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What’s in store at UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO as York makes an exhibition of itself with games, film, VFX and design

UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO: A showcase for York’s creative industries

THE inaugural UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO – the first such exhibition in Great Britain – will celebrate the tenth anniversary of York’s global designation in the Guildhall from Thursday to Saturday.

Taking place within this week’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival, the EXPO is a “dynamic marketplace for innovation and cutting-edge ideas, showcasing the region’s thriving and growing creative sector by exhibiting the local organisations who are making a national and international impact.”

York is the only British UNESCO City of Media Arts, providing a global stage for film production, games development, VFX (visual effects), publishing and design.

The city’s creative industries are a major contributor to the local economy, driving job creation, tourism and investment, as will be highlighted in the EXPO, where entry is free to try out new projects, speak to creatives and see how York is to generating future opportunities in retail, hospitality, transport and services. 

Cherie Federico, director of Aesthetica Short Film Festival, says: “The UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO is one of the most exciting and enriching experiences to celebrate the UK’s creative industries.

“In our region, we are working on a global stage and the EXPO celebrates ten years of designation while also looking forward to how York can position itself as a national and international leader in the sector, creating jobs, driving inward investment and developing clear educational pathways.” 

Sarah Loftus, managing director of collaboration partner Make It York, says: “The creative arts and culture sectors, along with ten years of UNESCO designation, are some of the many reasons that make York such a wonderful place to both live and visit. To be able to showcase this with the EXPO, in the centre of the city, is very exciting.”

Consider the facts: the creative industries contribute £109 billion pounds to the UK economy annually and employ 2.3 million people. York is a leader in that economy,  as emphasised by its status as one of only 26 cities worldwide to be selected by UNESCO as a City of Media Arts, on a par with such influential locations as Austin, Texas, Sapporo, Japan, and Toronto, Canada.

Among York and North Yorkshire’s creative forces attending the EXPO will be Aesthetica; Art of Protest Gallery; Art Is My Career; Ay-Pe; Bright White; factual TV production company Button Down Productions; Creative Business Skills Academy; Last Maps Illustrations; film content production company Orillo Productions, Peel X; Pollen Studios; Pilot Theatre; Revolution Software; The Distance; visual effects specialist Viridian FX and  XR Stories.

In addition to connecting filmmakers, developers and screen executives attending this week’s film festival with businesses that deliver the services they need, the EXPO will support the next generation of talent by showcasing educational pathways and career progressions.  

Look out for the premiere of  the latest commissioned work by Middleton-in-Teesdale environmental artist Steve Messam in the Guildhall courtyard. Known for his large-scale temporary installations that merge architecture and the natural environment – such as his permanent installation in Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery at the National Railway Museum and the Aesthetica Art Prize-nominated Portico on the front of York Art Gallery in 2022 – he has designed Lantern I as an exploration of space and interaction.   

Through its intricate play with light, the new work featuring 180 metres of festoon lights will transform the historic Guildhall setting into an immersive and ethereal environment.

The BBC will be filming Messam at the EXPO, in a focus on heritage and contemporary art, ahead of his joint exhibition in China with sculptor Sir Tony Cragg.

Cherie Federico has been the driving force behind the Reignite series of events in York focused on nurturing the future of the city’s creative industries. The sixth edition, Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places, will take place during the festival and EXPO, when York will be full of local, national and international attendees. 

Representatives from three UNESCO Cities of Media Arts – Braga (Portugal), Linz (Austria) and Oulu (Finland) – will share how they leverage culture to drive transformative change in their cities.

This forum will be a chance to discover how culture enhances economic development, creates jobs and offers skills and opportunities for young people, “fostering growth and innovation across the urban ecosystem”. 

The event will be opened by David Skaith, Mayor of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and addressed by Cherie. Presentations from each city will explore their unique approaches, followed by a panel discussion.  

“I’ve been looking to raise the profile of the creative industries through the series of Reignite events, bringing all the different sectors together,” says Cherie. “We should use this UNESCO designation to elevate all of us, and with this year being the tenth anniversary of that designation we needed to celebrate that landmark and highlight the businesses of the future in York.

“That’s the purpose of the EXPO, where all are welcome to attend for free. To me, we should be focusing not on what there isn’t but what there is in York, and this is an opportunity for creative industries to make transformative changes.”

Cherie brings the positivity of New York – her home before settling in York 20 years ago – to her artistic pursuits. “If you beat yourself down, you’re going to be down. If you approach things with that mentality, you’re stuck in the past, but you have to give the creative industries the chance to rise because that attitude becomes infectious.

“People want things to change. This is a city that had nine million visitors in 2023; a city with history but modern culture too. We need to be living in a city that celebrates not just that cultural impact but the economic impact too because it boosts all sectors.”

Why will admission to the EXPO be free? “We want everyone in the city and beyond to be able to understand what it means to be a UNESCO City of Media Arts,” reasons Cherie. “This is the perfect time to highlight it, during an international film festival, when so many people will be coming to York already.”

For more details of the EXPO, head to: https://mediacityexpo.com/.

Aesthetica director Cherie Federico: Why UNESCO City of Media Arts status “positions York at the forefront of global creative discussions”

Cherie Federico

“YORK’S designation as a UNESCO City of Media Arts has profoundly impacted the city’s cultural and economic landscape, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where creativity, technology and education intersect.

“As an emerging sector, media arts is gaining momentum, creating pathways for future careers and educational opportunities. This designation not only attracts investment and talent but also positions York as a hub for digital innovation and creative industries, which benefits tourism, hospitality, retail and other sectors across the economy.

“Celebrating the tenth anniversary of York’s UNESCO designation marks a significant milestone, symbolising a decade of transformation driven by the media arts. Over these ten years, the designation has strengthened York’s global reputation, supporting local economic growth by driving job creation and developing crucial skills for the creative industries.

“The status encourages collaboration between cultural organisations, educational institutions and businesses, creating an environment where new ideas and projects can thrive. This collaborative culture is vital for retaining graduates and attracting skilled workers, making the city increasingly appealing to young talent and creatives from around the world.

“Additionally, the focus on media arts extends beyond economic impact, enhancing social cohesion and community involvement through cultural programming. Events, festivals and exhibitions celebrate new talent while promoting international collaboration, thus enriching York’s artistic landscape.

“The upcoming UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, part of Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places, exemplifies this commitment to cultural exchange. Held at the Guildhall, the EXPO will showcase cutting-edge exhibits from the creative industries, which celebrates the sector’s potential by exploring how media arts contributes to sustainable urban transformation.

“As the event coincides with the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival, it positions York at the forefront of global creative discussions, drawing attention to the city’s evolving cultural scene.

