David Farnor | On 08, Nov 2020

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival has gone online for 2020, with a showcase of short films running for almost the entire month of November.

Now in its 10th year, the festival features over 300 works in the Official Selection across 12 short film genres. The festival kicked off on 3rd November with six themed collections launched daily, titled Just Another Day on Earth; Humans and their Environment; Connections: People, Places and Identity; Breaking Down Barriers; Reclaiming Space: Universal and Personal Narratives; and Keep on the Sunny Side of Life.

All of the films in these strands will be available until 30th November, alongside guest screenings from 13 organisations – covering Defining Gay Cinema, Tales from Isolation, Documenting Modern Britain, Indigenous Cinema, I Still Can’t Breathe and The Future of AI – plus Showcase Screenings that offer films from 9 of the UK’s leading institutions – including London College of Communication, London College of Fashion, Arts University Bournemouth, Regent’s University London, University of York, York St John University, University of Lincoln, Falmouth School of Film and Television and Ravensbourne University.

Live events have included more than 100 masterclasses, spotlights, panel discussions, networking opportunities and pitching sessions. Key speakers include Andrea Arnold (American Honey), Sarah Gavron (Suffragette), Sam Feder (Disclosure) and Paul Franklin (Inception), as well as delegates from BBC, Film 4, Industrial Light & Magic, Dazed, Compulsory, Nowness, Framestore, Birds Eye View, Storyville, Short of the Week, Potboiler Productions and more. Recorded masterclasses, panel discussions and spotlights will also be available on-demand until 30th November.

Tickets are broken down into a range of passes. A 24-hour pass costs £25m including access to the industry events and recorded discussions, as well as the whole film library. A week pass costs £50, or an unlimited access pass costs £75. A film fan access pass, allowing access to the films throughout the festival without the industry and additional content, costs £40. To book tickets, go to asff.co.uk/tickets.

Here’s the rundown of the themed strands:

Just Another Day on Earth

Perhaps now more than ever, we are aware of the way in which humans interact with each other. This strand, through showcasing films from all genres, considers the ways in which humans create a home for themselves, forge relationships and expand each other’s visions.

Humans and their Environment

How do we maintain a sense of home and belonging in a changing world? This is the question posed through a series of short films and one feature-length film, with audiences presented with stories that present new perspectives, reflecting back on the 21st century.

Connections: People, Places and Identity

This strand interrogates the intricacies of human bonds, be them good, bad and everything in-between. Through a mix animation, comedy, and non-fictional storytelling, themes of love, death, separation and memory are brought together.

Breaking Down Barriers

At a time where global divides are etched deeply into our daily existence, it’s important to challenge preconceptions of normality and the boundaries set up to keep up apart. These short films are an extension of this mission.

Reclaiming Space: Universal and Personal Narratives

This strand boasts short and feature films with the power to unify, understand and permanently alter perceptions that have built on years of misrepresentation. These are thought-provoking films that urge audiences to connect and understand the human condition.

Keep on the Sunny Side of Life

Animation, drama, comedy, and documentary films that provide a much-needed tonic at a time where the world seems so vastly out of our control. These are sure to uplift, energise and inspire across a range of short forms and genres.

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