Imagine a generic multiplex cinema.
It might be that you’re thinking of non-descript tall building or perhaps an industrial complex. It’s not particularly attractive, the walls are all grey, the signs outlined in neon strip lighting and there appears to be some suspicious types hanging around outside.
Inside there’s even more neon lighting and suspicious types along with a horrendously loud arcade machine crying out for attention which no one is willing to give it. There’s a large number of screens available (15 for the purposes of this analogy please), with humorous nicknames like ‘1’ and ‘12’, and you might think they all have individual characteristics but there’s no real difference between any of them; they’re all dark, the floors are sticky and while the seats certainly seem to be designed to accommodate the human body it’s not a body that any human actually seems to possess. The films on offer are so-so. Got all that? Okay then.
Replace the boring building or complex with a city. Actually replace it with York, a city so picturesque and full of history that it can pierce even my cynical 21st century soul. Instead of the identikit screens films are shown at 15 iconic and interesting locations across the city including Yorkshire Museum, York Theatre Royal and Bedern Hall. The films themselves, far from being regular blockbuster fare, represent some of the finest and most exciting short films from around the world.
This is the Aesthetica Film Festival.
Taking place from the 7th to the 10th November Aesthetica’s combination of stunning cinema and heritage venues aims to open up new relationships and dialogues between different aspects of culture along with promoting an interest in cross-disciplinary arts. Being completely honest, I’m not 100% what that means. What I do know is that it’s a chance to see some films that you might not usually get to see in some places which wouldn’t ordinarily host them and that’s good enough for me.
What’s really exciting about this festival though isn’t necessarily the screenings themselves (don’t get me wrong, it all looks great) but the wide variety of other events which offer a tantalising glimpse into various aspects of the film-makers art. On Friday BAFTA nominated Supervising Sound Editor Joakim Sundström – fresh from working on his latest film Filth – will be hosting a Sound Editing Masterclass at York Theatre Royal. There’s also a great opportunity to meet and chat to some of the filmmakers showcasing their work at the Meet the Filmmakers event on Saturday at Yorkshire Museum where you can listen to the panel debate various aspects of cinema and film production and have a chat with them yourself at the bar afterwards (if memory serves the bar is where you get the real answers).
With representatives from Film 4 and the Sheffield Doc/Fest the organisers have really gone out of their way to produce a stand-out event which promises not just some intriguing viewings but some lively and interactive debate as well. With all these important film types in attendance even I may be forced to get over my deep-seated dislike of networking and start doing a bit of chatting myself and, since I’m one of those suspicious types who hangs around outside multiplexes smoking and not talking to anyone, that’s saying something.
The Aesthitica Short Film Festival runs from the 7th to the 10th November all across York, to find out more and book your ticket you can go to http://www.asff.co.uk/