Drama and documentaries, comedies and thrillers, fashion and music – they can all be found in York this weekend.
The return of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival for its sixth year brings 400 mini-movies to 18 venues in the city centre.
Add in 25 masterclasses from key people in the film world and, new for 2016, Little Café at McGees as the place to be to discuss it all, and you have a movie buff’s paradise.
The choice is vast. So we’ve picked one film from each of the 12 categories to get you in the mood…
Thriller
Truck
Rob Curry’s high-octane thriller is set almost entirely in the back of a truck. The film introduces a range of characters and follows them whilst they attempt to flee the big city.
Yorkshire Museum
14:30 – 16:00
City Screen (1)
12:30 – 14:00
Friargate Theatre
19:30 – 21:00
City Screen (2)
14:45 – 16:15
Comedy
Fan Girl
A comedy about friendship, idols and Super Fandom. Kate Herron’s comedy Fan Girl sees a group of super fans break into the house of a faded 90s pop star.
Nominated for Best Comedy at this year’s festival.
City Screen (Screen 2)
13:30 – 15:00
1331
19:15 – 20:45
King’s Manor
14:45 – 16:15
Fashion
Snowbird
Sean Baker traces the journey of a young woman through an off-the-grid desert community, sharing her homemade cake with the residents along her route.
Friargate Theatre
12:00 – 13:00
City Screen (Screen 3)
15:00 – 16:00
King’s Manor
13:15 – 14:15
Music
Kill It 4 The Kids
Kill The Noise’s official video for his first single Kill It 4 The Kids premiered on Funny or Die and features “Tronald Dump” falling victim to his own design of corporate greed, control and mass consumerism.
Reel Cinema
15:15-16:15
YSJU (Fountains)
10:15-11:15
York Theatre Royal (Studio)
21:15-22:15
Advertising
Robo-Trumble
A film by John Wright, featuring ex Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt. She dances with the Nikon/MRMC Studio Bot to demonstrate the level of creative control available with the camera.
1331
10:00-10:15
1331
10:00-10:15
Drama
Before The Bomb
A film by Tannaz Hazemi sees 10 year old Elsa take matters into her own hands when child protection services plans a visit that could separate her from her brother Morris.
1331
10:00 – 11:30
1331
15:00 – 16:30
King’s Manor
13:00 – 14:30
Animation
The Beach Boy
The Beach Boy is a tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers in ancient Vietnam. Written and directed by German Hannes Rall, professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
York Theatre Royal (Studio)
22:00 – 23:00
Reel Cinema
21:00 – 22:00
YSJU (Fountains)
12:00 – 13:00
Documentary
Soul City
Monica Berra, Sherea Delsol and Gini Richards tell the story of civil rights activists who attempted to build a multiracial utopia in the heart of Klan Country, North Carolina in the 1970s.
Yorkshire Museum
12:30 – 14:00
Yorkshire Museum
10:00 – 11:30
Friargate Theatre
19:00 – 20:30
Family friendly
Mdudu Boy
Football is Mdudu Boy’s world. But he isn’t allowed to play with the big boys as he might get “stepped on.” Ella Smith’s story follows our hero as he grows in confidence and realises his potential.
King’s Manor
10:00 – 11:00
King’s Manor
11:45 – 12:45
Artists’ film
Wrecking Machine
This short by Robert Francis Muller explores the connection between self-doubt and self-destruction through an existential take on mental health. Bridging the gap between truth and fiction.
YSJU (Fountains)
19:15 – 20:15
York Theatre Royal (Studio)
19:45 – 20:45
Dance
She/Her
By Sonja Wyss, a film looking at the balance of power and deep underlying emotions of a mother/daughter relationship: the uncertainties, manipulation, dependence and love.
1331
12:00 – 13:00
YSJU (Fountains)
17:30 – 18:30
Experimental
1919
Kerrine Jenkins’ short film is based on the true story of an Australian soldier who returned from World War One with no identification and no memory of his identity.
NCEM
11:30 – 12:45
St Peter’s School
18:30 – 19:45
Yorkshire Museum
13:30 – 14:45