The Aesthetica Short Film Festival ASFF

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) presents an exciting programme of Showcase Screenings,
collated by leading UK universities, providing a platform for talent development.
Exhibiting diverse collections of work, ASFF welcomes filmmakers from York St John University, The
London Film School, NAHEMI, Falmouth University, Manchester School of Art, London College of
Communication, University of Lincoln, Northumbria University, London College of Fashion, Leeds
Beckett’s Northern Film School and Middlesex University.
Presenting a showcase of excellent storytelling, Which Story Do I Tell? from Northumbria University
explores documentaries and narrative fiction, with an accompanying panel lending practical advice on
filmmaking. In addition, showcasing inspiring work from female filmmakers York St John University’s
Women In Film: Prospects And Perspectives, looks at what it’s like to break into the industry today,
examining current challenges.
In their Dialogues Between Art and Film event, Falmouth University present a partnership between
fine art and moving image, with future visionaries discussing how their work moves beyond the
conventions of narrative. Similarly, NAHEMI looks at new mediums and the role of films schools in the
industry today. In The A-Z of Making a Stand Out Short, the London College of Communication
forces filmmakers to question what makes their film tick, be it the way the story is written, the
decisions made on the film’s aesthetic, or it’s originality.
Weighing up the pros and cons of genre and medium, in Middlesex University’s Genre: Finding Your
Voice, Reaching Your Audience, highlights useful ways of analysing your filmmaking process and
where to draw influence. As genre continues to become an increasingly loose turn of phrase for
labelling films, Manchester School of Art challenges convention, looking at new releases playing with
themes usually associated with a certain genre, presenting them in a new light.
With an emphasis on inspiring partnerships and creative exchange, University of Lincoln’s
Collaboration and Innovation explores cinematic boundaries and how to forge lasting connections.
Also running with themes of community, London Film School’s The Foundations of Filmmaking: A
Creative Network, brings diverse and bold short films to the big screen that exercise a keen sense of
collaboration.
Raising important questions about the process of making films as well as what filmmakers will value in
their work, Northern Film School’s event – Creativity and Risk: The Skills of the Future? – is not to be
missed. Lastly, London College of Fashion will be challenging the ideas of fashion films being an
extension of consumerism while showing how it magnifies contemporary culture in diverse,
imaginative new ways.

Still from Via, 2017. Directed by Izzy Burton, UK. Animation Finalist in ASFF 2018.

Still from The Salon – Juno Calypso x GERIKO, 2018. Directed by GERIKO, UK. Fashion Finalist in ASFF 2018

Still from The Journey, 2017. Directed by Shiouwen Hong & Elle Waldmann, USA. Fashion Finalist in ASFF 2018