“As a regional city, York recognises the need to operate on a national and international level to maximise the benefits of its UNESCO status. With over eight million visitors annually, the city is well positioned to reach beyond its borders, leveraging its unique offer — a blend of historic charm and modern creativity.”

Underscoring this ambition, Cherie says: “The economic potential of the creative sector on our city is phenomenal, and everyone benefits.

“The tenth anniversary celebrations, including Reignite VI and the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, are pivotal in showcasing how cultural programming can propel York’s ambitions forward, driving growth and innovation while fostering a sense of shared purpose and a forward-thinking city.

“By investing in media arts and embracing its UNESCO designation, York aims not only to maintain its status as a leading cultural destination but also to expand its influence globally, ensuring a prosperous and inclusive future for the city.

“These efforts will help York aspire to more than just a visitor destination, transforming it into a thriving centre for creativity, education and economic development that stands out on the world stage.”

Did you know?

IN 2023, the Aesthetica Short Film Festival welcomed more than 26,000 visitors, bringing a £2 million economic boost to York.

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Director Cherie Federico champions York as UNESCO City of Media Arts at the heart of 2024 Aesthetica Short Film Festival

Cherie Federico: Director of Aesthetica Short Film Festival

THE 2024 Aesthetica Short Film Festival takes over 15 venues in York from November 6 to 10, incorporating the UK’s first-ever UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO.

The festival brings together filmmakers, industry leaders and audiences from around the world for screenings and events as York is transformed into a global stage for screen culture, attracting thousands of attendees and participants from more than 60 countries.

“I’m incredibly excited to open the 14th edition of the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York, a city rich in history and culture,” says director Cherie Federico. “The festival supports York’s designation as a UNESCO City of Media Arts. It’s a celebration of film, new technologies, art and creativity, operating on both national and international levels. 

“We’re screening an expansive programme of 300 films across 12 genres from 60 countries and opening a Games Lab, VR Lab, countless panels and masterclasses, with some of the world’s leading talent arriving in York for the week. Aesthetica is an inclusive experience that invites everyone to participate, reinforcing York’s standing as a global hub for culture and media arts.”

In addition to the diverse film offerings, this year’s programme will showcase cutting-edge technologies with Virtual Reality (VR) and Gaming Labs, providing immersive experiences for both the curious and the tech-savvy. 

“The VR and Gaming Labs are joined up in a new technology hub at the Hospitium, a new venue for this year’s festival in York Museum Gardens,” says New Yorker Cherie, who has lived in York for 20 years.

“Only in York would you put the cutting edge of new technology in a 14th century building, such as a game from Aardman about Wallace and Gromit trying to go on holiday. We’ll also have a VR and gaming Happy Hour in Thor’s Tipi in the gardens.”

The poster for the 2024 Aesthetica Short Film Festival

Throughout the festival, audiences will have the opportunity to learn from top professionals in the film, television and digital media industries. “Guests from renowned organisations such as the New York Times, Tribeca Film Festival, Aardman, BBC Film, Ridley Scott Associates, and Framestore will share their expertise through 60 panels, workshops, and discussions,” says Cherie.

“We’re delighted that the New York Times is coming this year to check out what we’re doing as a festival and that Tribeca Film Festival will be here because they’ve heard that Aesthetica is the festival for finding new British talent.”

In addition, aspiring filmmakers and creatives can engage in practical workshops, including sessions on stop-motion animation, filmmaking, coding and games development for children.”

Sessions are designed to offer insights into the industry’s inner workings, with contributions from prestigious creatives shaping the future of screen culture.

Among those hosting masterclasses will be Julian Foddy, from Industrial Light & Magic, who will highlight how the studio behind Star Wars has crafted iconic cinematic worlds; Nowhere Boy and Back To Black screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh, discussing his approach to storytelling and the art of screenwriting, and Ubisoft, creators of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR, exploring the challenges of adapting storytelling for virtual reality platforms.

Abubakar Salim, actor and voice talent from Raised by Wolves and Assassin’s Creed: Origins, will take a deep dive into character development and voice acting and representatives from Ridley Scott Associates, founded by the legendary director of Blade Runner and Alien, will lead a session on documentary filmmaking and practical tips for film development.

A further festival highlight will be Aestheticax Audible’sThe Listening Pitch, a “cinematic exploration of the unheard” that funds documentaries that reveal how listening helps us to understand new points of view. 

UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO: Part of the 2024 Aesthetica Short Film Festival

On November 9, at City Screen Picturehouse, the festival will premiere 2024’s winning films, Liberty Smith’s Greensound and Ornella Mutoni’s The Things We Don’t Say, complemented by Old Lesbians and Speed Of Sound, winners from previous years. 

This year marks the tenth anniversary of York’s designation as a UNESCO City of Media Arts, a milestone that the film festival will mark with a series of events that highlight the city’s dynamic role in the global creative industries.

The UNESCO EXPO will bring together leading media arts cities from across Europe, including Braga (Portugal), Linz (Austria), and Oulu (Finland), who will showcase how their designation as UNESCO Cities of Media Arts has driven cultural investment and spurred creative opportunities.

“The EXPO promises to be an invaluable platform for cross-cultural exchange, collaboration and innovation in the media arts space,” says Cherie.

“I’ve been looking to raise the profile of the creative industries through a series of Reignite events in York, bringing all the different sectors together. We should use this UNESCO designation to elevate all of us, and with this year being the tenth anniversary of that designation we needed to celebrate that landmark and highlight the businesses of the future in York.

“The question is, how do we establish a thriving creative industry with an educational pathway, and how do we make this a city for a cutting-edge media arts industry? That’s why we’re putting on the EXPO, an exhibition with free entry to highlight York businesses that are operating on a national and international level, to make people aware of the film, visual effects, gaming, VR and experiential design work already going on in the city.

“York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation has solidified the city’s position as a national and international leader in the creative industries. Over the past decade, York has become a vibrant hub for digital and media innovation, attracting significant investments and fostering a thriving creative community.”

For the full 2024 festival programme and to book tickets, head to: asff.co.uk.

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Top Ten Things To See and Do at York’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024 and UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO

The poster for Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024

AESTHETICA Short Film Festival returns for its 14th edition from November 6 to 10, this time alongside the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO.

York’s BAFTA-Qualifying film festival is the dynamic destination for bold ideas and innovative storytelling, taking place across 15 city-centre venues.

Directed by Cherie Federico, a New Yorker who has made York her home for 20 years,  the festival puts York on the map for screen culture with an expansive screening programme of the best independent British and international film, VR [Virtual Reality] and video games.

Aesthetica also brings award-winning creatives from around the world to York, including representatives from the New York Times, Ridley Scott Associates, Tribeca Film Festival, Aardman, BBC Film, Film4 and many more.

Festival attendees can learn from and connect with these industry leaders in masterclasses, workshops for adults and children, networking sessions and social events.

