Second edition screened over 200 international short films, as well as hosting masterclasses with industry professionals that were attended by over 1,000 people.

Shasha Nakhai & Rich Williamson’s The Sugar Bowl [pictured] has won the overall prize at this year’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival.

Nakhai & Williamson’s documentary about the rise and fall of the sugarcane industry in Negros, Philippines scooped Best Documentary and was awarded the Festival Winner ahead of the likes of Mark Davenport’s Photoshopping (Best Comedy) and Mark Nelson’s The Jockstrap Raiders (Best Animation).

Rob Sorrenti’s Hollow, a drama about the nature of drug addiction, won the People’s Choice award.

Overall, the second edition of the festival screened over 200 international short films and hosted masterclasses from the likes of Barry Ryan, head of production for Warp Film, and cinematographer Danny Cohen. Over 1,000 people attended the masterclasses.

Stuart Page, head of programme for media & film studies at the festival’s lead sponsor York St. John University, commented: “It’s fantastic that this international event is being held annually in York, and YSJU are proud to be part of it.”

Full list of winners:

Festival Winner: Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson, The Sugar Bowl
People’s Choice Award: Rob Sorrenti, Hollow
Best Drama: Layke Anderson, Dylan’s Room
Best Comedy: Mark Davenport, Photoshopping
Best Documentary: Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson, The Sugar Bowl
Best Music Video: Ashley Dean, Let It Go
Best Animation: Mark Nelson, The Jockstrap Raiders
Best Experimental Film: Anna Valdez-Hanks and Anna Blandford, To The Sea
Best Art Film: Joanna Tam, Reduction Study (Ping Pong)
Best Thriller: Martin Bargiel, Augenblicke

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