Pitch Your Project at Aesthetica Film Festival 2026: Meet Leading UK Film Industry Professionals

Filmmakers looking to take their next project to the industry should take note of an opportunity at this year’s Aesthetica Film Festival. The festival’s Pitching and 1:1 Sessions offer selected filmmakers the chance to present a project directly to a development executive from a leading UK production company, broadcaster, fund or creative organisation.

Taking place as part of Aesthetica Film Festival 2026, which runs from 4–8 November in York, the sessions are designed to give filmmakers direct access to industry professionals who can offer feedback, guidance and insight into developing a project and moving it forward.

A 20-minute meeting with an industry professional

Selected participants will be matched with a Development Executive for a 20-minute one-to-one session. Rather than pitching to a general audience, filmmakers will have the opportunity to discuss their work directly with a professional working within the relevant area of the screen industries.

The 2026 line-up covers a particularly broad range of formats and genres. Participating organisations include Ridley Scott Associates (RSA Films) and BBC Film for narrative shorts, Film4 for narrative features, Channel 5, ITV, BBC Writers, Quay Street Productions and The Ink Factory for scripted television, as well as BFI Doc Society, Guardian Docs and Dartmouth Films for documentary projects.

The programme also extends beyond traditional film and television. BBC Comedy, Cinesite, Dog Ears Animation and Ubisoft Reflections are among the organisations participating, covering scripted comedy, immersive work, animation and games respectively. Goldfinch First Flights, Neal Street Productions, Out of Orbit and The Pitch Film Fund are also part of the programme, giving filmmakers a range of potential industry connections depending on the type of project they are developing.

Who can apply?

The opportunity is open to Unlimited Pass holders at Aesthetica Film Festival 2026. Filmmakers interested in taking part must hold an Unlimited Pass and submit an application for the pitching sessions.

It is important to consider which organisation is the best fit for your project before applying. The participating companies cover different areas of the industry — from narrative shorts and documentary to features, television, animation, games and immersive storytelling — so filmmakers should consider the format, genre and stage of development of their project when preparing their application.

How to apply

Applications for the 2026 Pitching and 1:1 Sessions are currently open, with a deadline of 30 September 2026.

To apply, filmmakers should first book an Unlimited Festival Pass for Aesthetica Film Festival and then complete the online application for the Pitching Sessions. Applications are being handled through the festival’s official pitching application process.

The festival takes place in York from 4–8 November 2026, meaning successful applicants will have the opportunity to combine their one-to-one meeting with the wider programme of screenings, industry events, masterclasses and networking taking place throughout the festival.

For filmmakers developing a new short, feature, documentary, television series, animation, immersive project or game, the sessions offer a direct way to introduce their work to professionals actively working across the UK screen industries.

Applications close on 30 September 2026.

Apply to Pitch Your Project at Aesthetica Film Festival 2026