Top Ten Things To See and Do at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024

Lucy Dreams – Love, directed by Monika Jungwirth: One of 300 film screenings at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024

1. 300 Film Screenings:

This year’s screening programme is rich with innovative storytelling, including films by the most exciting talent, featuring the likes of Ian McKellen, Bill Nighy, Siobhan McSweeney, Sarah Hadland and Jessie Buckley.

Explore films spanning 12 genres, including animation, comedy, documentary, drama, fashion, family friendly, thriller and more. The festival runs in a hybrid format; screenings can be experienced on the big screen or streamed from home throughout November.

2. Masterclasses:

Aesthetica is one of the UK’s largest and most revered events in the screen industries, bringing prestigious, award-winning creatives from around the world to York. With In-person and Hybrid tickets you can access a world-class line-up of 60 masterclasses and panel sessions.

Speakers this year include Ridley Scott Associates, Tribeca, BBC, Aardman, Film4, the Guardian and the New York Times, as well as directors, producers and VFX specialists who have worked on well-known titles, such as Assassin’s Creed, Star Wars, Back To Black and House Of The Dragon.

Cherie Federico: Director of Aesthetica Short Film Festival

3. Virtual Reality Lab:

 Aesthetica invites you to become fully immersed in imaginative stories. Embark on a multi-sensory journey as you explore cinema in 360 degrees at the Hospitium, Museum Gardens. Test out the latest advances in film with 24 VR projects.

 Travel across the world and through time in the Cultural Tapestries collection and push the boundaries of reality and  imagination in Dreamscapes and Dimensions.

4. Games Lab:

Investigate.games invites you to be part of the world, taking on an active role in uncovering new narratives. Aesthetica’s Games Lab at the Hospitium presents 36 games from indie developers and renowned studios across PC, console, headset and smart devices.

Take to the stars to save Earth in Sam Enright’s retro-futuristic adventure Beyond Galaxyland and play Aardman’s Emmy-nominated Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway, a VR experience that  takes you on a new adventure.

Megadeath Of Meaning, directed by Corina Andrian, showing at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024

5. Workshops:

This year, both adults and children will learn something new in expert-led practical workshops covering an array of film and gaming topics. Explore the world of AI Generators, learn how to storyboard VR films and discover more about adapting stories into films.

Children can develop their skills and make new friends in workshops covering filmmaking, game developing and  stop-motion animation. These workshops require a separate ticket.

6. UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO

THIS year’s festival celebrates the tenth anniversary of York’s designation as the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts with an EXPO showcase of 25 businesses that operate on national and international levels.

The event offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience cutting-edge work happening in York.  Visit the Guildhall from November 7 to 9 to meet  the pioneering creatives working across film, games, design  and VFX. Suitable for all ages. Free entry. Head to: mediacityexpo.com/.

UNESCO City Of Media Arts EXPO: Celebrating the tenth anniversary of this status as part of Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024

7. Listening Pitch Documentary Film Premieres

Aesthetica has partnered with Audible to champion documentary filmmaking talent. The Listening Pitch explores the cinematic of the unheard in a project that funds documentaries that reveal how listening helps us to understand untold stories.

On November 9, you can attend the premiere of 2024’s winning films: Liberty Smith’s Greensound and Ornella Mutoni’s The Things We Don’t Say, as well as winners from previous years.

Aesthetica is the home of new talent, where you can experience the names of the future. Festival films have gone on to screen at Sundance and SXSW [South By South West] and be distributed on the Guardian website.

8. Art Exhibitions and Premieres:

Aesthetica is more than film, bringing five days of art and culture to York through immersive sound installations and art exhibitions. Experience Where Are You Really From?, an eight-channel sound installation by artist and musician Vendela Haakonsen, whose piece connects the narratives of eight individuals from diverse backgrounds with bespoke piano compositions, reflecting on themes of belonging and identity.

3 Missing 10 Hours, directed by Fanni Fazakas, showing in the Animation programme at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024

The Film Poster Exhibition at City Screen Picturehouse will celebrate the historical relationship between art and cinema. On show will be 40 pieces from the festival’s Official Selection.

View the premiere of contemporary artist Steve Messam’s new site-specific piece, Lantern I, at the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO. Messam, who specialises in projects that challenge perceptions of space and place, plays with light as he transforms the Guildhall building into an immersive and ethereal environment.

9. Networking & Parties:

To connect with new people, explore industry opportunities or discover approaches to filmmaking,  networking sessions and parties will take place across the five days in a chance to meet, chat and share ideas. Expect relaxed and friendly atmospheres.

10. Awards Ceremony:

Drawing the festival to a close, the Awards Ceremony will welcome filmmakers, delegates and audiences to watch the prize-giving. Prizes are awarded for the best film in each genre, as well as the Best of Fest and Special Guest awards. Take part in the celebration, to be followed by a reception on November 10.

For the festival programme and tickets, visit asff.co.uk. York Residents Day Passes cost from £22.50.

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Shaping the future now, Aesthetica Art Prize show at York Art Gallery testifies to why art is a ‘powerful agent of change’

A still from the 2024 Aesthetica Art Prize main prize winner Maryam Tafakory’s film, Nazarbazi [the play of glances]

MARYAM Tafakory has won the main award in the Aesthetica Art Prize 2024 in York and Gala Hernández López is the Emerging Prize winner.

Tafakory takes home £10,000 prize money, Hernández López, £1,000, plus exhibition, publication and further opportunities for development, although ‘take home’ would be a misnomer as the winners were among only three out of 21 shortlisted finalists who were not present at last Thursday evening’s awards ceremony in the Burton Gallery at York Art Gallery.

Tafakory’s artist film, Nazarbazi [the play of glances], explores love and desire in Iranian cinema, where depictions of intimacy between women and men are prohibited.

Artist, researcher and filmmaker Hernández López’s film, The Mechanics of Fluids, travels the internet in search of the digital trace of an incel [an involuntary celibate], finding troubling signs of isolation and solitude along the path of doom-scrolling in the dark web.

The winners were chosen by jurors from key institutions such as IKON, Serpentine Gallery, Turner Contemporary and the V&A from a shortlist of 21 trailblazing contemporary artists whose works are on view at York Art Gallery until April 21, alongside three screens showcasing work by 280 longlist artists picked from the 5,117 works entered.

Launched to coincide with the Future: Now symposium, the Aesthetica Art Prize competition and exhibition is run by York art magazine Aesthetica as “a testament to shared creativity in a time of immense change”.

The annual competition for new talent shines a light on artists who are redefining the parameters of contemporary art, “giving York a first look at a who’s who list of practitioners who will start to appear in major collections and exhibitions worldwide”.

