Rocks, Enys Men and Living.

Date 8 November Malmaison Time 11:00-13:30

Scottish Documentary Institute (Doc Features) Scottish Documentary Institute specialises in documentary training, production and distribution, supporting filmmakers through a diverse programme of high-quality training programmes. It has produced over 100 films, screening in 60 countries, garnering recognition as being at the cutting-edge of the documentary sector. Bridging art and industry, its projects are driven by emotional experiences.

Date 9 November Malmaison Time 10:30-12:30

BBC (Scripted television drama) Simon Nelson is a Development Executive at BBC WritersRoom. He looks after writer development across TV, radio and digital platforms, producing UK-wide new writing talent initiatives, development programmes, opportunities and events for writers. He specialises in identifying, developing and nurturing new screenwriting talent across the BBC, with experience in scripted development across multiple genres.

Date 9 November Malmaison Time 13:30-16:00

THE PITCH FILM FUND (narrative shorts) The Pitch Film Fund specialises in reinventing classical narratives, providing filmmakers with the opportunity to make short films inspired by the Bible. The Pitch exists for emerging talent, providing unique training and development opportunities and offering a £60,000 production award each year. The Pitch brings groundbreaking short films to audiences around the world – with commissions like White Gold being longlisted for an Oscar.

Date 9 November Malmaison Time 13:30-16:00

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CONNECTIONS: PITCHING SESSIONS Doc Society (Documentary shorts) The BFI Doc Society Fund works to support and develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing feature and short creative documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions. Founded in 2005, it is committed to enabling great documentary films and connecting them to audiences across the globe. Hannah Bush Bailey works across the funds feature slate and Made of Truth Short Scheme.

Date 10 November Malmaison Time 11:00-13:30

Neal Street Productions (Narrative Feature) Neal Street Productions is one of the UK’s most respected production companies, producing film (1917, Empire of Light), television (Informer, Britannia) and theatre. Set up in 2003 by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Caro Newling, the company celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2013. Neal Street has become known for making distinctive, popular and award-winning projects on both sides of the Atlantic.

Date 10 November Malmaison Time 13:00-15:00

Guardian Docs (Documentary shorts) The Guardian is renowned for its agenda-setting journalism and Guardian Documentaries is an expression of their core editorial purpose and ethos. They curate and commission independent filmmakers from around the world and are committed to telling stories with unique artistic vision. They have won critical acclaim, including a 2022 BAFTA Film Award for The Black Cop and an Oscar in 2021 for Colette.

Date 11 November Malmaison Time 10:30-13:00

PITCH YOUR PROJECT. SHARE IDEAS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS. 8-11 NOVEMBER, MALMAISON | APPLY AT ASFF.CO.UK/PITCHING-SESSIONS AtOur our13th Pitching edition Sessions, closes you with can a liveshow prizework ceremony to key where decision-makers we recognise from theBBC, best film Film4, from Guardian each genre, Documentaries, BFI DocSociety, FilmGuest FundAwards. and Neal as well as our Audience Choice, Goldfinch, Best of FestThe andPitch Special BeStreet a part Productions. of the celebration.

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OPENING NIGHT CEREMONY 8 November | 18:00-21:00 | City Screen Aesthetica launches its 13th edition with a screening of inspiring and thought-provoking works from the 2023 Official Selection. Curated

by Festival Director Cherie Federico, our Opening Night Ceremony spans a broad range of themes, topics and genres, providing a taster of what’s to come over the week, whilst asking questions about the power of film. Arrival drinks from 18:00. Screening starts 19:00.

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WOMEN IN FILM, TV AND GAMES DRINKS 8 November | 17:15-18:15 | Yorkshire museum The Women in Film, TV and Games Drinks Reception is a celebratory event that recognises and promotes the achievements of women in the screen industries. The event brings together a range of professionals, including actors, cinematographers, directors, developers, producers and writers, to network and share ideas. The event highlights the huge contributions of women to an industry which has, historically, been dominated by men. It provides a platform for women to connect, helping to break down barriers and promote equality. Open to all female-identifying attendees. Please register your interest in advance.

