This November, Aesthetica will host one of the most significant screen industry gatherings of the year. As part of the 15th anniversary of the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival, the UK Film Production Summit will take place at The Grand, York on 6 November 2025, bringing together more than 100 of the UK’s leading production companies, development executives and commissioners under one roof.
The scale is unprecedented. The intent is clear. Aesthetica becomes the beating heart of British film and television, as the country’s most influential decision-makers converge to debate, define and decide the future of screen content.
At the centre of the Summit is a landmark keynote session, The Future of Production: Scripted, Unscripted, Film, TV & Streaming, chaired by Ridley Scott Associates. Against a backdrop of rapid technological change, globalised distribution, and shifting audience behaviours, this discussion addresses how UK companies can remain competitive while continuing to champion distinctive, original voices. Panellists also include the New York Times, Paramount and Channel 5 amongst others.
Mark Herbert, CEO of Warp Films, headlines the Summit. One of the UK’s most important independent producers, Herbert’s credits include This Is England, Four Lions, Submarine, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. In 2025, Warp’s Adolescence took home top honours at the Edinburgh TV Festival, reaffirming the company’s reputation for bold, uncompromising storytelling. His appearance in York signals the weight of the conversations taking place.
Mark Herbert, CEO of Warp Films, says: “I’m delighted to be part of this year’s Aesthetica Film Festival and to lead one of the headline sessions reflecting on Warp’s journey. It’s a fantastic opportunity to come together with peers from across the industry to reflect on where we are, share ideas, and engage in important conversations about the future of storytelling.”
The guest list reads like a roll call of the British screen industry’s biggest players, with representatives from BBC Films, Film4, Working Title, Paramount, Clerkenwell (Baby Reindeer), Warp Films, Netflix, and Amazon Studios all expected to attend. The Summit’s sessions will tackle urgent questions:
- How will AI and virtual production transform the industry?
- What does the rise of streamers mean for UK broadcasters and independents?
- How can British producers balance commercial pressures with creative risk-taking?
- Where will the money come from?
These are not abstract questions. They determine whether the next generation of British talent can thrive, whether the UK retains its reputation as a storytelling powerhouse, and whether audiences continue to see fresh, bold work on screen.
Cherie Federico, Festival Director, says:
“The UK Film Production Summit is about scale, ambition and intent. Bringing together 150 companies in one space is unprecedented. This isn’t just another industry event – it’s where the future of UK production is being defined. York has the privilege of hosting, but the significance is national. The conversations will shape what gets made, how it gets made, and where British storytelling goes next.”
The choice of York is also telling. Once considered peripheral to the industry’s traditional hubs, the city has positioned itself as a centre for creativity and innovation, with Aesthetica acting as a catalyst. By hosting an event of this scale and seriousness, York reinforces its role as a meeting point for the future of British creative industries.
For five days in November, all roads lead to York. When the doors close, the conversations begun here will ripple outward across the UK’s film, television, and streaming landscape for years to come.
Aesthetica Film Festival runs from 5-9 November. Tickets and programme www.asff.o.uk