La Chute, a waterfall of bodies made from cut-outs of X-rays, paper and tracing paper by Brigitte Amarger, from the 2024 Aesthetica Art Prize exhibition at York Art Gallery. Picture: Charlotte Graham

Director Cherie Federico says: “Contemporary art can change the world and here in York, which is one of 22 global UNESCO City of Media Arts cities, we are doing just that.

“It’s unexpected for York to be the destination for global conversations around contemporary artistic practice, but we are pushing the envelope with powerful works and bold programming that looks at every facet of life in the 21st century. The pieces on display are timely, immediate and necessary.”

The artists address such themes as the climate crisis, colonial legacies, the impact of technology and artificial intelligence, inequality across society, racism, white supremacy,  the patriarchy and gender diversity.

“The Aesthetica Art Prize is about art being a conduit to make sense of the world around us. As we progress – and that’s a term for debate – we must look at what we gain and what we lose,” says Cherie.

“The world of augmented and virtual reality, constant connections, instant access, the metaverse, phones, selfies and satellites is loud and intrusive. We need to look at the balance of things and understand that there needs to be an equilibrium. We must look humanity straight in the eye and not be afraid to ask hard questions.”

Under the Future: Now title, the prize exhibition confronts life in the 21st century, from beautiful universal human moments to a lack of regulation of internet culture and the destruction of our planet’s oceans. Elsewhere, audiences can discover work spanning the boundaries of painting, photography, sculpture, video, mixed-media and installation.

“The artists on both the short and long lists are reminding us of the challenges we face on a global scale: the residue of colonialism; the Anthropocene geological age; war; the destruction of the climate on such a grand scale that I don’t even think we can truly grasp it; gender inequalities and ongoing discrimination which still exists,” says Cherie.

Aesthetica director Cherie Federico: Turning obstacles into stepping stones and challenges into opportunities”

“Art is a powerful agent of change. Throughout history it has influenced societies, challenged norms, questioned the status quo, raised awareness and prompted new perspectives. It reflects the cultural context in which it is created, and, by capturing the essence of our times, the artists in the Aesthetica Art Prize are contributing to society’s ongoing evolution.”

Among the 21 artists from across the world offering creativity as a form of expression in this exhibition are Sony World Photographer of the Year Edgar Martins, British-Ghanaian artist and actress Heather Agyepong and Ukrainian photographic artist Yevhen Samuchenko, recommended by CNN.

“They are tapping into poignant emotions and motivating you to act, inspiring a collective response to challenges facing us right now,” says Cherie. “They remind us that the connection between artist and viewer can drive transformation, fostering empathy and understanding.

“These creatives are making their mark by encouraging us to think differently. Everything begins with an idea, and, while the works give us the broadest possible view of the world today, they are also asking you to interrogate established belief systems and see different versions of the future.”

Cherie’s mantra for 2024 is to seek to turn obstacles into stepping stones and challenges into opportunities. “For all the negative, there is the positive too, like kinship, love and resilience of the human spirit,” she says.

“This is our time, right now, here on. We must make the most of it. We must remember to be kind to each other. Kindness is a lot like the butterfly effect – situations can be instantly altered, and life can play out differently by the choices we make.”

In a rallying call to artists and the wider world of creatives, Cherie says: “I know what it means to be passionate, determined, and resilient. It takes guts. Sometimes you are the only one who believes in what you are doing – keep believing.”

The Aesthetica Art Prize exhibition runs at York Art Gallery until April 21. Tickets: yorkartgallery.org.uk. To discover all 280 longlisted artists, visit the online gallery at artprize.aestheticamagazine.com.

Chronicles Of An Emerging Diversity, by Ukrainian-German rocket engineer, artist and diver Alexej Sachov, who merges photography and painting to highlight the beauty and fragility of the underwater world. Picture: Charlotte Graham
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Charles Hutchinson’s review of the year of culture & art in York & beyond in 2023

Sleuth and sidekick: Fergus Rattigan’s Matthew Shardlake, left, with Sam Thorpe-Spinks’s Jack Barak in Sovereign at King’s Manor. Picture: Charlotte Graham

Community show of the year: Sovereign, King’s Manor, York, July

YORK Theatre Royal’s best show of the year was not at the Theatre Royal, but across Exhibition Square in the courtard of King’s Manor, the setting for C J Sansom’s Tudor sleuth yarn, adapted typically adroitly by the golden pen of York playwright Mike Kenny.

Henry VIII was given the Yorkshire cold shoulder by a cast of 100 led by Fergus Rattigan and Sam Thorpe-Spinks, complemented by Madeleine Hudson’s choir.

Livy Potter in Iphigenia In Splott at Theatre@41, Monkgate

Solo performance of the year: Livy Potter in Black Treacle Theatre’s Iphigenia In Splott, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, March

GREEK myth is smacked in the chops by modern reality in Gary Owen’s scabrous, “horribly relevant” one-woman drama Iphigenia In Splott, a stark, dark 75-minute play, played out on a single blue chair, with no props, under Jim Paterson’s direction.

Livy Potter kept meeting you in the eye, telling you the bruised, devastating tale of Cardiff wastrel Effie, and her downward spiral through a mess of drink, drugs and drama every night, with shards of jagged humour and shattering blows to the heart.

Crowded in: Comedian Rob Auton’s artwork for The Crowd Show

Comedy show of the year: Rob Auton in The Crowd Show, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, February 24

COMEDIANS tend to play to a room full of strangers, hence the subject matter of Rob Auton’s The Crowd Show, with its discussions of crowds, people and connection.

Except that the crowd for this (London-based) York comedian, born in Barmby Moor and educated in Pocklington, was made up of friends, family, extended family, and loyal local enthusiasts. The home crowd, rather than the in-crowd, as it were. Auton revelled in a unique performing experience, even more surreal than usual.

Honourable mention: Stewart Lee, Basic Lee, York Theatre Royal, March 20. Serious yet seriously amusing dissection of the rotten state of the nation and comedy itself.

Christmas In Neverland at Castle Howard. Picture: Charlotte Graham

Exhibition of the year: Christmas In Neverland, Castle Howard, near York, running until January 7

IS it a Christmas event, an installation or an exhibition? All three, in that Charlotte Lloyd Webber Event Design makes an exhibit of the 300-year-old stately home at Castle Howard each winter.

This time, the theme is a Peter Pan-inspired festive experience, transforming rooms and corridors alike with floristry, installations, props, soundscapes, and projections, conjuring a Mermaid’s Lagoon, Captain Hook’s Cabin and the Jolly Roger with new innovations from Leeds company imitating the dog.

Honourable mention: Austrian artist Erwin Wurm’s absurdist sculptures in Trap Of The Truth, his first UK museum show, at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near Wakefield, bringing a whimsical smile until April 28 2024.

Kevin Rowland leading Dexys through The Feminine Divine and old hits sublime at York Barbican

Favourite gigs of the year?

