One of York’s most popular new festivals has doubled in size and will be along shortly. CHARLES HUTCHINSON hears from the woman behind the Aesthetica Short Film Festival.

IF at first you succeed, then do so even better the next year.

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival has not only doubled in size to 300 films since being set up in York by Aesthetica art and culture magazine editor Cherie Federico in 2011, but it also has acquired BAFTA Qualifying status and now runs to a full four days, including early doors preview screenings from 10am on the opening day, next Thursday.

“Last year’s festival had a £250,000 economic benefit for the city and this year it will be more,” says Cherie, the American-born festival director, who swapped New York for settling in York.

“Seventy-five businesses have signed up to show badges as Festival Friends, to link festival-goers with each place as our recommendations to visitors, and we’re also expanding the festival by increasing the number of special guest screenings, with films from Lebanon, Japan (in partnership with the Asia Short Film Festival in Tokyo) and Iraq, as well as official selections from two film festivals, the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur and Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival.

“I’m particularly excited about the Iraqi strand because it’s a window into a different culture. It’s a country we know a lot about from our news coverage, but these films are by Iraqi film-makers, providing a glimpse into life there. It’s important for us to remember the liberties we have in the west, whereas these films were made by film-makers who can’t get out of their country.”

The festival will take place in 15 locations across York from November 6 to 9, when the 300 independent films from 39 countries worldwide will include British premieres from the next generation of filmmakers.

“Our festival is one of the UK’s most exciting site-specific events and is the only UK short film festival to transform an entire city centre into a pop-up cinema, as we move between medieval halls, galleries, museums and cinemas, where our audiences are invited to create their own unique viewing experience,” says Cherie.

The fashion and advertising strands will highlight the creative campaigns from brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Swarovski, Louis Vuitton, Trager Delaney, Topshop, River Island, Karen Millen, Triwa watches and Hub Footwear.

“Sponsored by London College of Fashion, the fashion strand establishes a place for serious discussion about fashion film – its responsibility to society and impact upon visual culture – and also provides a rare chance to see sensational fashion content, featuring stars such as model and actor Lily Cole in Lorna Tucker’s Red Shoes, inspired by Vivienne Westwood’s Climate Revolution,” says Cherie.

The festival now encompasses advertising, animation, artists’ film, comedy, dance, documentary, drama, experimental, fashion, music video, thriller and a family-friendly programme for younger audiences.

Each colour-coordinated programme of films will show five or six films in 60 to 90 minutes.

Across the four days, audiences can see performances from the likes of BAFTA-nominated Maxine Peake (Ruth Platt, The Heart Fails Without Warning) and The Bourne Ultimatum actor Mark Bazeley (Dan Clifton, Patient 39), while the inimitable voice of Richard Wilson narrates Alex Horsfall’s comedy Making Ends Meat, and Hugo Weaving is the voice of Graeme Robertson’s drama Manny Gets Censored.

Mark Davenport’s comedy Tea Time In Haworth features Anne Reid, while Keeping Up With The Joneses, directed by Michael Pearce, stars Adeel Akhtar.

Cherie was keen to increase not only the number of screenings but also the chance for visitors’ participation through seminars, panel discussions and introductions at the screenings.

Industry events include masterclasses with industry leaders from BAFTA, Channel 4, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Ridley Scott Associates, Double Negative and many more besides, and the festival also will provide daily networking sessions, and a new event at Middletons Hotel where filmmakers can engage with programmers behind international film festivals.

Turner Prize nominee Isaac Julien and film critic Anna Smith will be among the guest speakers, while the festival guest list includes representatives from the BFI (British Film Institute), Creative England, Film London, industry agency White Lodge and brands such as Jigsaw.

Further highlights will be the awards ceremony on the closing night at 7pm and a programme of Yorkshire film footage at home during the First World War, Filmed And Not Forgotten, presented by the Yorkshire Film Archive on Remembrance Sunday from 2pm to 3.30pm at the National Centre of Early Music.

Look out too for Creative England iShorts’ showcase of films with £5,000 funding each at Bootham School on November 8, at 4pm.

Bootham School is among new locations this year, along with Friargate Theatre; Middletons Hotel; the National Centre for Early Music; Reel Cinema; Treasurer’s House, for late-night thrillers by candlelight.

and The According To McGee gallery will have where a poster exhibition will be combined with films.

The Festival Hub will be at Visit York, and other locations will be York Theatre Royal; City Screen, York; the De Grey Rooms; York St John University, the festival’s main partner; King’s Manor; the Yorkshire Museum; New School House Gallery; the Dean Court Hotel and 1331, home to Brandy Brown’s Little Cinema.

One new feature this year is the youth engagement programme for 11 to 14 years from York High School, Bootham School, Millthorpe School, Canon Lee School and St Olave’s School. “It’s their own independent mini-film festival experience with two screenings and no charge,” says Cherie.

As the clock ticks down to the festival, the director “genuinely can’t believe what we’ve pulled together”.

“I have not only the festival partners to thank but also the exceptional Aesthetica team, without whom it wouldn’t have been possible,” she says.

“They’ve been working incredibly hard to bring off this event, and already we’re starting to think about 2015 because next year will be our fifth anniversary, which seems incredible to think about. It’s gone so quickly.”

• Festival tickets and passes are available from asff.co.uk/tickets and you can join the ASFF conversation @asffest and on facebook.com/aestheticamagazine

The four-day festival pass with unlimited access costs £30, a day pass costs £15, new for 2014 is the £5 single screening ticket.