ORGANISERS of a celebration of film in York were paid a visit by one of the leading political figures in the arts scene.

Shadow Arts And Culture Minister Dan Jarvis attended the launch of the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, which ended its four-day run on Sunday and saw screenings being staged in venues across the city, from the Mansion House and Guildhall to bars and shops.

The idea for the festival, which ran for the first time last year, came from Cherie Federico, its artistic director and the founder of York-based art and cultural magazine Aesthetica. The publication is now sold around the UK and in more than 20 countries.