SPOILT for choice. At York Barbican: Suzanne Vega, vowing I Never Wear White in droll delight on February 22; James, bolstered by orchestra and gospel choir, hitting heavenly heights, April 28; Dexys’ two sets, one new and theatrical, the other laden with soul-powered hits, September 5; Lloyd Cole’s two sets, one ostensibly acoustic, the other electric, both eclectic, on October 22.

At The Crescent: The Go-Betweens’ Robert Forster, performing with his son; March 14; Lawrence, once of Felt and Denim, now channelling Mark E Smith and the Velvet Underground in Mozart Estate, October 7; The Howl And The Hum’s extraordinary, deeply emotional three-night farewell to the York band’s original line-up in December.

The long-dormant Pulp’s poster for their This Is What We Do For An Encore return to performing live

Outdoor experience of the year: Pulp, Scarborough Open Air Theatre, July 9

THE rain swept in on the Eighties’ electronic nostalgia of Being Boiled at the Human League’s Music Showcase Weekend at York Racecourse on July 28 too, but that was a mere watering can by comparison with the deluge that befell the Open Air Theatre half an hour before fellow Sheffield legends Pulp took to the Scarborough stage. “Has it been raining?”, teased Jarvis Cocker, but huddled beneath hastily purchased sheeting, the night was still plastic fantastic.  

Cherie Federico: At the helm of all things Aesthetica in York

Driving force of the year in York: Cherie Federico, Aesthetica

2023 marked the 20th anniversary of Aesthetica, the international art magazine set up in York by New Yorker and York St John University alumna Cherie Federico. The Aesthetica Art Prize was as innovative and stimulating as ever at York Art Gallery; the 13th Aesthetica Short Film Festival, spanning five days in November, was the biggest yet. On top of that came the Future Now Symposium in March and the launch of Reignite to bolster York’s focus on being a fulcrum for the arts, media arts and gaming industry innovations of the future.

A star performance: Andy Cryer in The Comedy Of Errors (More Or Less) at Stephen Jospeh Theatre, Scarborough. Picture: Patch Dolan

Best Shakespeare of the year: The Comedy Of Errors (More Or Less), Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, April

THE SJT teamed up with Shakespeare North Playhouse, Nick Lane paired up with co-writer Elizabeth Godber, and Eighties’ pop guilty pleasures rubbed shoulders with Shakespeare’s rebooted comedy as Yorkshire clashed with Lancashire and everyone won. This Comedy Of Errors got everything right. Not more or less. Just right. Full stop. 

Nuno Queimado and Rumi Sutton in Gus Gowland’s Mayflies at York Theatre Royal

New musical of the year in York: Mayflies, York Theatre Royal, May

YORK Theatre Royal resident artist Gus Gowland deserved far bigger audiences for the premiere of the intriguing Mayflies, as confirmed by no fewer than nine nominations in the BroadwayWorldUK Awards.

O, the app-hazard nature of modern love under Covid’s black cloud, as two people meet up after two years of tentative communication online. In Tania Azevedo’s flexible casting, you could pick any configuration of Rumi Sutton, Nuno Queimado or Emma Thornett for the couple of your choice. Better still, you should have seen all three; the songs, the nuances, the humour, grew with familiarity.

Leigh Symonds’ engineer Winston and Naomi Petersen’s automaton house maid ED in Alan Ayckbourn’s Constant Companions. Picture: Tony Bartholomew

Still delivering the goods in Yorkshire

ALAN Ayckbourn’s visions of AI in Constant Companions, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; John Godber’s Northern Soul-powered Do I Love You?, on tour into 2024; Barnsley bard Ian McMillan’s Yorkshire take on The Barber Of Seville, St George’s Hall, Bradford; Robin Simpson’s dame in Jack And The Beanstalk, York Theatre Royal.

Copyright of The Press, York

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Future of York’s cultural economy up for debate in Reignite creative industry event at Aesthetica Short Film Festival this evening

Cherie Federico: Aesthetica Short Film Festival director and driving force behind Reignite

REIGNITE II: The Creative Economy will bring together key partners and industry leaders to explore the impact of large-scale cultural programming on York’s wider economy this evening at City Screen Picturehouse, York

The 6pm to 9pm event will feature a film screening and Q&A with “some of the UK’s most significant creative talent”, as part of this week’s BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival, when York becomes a cinematic playground for global giants in the media and gaming industries.

Highlighting York’s decade-long UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts designation, the discussion will focus on the role of media arts in driving economic growth, attracting tourism and fostering a vibrant and creative city for years to come.

Aesthetica director Cherie Federico says: “Reignite II is an opportunity to discuss the economic impact of culture on our city and how bold cultural programming offers an uplift in the city centre through economic and social inclusion.

“Through Reignite, we are looking to unite the city in support of the high growth and economic potential of York’s creative industries, and we’re committed to supporting the sector to reach its full potential.”

Rachel Bean, project manager at York BID (Business Improvement District), says: “We believe that media arts have a vital role to play in the city’s economic future, and we’re excited to build on the success of [the first meeting of] Reignite and continue to work closely with Aesthetica and partners to explore this potential.”

Reignite: Economic Impact Through Creative Industries was launched last month to celebrate York’s creative sector and its significant impact on the local economy. The inaugural event brought together representatives across all sectors to unite under York’s UNESCO Media Arts status, with the aim of encouraging all sectors in York, including hospitality, retail, and transport, to recognise the vast potential of York’s creative sector to transform the city’s economy.

Organisations Aesthetica, Viridian FX, Bright White, York Museums Trust and the National Railway Museum, together with a panel of young creatives, highlighted the need to embrace the city’s UNESCO designation to strengthen the York economy, with ambitions to create educational pathways, develop new skills and jobs and attract investment.

“Reignite is about making York’s UNESCO Media Arts relevant to the city’s arts and culture and seeking to transform York into a knowledge-based economy,” says Cherie. “We’re looking to develop Reignite events every quarter, working in tandem with City of York Council.

“We have a few hundred businesees in the creative industries in York already, but we must encourage more businesses to set up in York, particular in gaming and coding. We’ve reached the point where the city is being recognised for being very innnovative in what it’s achieving in the worlds of visual special effects and gaming, and we need to build on that.

“York has a unique cultural heritage and we must re-define ourselves as a regional city that thinks nationally and internationally, with a strategy for start-ups, education and inward investment.

“We want to encourage future careers, whether as arts workers or coders, and to legitimise those career paths in York, and we want to inspire not only young people in the city.”

New York-born Cherie has studied, worked and lived in York for more than two decades, setting up the international art magazine Aesthetica 20 years ago and subsequently the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, now its 13th year, and the Aesthetica Art Prize, an annual showcase for cutting-edge global talent at York Art Gallery.