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FILM HUB NORTH FILMMAKER ROUNDTABLE 9 November | 17:00-18:00 | PITCHER & PIANO Film Hub North’s Filmmaker Roundtable will give Northern writers, directors and producers the opportunity to connect with their filmmaker development team. This session will be hosted by one of their BFI NETWORK Talent Executives and will feature Doc Society, plus Debbie Howard and Rachel Robey from the powerful BFI NETWORK funded short Safe, (in Official Selection Drama 13).

Please register at filmhubnorth.org.uk/filmmaker-roundtables

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VR & GAMES HAPPY HOUR 9 November | 17:00-18.00 | 1331 This essential event is an opportunity for all attendees to network and meet colleagues from across the VR and games industries at the festival. The VR & 360 Happy Hour includes a welcome drink and a chance to chat about new technologies. This event is a destination to meet those changing the face of VR and games, producing immersive experiences and working at the forefront of interactivity.

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LOOP PRESENTS: MEET THE FILMMAKERS 9 November | 20:00-23:00 | rose within the walls Loop Talent presents this year’s Meet the Filmmakers social event. Loop Talent is an Agency and Diary Service exclusively catering to the professional Heads of Department and Crew working in Film. Come and enjoy a drink opposite one of York’s best-known historical landmarks: Clifford’s Tower. Attendees receive a glass of wine upon arrival, on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the place to make connections for the rest of the festival and meet with fellow filmmakers and cinema aficionados alike. A relaxed social evening where we invite our Official Selection to make themselves known to each other and forge new friendships within the festival circuit. Free drink upon arrival.

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FRIDAY NIGHT PARTY 10 November | 20:00-Late | 1331 The renowned Friday Night Party carries Aesthetica Short Film Festival through into a weekend of social events, films, games and immersive experiences. It will be hosted by 1331, which is located in York’s vibrant Grape Lane. The party is the ideal location to join the festivities or regroup with new friends. Grab a drink, connect with other industry guests and prepare for the busy weekend of screenings and events.

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THE LISTENING PITCH: FILM PREMIERE 11 November | 19:00-23:00 | NCEM The Listening Pitch is an innovative collaboration between Audible and Aesthetica. We are looking for stories that demonstrate how listening helps us to understand different points of view. This year’s awards were given to Matthew Herbert and Meghan McDonough. We will also screen two of 2022’s winning films Birdsong and Speed of Sound. A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow each screening. Free drink upon arrival.

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FRINGE EXHIBITION: INSIDE (OUT)

AESTHETICA FILM FESTIVAL FRINGE INSIDE (OUT) Aesthetica and City Screen bring you a new photography exhibition as part of this year’s Aesthetica Film Festival. We are pleased to open Inside(Out), which presents the work of three female photographers who are looking at some of today’s most pressing issues through lens-based media.

The impact that art has on society is profound. It’s transformational and invites conversation that challenges the status-quo. Art offers hope and solutions to problems that are bigger than any one individual or country. It presents reality and questions how the past is remembered. Our world is changing at a cataclysmic speed; from the all-encompassing nature of technology to the very real threats posed by the climate emergency, alongside the residual legacies of colonialism.

Inside (Out) presents three female photographers from the Aesthetica Art Prize, which is an annual exhibition held at York Art Gallery. The artists from across the world offer creativity as a form of expression. Their projects span the boundaries of genre, from painting, photography, video, mixedmedia and installation. These works survey the fragility of our planet, the ethics of representation, whilst also offering a hope in a time of growing uncertainty.

Life is a complex tapestry of emotions. There are moments of joy and euphoria, as well as pain and loss. This reflects the human experience. If there is one thing that binds us together, it’s that no matter who you are, where you are – we are all here, right now on our shared planet Earth.

Artists include Alice Duncan, Ingrid Weyland and Rebecca Reeve. Curated by Cherie Federico.

Submissions for the Aesthetica Art Prize open on 1 December 2023.

Inside(Out) is on until 18 November at City Screen, York, 13-17 Coney Street York.

Image right: Rebecca Reeve, from the series Through Looking, 2014 – present. Courtesy the artist.

