aesthetica short film festival (asff) 2024

Submit your work to one of the UK’s largest film festivals! We’re a BAFTA and BIFA-Qualifying festival, meaning every short film that screens with us may be eligible to receive a BAFTA and BIFI nomination in the British Short Film categories.

Aesthetica's curation is centred around powerful storytelling, compelling narratives and ideas. We programme the festival into six overarching strands which thematically reflect the current state-of-play, from the climate crisis and shifting geo-politics to personal relationships and technological innovation. Our curatorial team includes 16 programmers who have worked for some of the world’s largest film festivals and organisations.

Great film is transformative. We are looking for bold stories that are told differently. We focus on the topics that are the most meaningful, pressing and present in our world and welcome a diversity of subject matter and styles. We accept shorts across multiple genres: Animation, Artists’ Film, Comedy, Dance, Drama, Experimental, Fashion, Music Video and Thriller, as well as features, VR, 360 and immersive projects.

Filmmakers that have screened at Aesthetica have gone on to receive further success and career recognition, winning BAFTAs and Oscars, as well as further awards at the likes of Sundance, SXSW and more. Our alumni have also been commissioned by the likes of Film 4, BBC, StudioCanal, Goldfinch and Channel 4. Beyond success stories, we offer prestigious awards as well as cash prizes in each category.