“Aesthetica Short Film Festival underpins the values of York’s UNESCO Media Arts designation, making it visible with large-scale, bold cultural programming that has an economic impact on the city and cultural impact on residents and visitors alike,” she says.

“The draw of the festival, bringing big names to the city, highlights everything we’re seeking to do. This year we have ten representives from from Ridley Scott Associates; Oscar-winning filmmaker Tim Webber; the head of BAFTA Games, Luke Hebblethwaite; the BBC’s head of environmental documentaries, Mike Gunton, and fashion photographer Michel Haddi.

“BAFTA-winning Bait director Mark Jenkin, Bridgerton cinematographer Diana Olifirova, Suffragette director Sarah Gavron, Northern Irish director Kathryn Ferguson, who made the Sinead O’Connor documentary Nothing Compares, and Aesthetica alumna Jennifer Sheridan, director of Extraordinary for Disney+, they’re all coming too.

“So is Terri White, former editor-in-chief of Empire film magazine, whose memoir Coming Undone is being adpated into a TV series starring Billie Piper. We’ll have films by Ricky Gervais, Maxine Peake and Ben Whishaw too.”

Tonight’s event is supported by City of York Council, York BID, Aesthetica, Kit Monkman’s Viridian FX and York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Reignite II is free to attend, but registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/740066949167?aff=oddtdtcreator.

The back story of York: UNESCO Creative City

YORK is one of only 12 UNESCO Creative Cities in the United Kingdom and is unique in being the UK’s first and only UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts.

York is part of a network of 246 Creative Cities that has identified creativity as a strategic factor in sustainable urban development. 

The aims:

To strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services.

To develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector.

To improve access to and participation in cultural life, in particular for marginalised or vulnerable groups and individuals.

To fully integrate culture and creativity into sustainable development plans.

In 2020, York launched a new Culture Strategy – York’s Creative Future – with inclusion and participation at its core, “showcasing the city’s commitment to ensuring culture is relevant and accessible to everybody in York regardless of age, background or postcode”.

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Aesthetica Short Film Festival is big on names, games and the future of York and AI

After We’re Gone, directed by Ira Iduozee, showing at Aesthetica Short Film Festival

THE 13th edition of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival will be bigger and better than ever with big industry names, new features, more masterclasses and a 50 per cent YorkDays residents’ discount each day.

Significantly too, the festival is determined to highlight York’s status as the UK’s first and only UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts, not only through a festival with one eye on the future, but also through the newly launched Reignite drive, propelled by Aesthetica director Cherie Federico, to highlight the financial impact of York’s creative sector and the need to transform York into a knowledge-based economy.

“The time for complacency is over,” says Cherie. “York has a unique cultural heritage and we must re-define ourselves as a regional city that thinks nationally and internationally, with a strategy for start-ups, education and inward investment.”

At the heart of the five-day festival, spread across 15 venues from November 8 to 12, will be 300 films in competition, including new works by Rick Gervais, Maxine Peake, Ben Whishaw and Oscar-winner Tim Webber, from Framestore.

The 2023 Official Selection of shorts, feature-length films and documentaries VR experiences and games screenings has been curated into five themes: Now, In This Very Moment; Standing at the Threshold of Change; A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With One Step; Be Free From Yourself and It’s Nice to Meet You.

The Guest Programmes for 2023 come from BFI Doc Society, Iris Prize and We Are Parable, among others, while the New Wave initiative provides a platform for up-and-coming directors. Issues such as gender, identity, the climate crisis and social injustices will be prominent throughout the festival film choice.

Festival films span 12 genres: advertising; animation; artists’ film; comedy; dance; documentary; drama, experimental; family friendly; fashion; music video and thriller. They can be experienced on the big screen at assorted locations during the festival run or streamed from home via the festival’s Virtual Platform, open for viewing On Demand until November 30, along with the masterclasses.

Cherie Federico: Aesthetica Short Film Festival director

Top film industry organisations will be participating in more than 60 masterclasses and practical workshops for adults and children from November 8 to 11, with pre-booking recommended.

The 2023 event welcomes directors and cinematographers such as Sarah Gavron (Rocks), Mark Jenkin (Bait), Nicolas Brown (1917), Diana Olifirova (Heartstopper) and Kathryn Ferguson (director of the Sinead O’Connor documentary Nothing Compares), to give sessions on their experience working in the industry, from editing, sound design and cinematography to screenwriting, interactive storytelling, games, AI (artificial intelligence) and VR (virtual reality).

Festival-goers can go behind the scenes with multi-award-winning British animation studio Aardman; BBC Studios will demonstrate its work in the Natural History Unit, producing series with David Attenborough, while Ridley Scott Associates will delve delves into The Future of Storytelling. 

Aesthetica also welcome George Lucas’s VFX studio, Industrial Light and Magic, alongside Oscar winners Framestore, to discuss the world of visual effects and post-production.

One event asks What is the Role of the Intimacy Co-Ordinator, while another looks at the female gaze and what it means for women to depict women. Other compelling topics will be: Next Level Scriptwriting, Developing Award-Winning Animations; Where to Shoot Your Film; the Power of True Stories and Composing  for Screen.

Practical sessions take place at Pitcher & Piano, the StreetLife Hub, the Guildhall and York Theatre Royal, hosted by key organisations, from the London College of Communication to the Pitch Film Fund.

Festival visitors can travel to the past to uncover the magic of traditional printmaking or look to the future in Testbed of AI Generators and Writing in 360°: A Practical Workshop. Look out too for sessions on how to pitch, a virtual production demonstration and a showcase of Canon’s cinema cameras.

Hitting the heights: The Secret Diary Of A High Rise, directed by Stehen James Ong

Children can learn to direct, edit and make their own films in Do You Want to Be a Director and How to Make a Film, led by the Pauline Quirke Academy. New for 2023 is How to Make a Game and Do You Want to be a Game Developer? from Impact Games: a chance for young people to learn the secrets behind their favourite games. Pre-booking is essential.

In its 13th year, ASFF becomes the first British film festival to introduce a Games Lab, at Spark:York, inviting audiences to explore new worlds and interactive storytelling with 40 new independent games to play in a celebration of game culture, design and production on PC, console and headset. Workshops, events and masterclasses will accompany the Games Lab too.

“The video game industry is undergoing dramatic change culturally and technologically and is now larger than the film industry and music industry combined,” says festival director Cherie Federico. “We see journeys into narrative design as a crucial way to understand how storytelling is evolving in the 21st century. We see gaming much like film, but as a player you are involved in bringing a story to life.

“The inaugural Games Lab marks a new chapter in the festival’s story and reflects how the screen industry evolving. It’s an exciting moment to take stock of and recognise the impact of gaming culture, and how it touches our daily lives.”

