Aesthetica Film Festival is York’s largest cultural event of the year, with over 300 film screenings, 60 industry-led masterclasses and a host of networking and social opportunities.
2022 marks the 12th edition of the festival and opens Tuesday 1 November. A vast array of incredible films have been featured at the festival over the years in 12 genres, from laugh-out-loud comedies and inspiring dramas to heart-racing thrillers.
We cherry-picked a selection of previous screenings from Aesthetica’s Film Library – discover it here – to get ready for the upcoming festival and found incredible animations for all ages.
Top 6 Animations
1. Manen
Thomas Anglade, Maxime Announ, Lucie Dessertine & Estelle Saint-Jours (2018)
This hilarious slapstick comedy follows a fisherman’s quarrel with a mischievous pelican. Sergio, an elderly and solitary fisherman, is bored and alone on his ocean boat…until a pelican steals his fish. Follow Sergio as he goes to great lengths to take his revenge — with little success — on an evening that will change both his and the pelican’s life. Manen is a fun and engaging film that highlights the joy of unexpected friendships.
2. Weird
Fausto Montanari (2018) If you’ve ever felt strange, or like you don’t belong, watch Weird.
This short film follows a young girl who feels judged for how she sees the world and the things she likes. She is different. As she grapples with her identity, she begins to realise that she might not be so weird after all.
3. Lynx & Birds
Francesco Mazza and Simone Giampaolo (2017)
In this adorable animation is suitable for younger viewers, two birds encounter a sharp-clawed lynx. But, whilst he may look hungry, nature is beautiful as well as unpredictable, and the two birds find themselves with unexpected gifts. Lynx & Birds is an Attenborough-esque mockumentary from Bluezoo, the producers of Alphablocks, Superworm and The Aventure of Paddington.
4. Floaters
Karl Poyzer and Joseph Roberts (2020)
For those who love sci-fi, Floaters is a witty and entertaining set in a futuristic metropolis. Two incompetent pilots encounter a seemingly strange administrative error – when they encounter a much larger ship, both of them share the same identification number. This strange quandary has created a number of problems that don’t seem unique to the future…
5. (Otto)
Joris Oprins, Marieke Blaauw and Job Roggeveen (2015)
What begins as a heart-wrenching tale evolves into one of hope in (Otto). When a young woman finds out she can’t have children of her own, she steals a young girl’s imaginary friend – a decision she keeps secret from her husband. Whilst the woman is happy with her adopted child, the young girl wants her friend back: watch as the power of imagination brings everyone together.
If you’re intrigued by any of these animations, you can find them in Aesthetica’s Film Library: here. The library includes previously screened films from all 12 genres.
In 2022, Aesthetica Film Festival takes place in-person 1-6 November and continues virtually until 30 November. Watch a huge selection of screenings, events and masterclasses available On Demand. Join in, be part of the largest cultural event in York this year and enjoy the best of independent film.
Tickets start from £12.50 on Select Festival Dates with #YorkDays. There are three ticket options: In-Person, Virtual or Hybrid.
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