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FRINGE EVENT: FLUX & POSSIBILITIES

FRINGE EVENT: SOUND INSTALLATION Artist Martyn Riley premieres a new work: Flux & Possibilities Flux & Possibilities is a deep listening multi-channel sound installation by Derbyshire born, London-based sound artist, Martyn Riley. This durational sound piece was created in collaboration with a multitude of female identifying interviewees from diverse backgrounds representational of the UK. The piece explores personal identities and histories, highlighting individuals’ experiences and ideologies about feminism, inequality and gendered spaces. Flux & Possibilities is a multi-layered discourse and investigation into the post-modern social context of peoples spatial and personal environments.

This emphasis on space, place and gender aims to air testimonies and personal opinions connected to the often neglected discourse surrounding the architecture of power and control, where dominant societal and political values manipulate movement within public spaces and urban landscapes.

In response to these personal testimonies, the artist has created underlying sounds connected directly to these stories of geographics, experience and memory, ensuring their voices are always heard.

Join us for deep listening. Sit or lie on the cushions provided and dive-in to the experience.

Free with Festival pass. No need to pre-book.

8-11 NOVEMBER | 10:30-20:00 BEDERN HALL, YO1 7AL 250

12 NOVEMBER | 10:30-18:00

FLUX & POSSIBILITIES

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FRINGE EVENT: FILM POSTER EXHIBITION

FILM POSTER EXHIBITION 8-12 November | 11:00-19:00 | StreetLife, YO1 9QL The art behind any film is often incredible and there is a long history of the film poster. The first promotional movie poster was for the French short L’Arroseur Arrosé , and was made in 1895. In the 20th century, early cinemas only had one screen to show a single film. Displaying posters outside the building was integral to generating audiences and interest in the screening.

At this year’s Aesthetica Film Festival, we are pleased to present the first ever Film Poster Exhibition, which is comprised of 40 film posters from our Official Selection. All of the filmmakers were invited to submit their poster for inclusion and a panel from the Aesthetica Magazine team selected a shortlist of 40 to exhibit at StreetLife. Please feel free to take selfies next to the posters and tag #ASFF2023FilmPosters. Free exhibition. No need to pre-book.

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Future Now Aesthetica Symposium

// inspiring talks // new connections // portfolio reviews

save the date | York, uk

15-16 February 2024

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FILMMAKER INDEX

Advertising Believe in Wonder

The Australian Ballet|Beyond Words

81

Massimo Carrier Ragazzi Breitling | The Sound of Watchmaking

82

80

81

83

ANIMATIoN A Bear Named Wojtek

83

82

83

80

80

81

82

82

Jonathan Berube

268

Christopher at Sea

87

Curiosa

85

Davey’s Lullaby

85

Europe by Bidon

84

FLITE

87

For Isaak

85

Rebecca Wilson-Jacobs, Richard Jacobs 81

Human Resources

86

Isaac Wenzek, Titouan Tillier, Trinidad Plass Caussade 83

Jesse Lewis-Reece Star Atlas

86

Tim Webber

Gabriel Juduc RNIB|See Differently

Caramelle

Samuel Albaric, Thomas Trichet

Athena Han Les Moments

88

Adam Deyoe

Leo van Kann Language We Know

After The After Party

Tessa Moult-Milewska

Leone Knirps|Change of Weather

88

Tom CJ Brown

Harry Deadman In Between Lines|O’Neill

81

Matteo Panebarco

Roni Shao Hendrick’s|The Cucumber Chronicle’s

82

Jess Mountfield

Lauren Midwinter Golden Goose - Xie Xin

81

Iain Gardner

Dominik Ströhle Glimpses

Zone Unknown

80

Valeria Portilla Forever Young

Tous|Love ME

80

Bedroom Flourish in Change

The Loop

Alessi Heitman-Rice, Zack Langsdon

James Button Dr Marten’s|Access All Summer

82

Victor Claramunt San Millán

Robert dos Santos Don’t Torture Yourself (2- Fish)