Twenty VR projects in the Screen School VR Lab will be part of the festival’s ever-expanding offering of Virtual and Expanded Reality experiences, presented in tandem with Investigative Games and Kit Monkman’s York-based special effects studio Viridian FX.

This year’s Aesthetica Fringe comprises a sound installation, looking at feminism and women’s experiences in public places, at Bedern Hall; the Inside [Out] exhibition by three female photographers, celebrating women behind the lens, at City Screen Picturehouse; a display of contemporary film posters from the Official Selection at StreetLife Hub and workshops in printmaking, gaming and film for children and adults.

For the festival programme and tickets, head to: asff.co.uk.

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Top Ten Things To Do at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2023 in York. Here’s director Cherie Federico’s November best of fest 

Aesthetica Short Film Festival director Cherie Federico

300 independent films on your doorstep

EXPERIENCE a vast range of films from around the world with the Official Selection, Guest Programmes and New Wave screenings. This year’s outstanding selection includes films by Ricky Gervais, Maxine Peake, Ben Whishaw and Oscar-winner Tim Webber.

The Official Selection is curated with more than 300 films spanning 12 exciting genres, covering comedy, drama, animation, documentary, family friendly, thriller and more. Guest Programmes come from BFI Doc Society, Iris Prize and We Are Parable among others. New Wave spotlights new talent and is the only strand in a UK festival to showcase graduate films, introducing the filmmakers of the future.

UK film festival first: Pioneering Games Lab

THE Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom sold 10 million copies in three days, making it the fastest-selling game in Nintendo history. Games enable players to interact with stories like never before, from journeying through vast open worlds to navigating mesmeric VR (virtual reality) experiences. 

Aesthetica sees the games industry evolving and wants to spotlight and celebrate all that interactive media offer, proudly becoming the first British film festival to develop a Games Lab alongside the film screenings, VR and immersive experiences.

Head to Spark:York to play your way through 40 captivating titles, from squirrel mysteries to mythical island escapades, as these Official Selection games immerse users in imaginative worlds.

Masterclasses and Panel Discussions

WHETHER you are an actor, cinematographer, director, developer, producer, screenwriter or a film aficionado, ASFF has world-class masterclasses to suit you, bringing together big names from across film, games and VR. Speakers include representatives from Aardman, Guardian Documentaries, the BFI, Film4, Ridley Scott Associates, Ubisoft and BBC Writersroom.

The list of directors, producers and visual effects specialists have worked such iconic projects as: Avengers: Endgame, Bridgerton, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Gravity, Ready Player One, Wallace And Gromit, and much more.

Family Friendly screenings: Bring the whole family

INSPIRE your children with a selection of incredible films. The whole family can experience the best in independent cinema at Family Friendly film screenings of comedies, engaging dramas and fun-filled animations. Follow compelling characters, from a brave hummingbird to a shy presenter, in shorts that encourage us to be our best selves. ASFF’s three reels are divided into ascending age groups.

Screen School VR Lab: Expanded Realities here in York

THE possibilities of 360° film are endless. Immersive experiences like these bring audiences closer to the action than ever before, positioning them in both real and entirely imagined environments.

Aesthetica and LCC’s (London College Of Communication) Screen School invite you to dive into a bold selection of imaginative stories. Embark on a multi-sensory journey as you explore the world of 360 cinema. The VR Lab will be held at The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, alongside panel discussions at York Explore. To join virtually, buy a cardboard headset and experience at home.

Networking Sessions: Meet filmmakers

BUILD relationships, seek out collaborations and make lasting memories. Whether you are looking to connect with industry representatives, discover new opportunities or learn new approaches to filmmaking, Networking Sessions are the perfect opportunity to meet with film sector professionals and share ideas. 2023’s representatives are from renowned organisations such as Canon, The Pitch Film Fund and York special effects studio Viridian FX.

Insightful Workshops: Learn new skills

TRAVEL to the past to uncover the tactile magic of traditional printmaking or look to exciting futures with Test Bed of AI Generators and Writing in 360: A Practical Workshop. A series of workshops will run at Pitcher & Piano, StreetLife Hub, The Guildhall and York Theatre Royal’s Studio, with a host of key organisations, ranging from the London College of Communication and The Pitch Film Fund to Viridian FX and Canon.

These practical workshops are centred around expanded realities, making them essential for those looking to try out new technologies and learn from industry professionals.

Three Exhibitions: Sound & Photography

THE premiere of Flux & Possibilities, Martyn Riley’s deep listening, multi-channel sound installation, explores personal identities and histories at Bedern Hall. Created in partnership with Aesthetica, LCC and Audible, it invites you to listen to numerous female-identifying interviewees across different locations and generations, revealing their personal stories of feminism, inequality and gendered spaces.

Look out too for a film poster exhibition at the StretLife hub and photography exhibition, Inside (Out), featuring three female photographers, at City Screen Picturehouse, both in Coney Street.

Pitching Sessions: Speak with the experts

DEVELOPING a new short or feature project? ASFF offers a series of 20-minute pitching sessions where experts provide guidance on how to develop ideas, break into the industry and further your distribution goals.

These sessions will be led by delegates from BBC Film, Goldfinch, Film4, Guardian Documentaries and Neal Street Productions across various days at Malmaison York, as well as virtually. Pre-selection and applications are required.

Kids’ Workshops: Filmmaking & Games

ASFF believes in nurturing children’s creative potential. New for this year, children can attend workshops to learn how to direct, edit and make films. Budding game developers can join Impact Games to learn what goes into creating the games they love.  

Pauline Quirke Academy will lead workshops for young directors keen to get behind the camera,  shout “action” and “cut” and tell their unique stories.

Two types of workshops will run: filmmaking and gaming, where children can learn how to code and develop their own games.

Aesthetica Short Film Festival runs  in York from November 8 to 12; full programme and tickets at asff.co.uk.

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The not-so-short Aesthetica Short Film Festival is back with much more than films

Cherie Federico: Director of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival

AESTHETICA Short Film Festival returns for 300 films in 15 venues over six days in York in its 12th edition from November 1 to 6.

The BAFTA-Qualifying event will have a hybrid format, combining the live festival with a selection of screenings, masterclasses and events on the digital platform until November 30.

New for 2022 will be York Days, a discount scheme with the chance to save 50 per cent on prices on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday programmes. “This is our local push,” says director Cherie Federico. “We believe that film is for everyone, and now you can join in York’s very own film festival.

“Each year, we transform the city into a cinematic playground, showcasing the world’s best film, providing a platform for the very new directors and short films to reach audiences. York is the place where the filmmakers of the future are discovered. As a city, we play a major role in supporting new talent.”

