Aesthetica is the destination for independent cinema. From 5-9 November 2025, they welcome filmmakers, games developers and VR experts from around the world to the 15th anniversary edition of the festival, both in-person in York and online. The programme comprises of screenings, industry masterclasses, networking sessions, pitching opportunities and much more. This year, certain events will be held at SPARK:
Inside the Virtual Studio: Voices From the Creators of Our Official VR Selection
Step inside the minds shaping the future of VR at the Official Selection Roundtable. Hear directly from the creators behind this year’s standout experiences as they share insights into their creative process, how they got started and the challenges of building immersive worlds. Whether you’re a curious newcomer or seasoned creator, you’ll gain fresh perspectives on virtual storytelling – from innovative interaction models to pushing emotional boundaries in XR. Join a dynamic conversation with the voices driving the next wave of immersive media.
Pitch Film Fund: Learn About Adaptation
Join for an insightful workshop on adaptation in filmmaking, perfect for writers, directors, and film enthusiasts interested in transforming stories into screen narratives. This session explores how to bring books, real-life events, and other art forms to life on film. Through case studies, discussions, and hands-on exercises, you’ll discover how to balance staying true to the source with creative reinterpretation. The Pitch Film Fund will focus on adaptations inspired by the Bible – a timeless source of cinematic storytelling.
Interactive Storytelling: Crafting Narratives Across Film, Games & XR
Explore how techniques from film, gaming and XR intersect to shape new forms of storytelling. This workshop invites filmmakers, artists and creators to consider how interactivity can deepen emotional engagement, expand narrative structure and challenge traditional modes of authorship. Through guided exercises and generative tools, you’ll experiment with story frameworks that respond and adapt to audience input. Whether you’re new to the medium or refining your practice, you’ll leave with practical frameworks, creative inspiration, and a sharper sense of how narrative can evolve across immersive and interactive platforms.
Careers in Interactive Media: Pathways into the World of Games
Discover the creative possibilities of interactive media in this roundtable with Official Selection games developers and representatives from Ubisoft. Explore how storytelling, design, and innovation shape the gaming industry today. Hear how leading creatives began their journeys, what studios are seeking in new talent, and how you can navigate a path into this fast-evolving field. With space to ask your own questions, this is a unique opportunity to gain insight into one of the most compelling and collaborative art forms of our time.
Directing Action Sequences with Falmouth University
In this session participants will work with an action film director and fight coordinators as we work through the blocking and shooting of an action sequence. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Chee Keong Cheung is an award-winning British-Chinese filmmaker, CEO of UK production company Action Xtreme and educational partner with producer Kingsley Marshall – executive producer on Mark Jenkin’s 2019 BAFTA-winning film Bait – at Falmouth University’s Sound/Image Cinema Lab. Together they have developed an MA in Feature Filmmaking, where filmmakers develop, produce, shoot and sell a fully funded microbudget action feature film over the course of one year.
Acting and Directing for Screen: Craft and Collaboration with Victor Villar-Hauser
This dynamic workshop, led by acclaimed director and RADA tutor Victor Villar-Hauser, offers a rare opportunity to explore the interplay between actor and director in screen storytelling. Focusing on technique, communication and creative vision, the session is designed for those interested in both sides of the camera. Participants will gain insight into the nuances of performance, blocking, and scene interpretation, while developing a deeper understanding of the collaborative language that brings scripts to life. Ideal for emerging filmmakers, performers and creatives working across disciplines.
Creative Code: Exploring AI’s Role in the Artistic Process
This hands-on workshop dives into the shifting terrain where human creativity intersects with machine intelligence. Rather than asking what AI can do, we’ll explore what it means to create with it – as a partner, a tool, and sometimes a provocateur. Through collaborative exercises and thoughtful conversation, you’ll experiment with AI-driven storytelling, image-making, and more. Along the way, we’ll unpack big questions: Who owns the output? Can machines be imaginative? Where do ethics and authorship collide? Whether you’re just curious or already deep in the generative loop, you’ll leave with new techniques, unexpected inspiration, and a more nuanced view of AI’s role in the evolving landscape of creative work.
Behind the Frame: Conversations with the Visionaries of Our Official Selection
Go beyond the screen with the filmmakers behind this year’s Official Selection. In this roundtable, directors and storytellers share how their films came to life – from first spark to final cut. Learn about the creative risks they took, the stories that moved them, and the evolving craft of cinematic storytelling. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or a film lover, this is a space to explore bold ideas, unique voices, and the future of film through the eyes of those who shape it.