The Giving Dead

Dominik Ströhle

Chris Keener Dear You

80

Florian Johanne Reittner

Taz Tron Delix Change Your Mind With MUD\WTR

The Bloom

Jody Xiong

Gilad Avnat, Stav Nahum Brewdog | A Call to the Lost

83

VERSUS

I Was Attacked

88

Sara Massieu 83

Letter to a Pig

Tal Kantor

84

CONTACT DETAILS IN PRINT VERSION ONLY Listen

84

Hamze Bytyci Little Rabbit

88

Johanna Xue Little t

88

Masha Ellsworth My name is Edgar and I have a cow

SCALE

Can Be

85

Give

84

I AM THE WORLD

87

Into The Violet Belly

86

MMXVIII

87

Mycelium

87

MYTH

86

OMOS

86

Phoenix

87

Prairie

84

Scaffold

84

Subway Stops

85

The Song

88

TITS: A Voyage Into Objectification

Joseph Pierce Spring Roll Dream

Mai Vu Stan by Me

Rachel Dixon The Benefactors

Christophe Lopez-Huici The Fox

Martin Garde Abildgaard The Legend of Goldhorn

Lea Vucko The Many Faces of Ava

Izabela Barszcz The Secret Diary of a High-Rise

Stephen James Ong The Un-Chaotic Cabinet That Wishes For Me To Sleep

Cillian Green To Do

Saul Pankhurst Visible Mending

Samantha Mooree Zidane Roulette

Emy Mirel Ivasca

A smoking novel

91

Sally Tissington

85

Antanas Skučas, Gintarė Valevičiūtė Brazauskienė

89

David Mcnulty

Bellybutton

Hao Yu PURGA

A Film On Film

86

Filip Diviak Primitive Times

ARTISTS’ FILM 89

Hilary Eden 90

Mohammedally Nashir Shushtari 89

Kenya Gillespie 90

Che Applewhaite 90

Thuy-Han Nguyen-Chi 90

WB.L 90

Maria-Elena Doyle 91

Alies Sluiter 89

Rhys Hollis 91

David Alexander 91

Saman Maydani 89

Billy Klotsa 91

Joe Zakko 91

Bani Abidi 89

Will & Carly Window

90

Versus

269

FILMMAKER INDEX

Comedy 7 Minutes

Killing Ourselves

94

Ricky Gervais A Dishonourable Death

94

95

92

94

97

94

94

97

95

97

92

96

93

96

93

Annie Foulkes

270

96

Sparks Lampini

93

Spooky Bastard

92

Sweet Juices

92

Tall Dark and Handsome

97

The Delay

92

The Snip

96

The Tadpole Trilogy

95

Thriving: A Dissociated Reverie

95

Nicole Bazuin 94

Yasmin Afifi Kate is Sad

Sorry I am late I was masturbating

Leonard Giovenazzo

Tom Stuart Jellyfish and Lobster

92

Ben S. Hyland

Neil Ferron Good Boy

Slice Right

Mattia Napoli

Abdou Cissé FISHMONGER

97

Sam Baron

Stuart Elliott Festival of Slaps

Skewered

Will Suen, Sejon Im

Zoel Aeschbacher Fancy That

95

Michael Bird, Rafe Bird

Sara Harrak FAIRPLAY

Round Robin

Rebecca O’Neill

Dali Rust F**KED

93

Alena Shevchenko

James Newman, Harrison Newman Expectations and Other Products

Room For One More

Sara Joyce

Tiger Ji Do Not Touch

95

Nick Ray Rutter

Harry Sherriff Death & Ramen

Road Rage!

Jessica Morris

Tom Gentle Date with Death

96

Jesse Vogelaar

Andreas Nilsson Close

Mantis

James Button

Jill Worsley Claudio’s Song

96

Will Peppercorn

Dave Fox Choked Up

MAN>CODE

Adrian Gardner

Blok Cantata

93

Maya Yadlin

93

DANCE ?!%$&*#@$^*()}!@#|%>?

Clare Chong

99

CONTACT DETAILS IN PRINT VERSION ONLY Animal Origins

99

Frontier Town

99

In The Land We Live

99

Liminal Space: Diving Within

99

Listen Closely

98

Mama’s Fatteh

99

My Blonde GF

98

NĂi Nai & Wài Pó (Grandma & Grandma)

