Live Cinema, Artists’ Film and the Crossover Between Mainstream & Experimental Cinema at ASFF

This year at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF), running from 7 to 10 November in York, audiences will have the opportunity to engage not only with mainstream cinema, but also experience a programme of thought-provoking artists’ film. This year’s event will exhibit the festival’s strong links with the world of contemporary art, showcasing a line-up of outstanding artists’ films and related masterclasses.

Artists’ film generally interacts solely with the fine art world, but at ASFF we recognise the importance of cross-pollination of ideas and genres, and see these works of art as instrumental in creating a diverse programme. More and more, artists’ films are crossing over into mainstream cinema, for example, films from Turner Prize winner Steve McQueen (Hunger and Shame starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan) or Turner nominee Sam Taylor-Wood (Nowhere Boy) or even documentary filmmaker and artist, Clio Barnard (The Arbor).

At ASFF there are five screening programmes for this strand and these will be exhibited in two locations across the city, According to McGee and New School House Gallery – both dedicated spaces for artists’ films with cinema projections, individual booths and art books for browsing at your leisure. There are films commissioned by Hans-Ulrich Obrist for Serpentine Gallery’s Memory Marathon project.

Maggie Ellis, Head of Artists’ Moving Image at Film London, will lead a discussion about the crossover between artists’ film and mainstream cinema. We are also presenting a performance in which lost and abandoned films that have been found in flea markets and dusty attics will re-emerge with new life as part of Screen Bandita‘s show at Bedern Hall at 4pm on Sunday 10 November. This live cinema performance also includes an original score created by two gramophones, guarding the nostalgic and the mechanical, and is an experience not to be missed.

For ASFF 2013 tickets visit www.asff.co.uk/tickets.

Credits
1. Film still from Intrusion Natalie Plaskura (Independent), Germany, 2012. Aesthetica