Comedies, dramas, thrillers, animation, family-friendly films and documentaries all feature among the 300 films – from around 4,000 entries – in a festival “where you can engage with global stories”, enjoy film premieres, workshops, the Virtual Reality Lab, installations and the festival Fringe.

“The success of our eight Film Club nights in the York Theatre Royal Studio from April to July gave me the idea to do York Days because it showed there’s an appetite for independent cinema in York,” says Cherie.

“York Days is your opportunity to attend the festival, soak up as many films as you can, and join in our award-winning masterclasses and workshops. This festival is for you and we want you to join in with your friends and family.”

Picking her recommendations for York Days, Cherie suggests seeing films aplenty from the Official Selection; attending a masterclass or workshop; experiencing Virtual Reality in the VR Lab at City Screen Picturehouse, and visiting the StreetLife project hub, in Coney Street, to view the ASFF exhibition, Unite. Create. Transform. For children, she advises attending Family Friendly screenings and signing up for children’s filmmaking workshops.

“We’re running four three-hour children’s workshops on how to direct your own film, divided into two age groups, seven to ten and 11 to 14, with places for 80 children from York to participate, free of charge, as I want to encourage young people to make films,” says Cherie.

Looking ahead to the 2022 festival overall, Cherie says: “I think this year is going to be very, very busy. For example, for our 60 masterclasses and workshops, people are travelling from across the world because they’re world-class, featuring leading representatives from the film industry’s top organisations.”

The 2022 Official Selectiion has been curated into six broader categories: Life As We Know It; The Bigger Picture; We’ll Cross That Bridge When We Come To It; How Do You Do?; Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken and The Present Was Their Idea Of The Future.

“I find with these themes, it’s not about being complex but accessible,” says Cherie. “The power of films is that they’re reflective of daily lives but cinema is transformative because it can introduce you to different cultures, languages, customs, but at the same time it’s about encapsulating human experiences.

“That’s really powerful because it enables you to understand things that you have in common rather than the things that you don’t. This festival celebrates the highs, the lows, the joy, the pain, what it means right now to be on Planet Earth, which is extraordinary because it reminds us of the humanity that binds us together. We take the world’s temperature with this festival.”

Within the six overarching themes are a selection of ten fitting films that span the festival’s 12 genres, complemented by feature-length narratives, documentaries and Virtual Reality experiences.

Alongside, ASFF runs Guest Programmes from around the world, including Queer East’s spotlight on LGBTQ+ cinema from East and Southeast Asia; the Scottish Documentary Institute highlighting East African and Pakistan Stories, and this year’s country in focus, Norway. Look out too for the New Wave strand, showcasing graduate filmmakers.

The masterclasses and panel sessions with industry leaders take in such topics as sustainability and diversity, the ethics of cinema and human rights. Representatives from BBC Film, Sky, Film4, Canon and Ubisoft discuss every stage of film production, the latest film technologies, cinematography, film scoring, scripting, editing and directing.

New too for 2022 is the ASFF Fringe, whose highlights include the aforementioned Unite. Create. Transform group exhibition by ten award-winning contemporary artists, not least Aesthetica Art Prize finalists, at StreetLife, and the ASFF’s £5,000 commission of an immersive sound installation by Jin Chia Ching Ho, Sounds We Have Never Heard Before, presented in partnership with Audible, to be enjoyed on giant pillows at Bedern Hall.

For the Fringe, York Dungeon will be providing walking tours of the city (as well as running one of the festival workshops on make-up for the screen). “A walking tour at a film festival might seem a bit off-piste, but why not!” says Cherie.

To book festival tickets, whether for In-Person, Virtual or Hybrid packages, go to: asff.co.uk/tickets. Tickets for York Days can be booked at asff.co.uk/yorkdays or in person from November 1 at City Screen.

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Should you be wondering what’s spiking interest outside York Art Gallery….

Steve Messam’s inflatable installation Portico, from a distance looking like flickering flames consuming York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York. Copyright: York Art Gallery

WHAT exactly is that orange spiky inflatable thing nesting on York Art Gallery’s frontage all of a sudden?

The answer is Steve Messam’s Portico, one of the shortlisted works for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2022 exhibition that opens today.

The County Durham environmental artist’s temporary installation exploits colour and scale, “creating a moment of interruption in the familiar”, in the manner of These Passing Things, Messam’s series of installations for the National Trust at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon, from last July to October.

Messam’s bold and large-scale installations “uncover layers of narrative within the landscape, drawing on existing uses of the land and architecture, reflecting an understanding of the geological, cultural and agricultural practices used to shape it”.

Messam says: “Portico changes the way people look at York Art Gallery, temporarily transforming the front of the building and the way people use the space. You can see it from the city walls, the open-top buses, and you can come sit and have your lunch outside and enjoy it too. I love how many people have been stopping to take photos already.”

Cherie Federico, Aesthetica Art Prize curator and director, says: “As a curator, installing Steve Messam’s Portico is truly inspirational. The marriage between the historic and contemporary creates a feeling of surprise, awe, and contemplation.

“You start look at the building with fresh eyes and the gallery is transformed. Portico is a surprise and makes you feel good. The bold colour and spikes ignite the imagination.”

York Museums Trust is urging people to share their photos of Portico by tagging York Art Gallery and Aesthetica Magazine on Instagram and Twitter.

The winners of the Aesthetica Art Prize – York’s international contemporary art competition, now in its 15th year – were announced last night when Baff Akoto won the main prize and Yukako Tanaka received the Emerging Artist prize.

Running until September 18 in one of York Art Gallery’s ground-floor galleries, the 2022 exhibition by the 20 finalists invites audiences to explore, discover and engage with themes from our rapidly changing world.

This year’s finalists hail from Argentina, France, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Great Britain and the United States, and their works is equally diverse, spanning painting and drawing; photography and digital art; three-dimensional design and sculpture; installation, performance and video art.

On show are works by winners Akoto and Tanaka and fellow finalists Messam; Sophie Dixon; Elise Guillaume; Rebecca Lejić-Tiernan; Sarah Maple; Guen Murroni; Bart Price; Jason Bruges Studio; Sara Choudhrey; Akihiro Boujoh; Ulf König; Marcus Lyon; Ellen Carey; Gjert Rognli; Omar Torres; Ingrid Weyland; K Young and Terrence Musekiwa.

Morgan Feely, senior curator at York Art Gallery, says: “It’s a pleasure to host the Aesthetica Art Prize 2022. I hope people will be inspired by the transformation of the exterior of the gallery and come in to see the full stunning exhibition, which is free to see.

“This year’s Aesthetica Art Prize runs alongside our new exhibition Body Vessel Clay: Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art. Together, they show our commitment to celebrating new art at York Art Gallery.”

Gallery opening hours are 11am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Admission to the Aesthetica Art Prize exhibition and the gallery’s permanent collections is free.