98

New York 81

98

Now I Am Old and Do Not Need the Moon

98

Outlets

98

Pamilya

Siobhan Davies Dolorosa

Emma Martin, Hugh O’Conor Fallen Memories

Keng U Lao Moving Portraits

Lisa Simpson, Sima Gonsai On Duty

Yoona Degrémont Postcode Beef

Kevin Muendo Retrieval Loop

Thomas Ellis Siamese Futurism

Montika Kham-on Spicy Pink Tea

Aqsa Arif Witch-Hunt

Lauren Jane Pringle Yn Y Golau / In Visible Light

100

101

Dasha Bough 101

Duncan Cowles 104

101

RED SOIL

The Archive: Queer Nigerians

102

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

101

The Mechanics of Fluids

102

The Medallion

105

The Talk

Zhenia Kazankina

Desiree Jade Schippers

103

Joshua Ighodaro

102

Miranda Stern

Daood Alabdulaa

101

Jannicke Systad Jacobsen

She Sells Shellfish

Ren Faulkner

Fata Morgana

104

Sean Wang

100

Cece Mlay, Darragh Amelia, Gertrude Malizana,

Fail First

100

Rosie Morris

Alfie Elms

Amélie Hardy

Empty Rooms

102

Alia Carita Tompkins

Documentary

Clean

103

George Hiraoka Cloke

Picturing Wonderland

Being Seen

103

Anahita Safarnejad Choobary

Miles Blacket

Apostles of Cinema

101

Alice Kidd

Kate Lawrence, Joanna Wright

About Memory and Loss

105

Theo Tennant, Tom Tennant

103

Lily Tiger Tonkin-Wells 104

Simisolaoluwa Akande 100

Lucy Jane, Joya Berrow 100

Gala Hernández López 105

Ruth Hunduma 102

Lamees AlMakkawy

271

FILMMAKER INDEX The Veiled City

105

BOY

103

By Hand

103

Calf

104

Cherubs

104

Chez Ali

Natalie Cubides-Brady Volver

Borja Larrondo, Diego Sánchez WARBIRDS

Catherine Louise Ruby Yeats What is ‘Wola’?

Marcin Kasperek Will You Look At Me

DOC. FEATURES 76

74

Sara Abubaker Suliman

_ elicit _

75

Everything Goes Dark

75

Fatty

DRAMA 108

Food for a Trash Bird

114

For my son

108

Fuck You I’m Millwall

114

Gorka

113

Gutter

108

Home

108

If You’re Happy

Minerva Rivera Bolaños

Guilherme Daniel

Daniel Butler Beyond the Sea

Hippolyte Leibovici Blessed by Sunlight

Sebastian Krolak Bottleneck

Tatjana Hamilton

116

110

111

Malinda Kaur

Greg Cruttwell

Bean Feasa

109

Alex Casimir

F.O.G

Applause

118

Henrik Dyb Zwart

Riwen Huang

Any place

112

Stacha Hicks

Daniyal Harris-Vajda, Arlen Harris

Animals

111

Mahnoor Euceph

Everything at Once

Chloe Abrahams

272

Eid Mubarak

74

Katy McGahan

Walter Rodney: What They Don’t Want you to Know

108

Cristina Spina

Davide Rizzo, Marzia Toscano

The Taste of Mango

115

Anne-Sophie Bine

Consider the Lilies

The Happy Man Tree

117

Jamie O’Rourke

Anne-Lise Morin

Heroic Bodies

111

Rhys Prichard

Shuli Huang

After the Bridge

114

Ginte Regina

109

Leevi Axel Pellas 113

Mathilde Jouaud 107

Romain Dumont 110

Joe Weiland 109

Theodore Drusba 116

Aditi Sharma

Phoebe Arnstein

106

CONTACT DETAILS IN PRINT VERSION ONLY Induction

118

Derek Anderson Inheritance

113

118

106

112

118

117

114

107

113

109

112

106

116

116

110

112

Jeremy Artis

112

Shee

113

Sheephead

115

Sibling

107

Smile

106

Stella

106

Stones

118

Ten With a Flag

108

The Date

116

Amy Hodge 114

Maïa Descamps Phaedra

Set Lam

Vasco Alexandre

Femi Oladigbolu Oysters

114

Matthew Hopper

Wesley Wang OBA

SAME OLD

Alison Titulaer

Reema Maya nothing, except everything

115

Jo Smyth

Nathan Morris Nocturnal Burger

Salmon

Laura Van Passel

Philippe Grenier My Eyes Are Up Here

110

Spencer Creigh

Warda Mohamed Muscat

Safe as Houses

Lia Campbell

Hugo Becker Muna

118

Vincent Fontano

Nathan Fagan and Luke Daly Mukbanger

SAFE

Lloyd Lee Choi

Margo Roe Mud Queen

110

Mattis Heurlin

Firas Itani Monitor

Rickshaw

Mia Mullarkey

George Nicholas Lower Ground

111

Debbie Howard

Bhulla Beghal Límite

Raplh

Raphaël Hernandez

Siggi Holm Kiran

117

Archie Rowell

Martina Pastori Just A Little Longer

Please Hold the Line

Tan Ce Ding

Craig Ronald Bingham JAMAL TOSMAL

107

Reza Rasouli

Erin Lau IRONSTONE

Piece by Piece

The Fading

107

Rafaël Beauchamp 107

The Girls Room

113

Tracey Lopes

273

FILMMAKER INDEX The Golden West

117

Tom Berkeley, Ross White The Space in Between

110

109

111

115

111

115

109

115

106

Iris

Love At First Byte

Mirrors

Oh My Night

112

Quiet As It’s Kept

Ja’Tovia M. Gary

Experimental

reliéf Relief

Algodreams

120

123

119

123

Helen Anna Flanagan

120

119

Roadside Picnic

122

Robart

119

SKYSCRAPER FILM

120

Something More Than Masquerade

122

Shamica Ruddock 122

The empty sphere

121

Stéphanie Roland 121

Anton Cla Deeply, Madly

119

Federica Foglia

Emilia Izquierdo CYCLEPATHS

119

Owain Train McGilvary

Kenji Ouellet Cosmic Rage - Dark Constellations

123

Erica Shires

Majse Vilstrup Contrapunctus V

119

Johannes Gierlinger, Mira Klug

Vladimir Todorovic Being Seen Seeing

123

Isis Mihrimah Cabolet

Ima Iduozee

274

Immaculate Generations no. 1

Nikolai Brokolovsky

After We’re Gone

122

Paul Daly

Elham Ehsas Zimmermann

I Found Water

Felizitas Hoffmann, Theresa Hoffmann

Matty Crawford Yellow

122

Bea Macdonald

Steve Anthopoulos WHITEBOY

I Am a Horse

Vito A. Rowlands

Casey Hennessy Voice Activated

121

SJ Ramir

Thomas Mendolia Treacle Town

Hardly Working

Chaerin Im

Alexandra Qin This Wild Abyss

120

Total Refusal

Claudia Bottino Thirstygirl

Exterior Turbulence

Sofia Theodore-Pierce

Thomas May Bailey The Three of Us

123

Estela Oliva

Rhys Holland The Talent

Echoes of Reality (Drone Walkthrough)

The Eyeball Person

122

Yuri Muraoka 121

The Sunset Special

Nicolas Gebbe

123

Thieves

120

Michelle Williams Gamaker michellewilliamsgamaker@gmail.com While We Were Here

121

Sunčica Fradelić suncica.fradelic@gmail.com

126

126

125

127

125

127

127

126

126

127

125

125

127

Josephine Lohoar Self carla@cardelentertainment.com

Duende

132

Forever Bound

133

From the Jump

128

Futuri Aprili

129

GHOSTING

130

Hermès|BIG PARIS MOMENT

130

I am whole

132

INTER FIGURA

128

Marie Zechiel kontakt@mariezechiel.com 126

Elle Van Knoll ellevanknoll@gmail.com The Presenter

128

Bianca Poletti bpoletti111@gmail.com

Paudie Baggott luke.walton@enterthepitch.com The Magical World Of Miracles

CityCenterDC - “Celebrating You!”

Matthew Frost

Andrew Pierce Chesworth andrew.p.chesworth@gmail.com The Innkeeper

130

Fabrizio Albertini

Bordessoule, Bouissie, De Boer, Drique, Lauzu, et al.

The Brave Locomotive

An Ode to Procrastination

Enrico Bellenghi enricobellenghi@hotmail.it

Joseph Inman hello@bearbehindyou.com Swing to the Moon

130

Jin Keon yushienyang@gmail.com

Ainslie Henderson festival@miyu.fr SPINES

A New Voyage

Rob Bell elisa@1190productions.com

Jasmine Elizabeth Foo jasminefoocreates@gmail.com Shackle

133

Gina Onegina alya.melnikova@gmail.com

Brian Vincent Rhodes, Christopher Lennertz alex@dirtyfilms.uk Patches

Al Nihaya

Dean Alexander dean@deanalexander.com

James Robert Skinner james@skinnerfilms.co.uk Pacemaker

129

Aleksandra Kingo nico@niccolomontanari.com

Marita Mayer fabian@fabianfred.com Newbie

Abantu

David Witton Davies, Jin Keon yushienyang@gmail.com

Didier Charette charette.didier@gmail.com I’m not afraid!

130

Fabio Modonutti, Sana Jamali fabimod@hotmail.it | sanushjamali@gmail.com

Adam Reed Levy AdamLevy08@gmail.com IF

488

Emily Ong shuyi.emily@gmail.com

Leto Stojanovic Meade LetoSMeade@gmail.com Flutter

126

Uyeong Ryu

Sean McCarron sean.padruig@gmail.com Death of The Gods

Woodies Origin

FASHION 125

Augerai, Augier, De Figueiredo, Di Cicco, Jacquin festival@miyu.fr Corvine

125

Bitzer, Choi, Löffler, Roze, Weber ilija@woodblock.tv

FAMILY FRIENDLY Boom

Witchfairy

Cedric Igodt, David Van de Weyer cedric@cineventure.media

L´Amour

129

Victor Claramunt San Millán victorclaramunt@gmail.com 127

La Folie

132

Jessica Danielle Batson batson.jessica@gmail.com

275

FILMMAKER INDEX Luna

130

Charlotte Wales MA Fashion ‘Turn to the Left’

128

131

Tom Dream My Style Is...

128

131

133

131

131

131

Harry Deadman Sunday Best

129

128

133

133

129

133

131

129

Laís Sambugaro

276

137

Charlotte by Rose Rose

137

ChatMrE

136

Chloe Moriondo - Plastic Purse

134

Cores|Bacará

137

Debbie feat. Berwyn - Cousin’s Car

136

Desperate Soul - Hillari

134

Distant Spirit

134

Eton Mess - KamBu

134

Jay Green 132

Max Simonson The Vintage Hunter

14

Ben Dylan Sloan

Mikel Cubillo Oliva The Unicorn Symposium

Music Video

Eskil Hoel Abrahamsen, Arjan Aziz Vinje

Mathias Broe The Tragedy

77

Relta

Sophie Lenglachner The Script

The oasis of frozen waters

Patrick Hanser

Luis Castro the occurrence of colours by night

78

Bedroom

Reiki Zhang The last Mambo

Once upon a time in the Canaries

Kin Shing Kwok, Ka Lee Cheuk

Sam Mandich The Digital Rituals

78

Noé Pradel-Fraysse

Dorothy Sing Zhang The Burning Hallucinations of Mary Grace McNally

Easy for You to Say

Rachel Brown

Zena Annis Utsalo The Break

77

Mohammed Raouf Sebbahi

Paula Romy Step Aboard

BLACK MOON

Armando Ravelo

Man Liu RAUSCH

79

Jonathan Kiefer

Kieran Satour Oblivion

And Then Come the Nightjars

Tonatiuh García

Christophe Chudy NGURRAWAANA

FEATUREs Paul Robinson

Matt Vega nátturá mantra

132

Enrico Poli

Liam Leslie MYRAMID’ - Raisa Vanessa FW23/24

WE ARE 1 | NIKE

I’d Rather Fall

137

Clemente Lohr 132

Institution

Cole Morris

134

CONTACT DETAILS IN PRINT VERSION ONLY Kiss of spring

136

Anna Gudnicheva Lava La Rue - Vest & Boxers

137

136

137

135

134

135

135

135

136

135

Scorched Earth

Shadow

Smile School

Strangers

Terror

135

The Guest

136

The Heritage

Andrew Rutter

thriller

THE LICENSED FOOL

141

141

138

141

140

138

140

the red suitcase

141

The Taster

139

The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras

140

Craig Williams 138

Laura Jai Smith Hide Your Crazy

141

Sophia Bierend

Ciara Lilly O’Rourke GRAVID

140

Cyrus Neshvad

Jonatan Egholm Keis Dead Skin

140

Gareth Bowen

Bex Bradshaw Cataract

139

Jonathan Fransman

Roy Maayan

A Bad Romance

139

Giles Buchanan

Hector Dockrill Wild Dogs

Only Yourself to Blame

Rob Price

Hynek Gannon When it Rains

139

Nick Alexander

Dana Ivgy Walk On Water

Nocturne

Kamell Allaway

Andrei Maica To the Desert

138

Markela Kontaratou

Simon Rajchl TIM AMINOV | ULTRAVIOLENCE

Mantra

Noomi Yates

Richie Starzec, Ron Mael, Russell Mael The Race

138

Kate Graham

Alice Halstead Sparks - The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte

Like a Flower

Pascal Bourelier, Stef Meyer

Matthew D Taylor Shelter

141

Raphaël J. Dostie

Mei Fa Tan Raj Mahal - Death 2 Vinyl

In Your Hands

Luigi Sibona

Luis Hindman Phoam - Be Aware

140

Nat Rovit

Bedroom Permanent Damage

HONEYMOON AT COLD HOLLOW

Yummy Mummy

139

Gabriela Staniszewska 138

Austin Kase

277

FILMMAKER INDEX

VIRTUAL REALITY Black Hole Museum + Body Browser

Games Lab 144

Wen-Chi SU Cassava: The Root to Reviving the Kiriri People’s Livelihoods

144

145

143

144

144

145

145

144

145

144

143

143

145

Malia Bruker

Desta: The Memories Between

154

Dragon’s Flow

153

Few Seconds to See

149

Golden Treasure: The Great Green

150

Hypercharge: Unboxed

153

Martha is Dead

154

Mask of the Rose

150

Failbetter Games 145

Judi Alston, Andy Campbell Threshold

149

LKA

Diane Catsburrow Linnet The Abandoned Library

Dark Nights with Poe and Munro

Digital Cybercherries

Rossella Schillaci Tadpole

149

Dreaming Door Studios LLC

Amber Pinkerton SURFACING

Charlie

Zixuan Tang

Alex Ruhl Self Dialogues: Hard Food

151

Julia Kolman

Lee Harris Rock, Paper, Scissors

- BLINK -

ustw games

Seeyam Quine Locker Room

154

D’Avekki Studios

Bambou Kenneth Kristine Is Not Well

Awkward 2: The Party Game of Savage Secrets

Charlot Lau, David Zhou, Shane Mills

Sunghwan Lee Kindred

153

Elisha Fee, Khadijah Samsudeen, Jakub Krysztofiak

Ian Wilkes, Poppy van Oorde-Grainger Ihyangjeong: Carving with Memories

Auntie Gravity

Snap Finger Click

Pedro Harres Galup VR Experience

152

James Kilduff

Felicia Anna Aurora Bergström From The Main Square

Asterism

Claire Morwood

Peter Collis Cycle of Violence

150

Cascade Productions

David Gough Crate Digging The Story of DeUnderground Records

Aqua

Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island

151

Polygon Treehouse 143

NeuroNet: Mendax Proxy

153

Dream Harvest NUTS

151

Joon, Pol, Muuutsch, Char & Torfi Paper Trail

Newfangled Games

278

154

CONTACT DETAILS IN PRINT VERSION ONLY Reality Break

151

Element Games, LLC Rebound Rush

149

Workshop No.25

153

Marco Ng 152

Roll7 Sandboard

152

Damp Gnat

Blackwood, Marshall, McMahon, Meng, Zhou Rollerdrome

Wonderputt Forever

Yes, Your Grace

152

Brave At Night 155

Elliot Mann See Only Evil

151

Jay Miles SONAR

149

Giovanni Damian South of the Circle

150

State of Play Squares and Stuff

152

Joseph Maltby The Flame Prepared

150

Catia Macnab, Matthew Cormack, Sidney Flavell The Highgate Canvas

155

Unity The Journey

155

Austin Wolfe The Last Worker

155

Wolf & Wood / Oiffy The Longest Walk

150

Alexander Tarvet The Procession to Calvary

151

Joe Richardson Tin Hearts

154

Rogue Sun UnearthU

153

Kara Stone Venture’s Gauntlet

155

BearHammer Games Ltd White Lake

152

Matthew Higgins, We Be Dragons Wisp

149

Leon Thorn

279

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