USA Stills
2 frames
Winner
Best Visual Effects
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Credits
Produced by
Starring
Synopsis
Teenage scavengers, Queen and her older brother, Birdie, are on their usual hustle of hunting down cargo drones. However, unbeknownst to Birdie, Queen has navigated the pair onto new paths, with the hopes of landing the ultimate payload, Nano-biotics. Queen’s plans go awry when her home-made honing device accidentally sounds, attracting unwanted attention. The siblings narrowly escape capture but, during the chaos, Birdie is shot in the stomach. With Birdie unconscious and consumed by a high fever, Queen must now attempt to hunt these very Nano-biotics on her own, if she’s to save her brother’s life.
A Note from the Filmmakers
IKARUS is a short film about extraordinary times, made during extraordinary times. It's a glimpse into a feature project about the "have nots" and their struggle against the inevitable tide of progress. It's a realization and a confrontation of my greatest fears- the future of humanity and our planet. The shoot was cut short due to covid- but the team still persevered- as will humanity.
From the Judges
From the Judges
A dystopian science fiction story told with the scope of something much larger, this short holds attention from its opening moments through to its close. Its cinematography and assured direction drew real admiration, and the set design and locations, the aircraft included, give the world a tangible weight that carries the premise. It left the panel wanting to see where the story goes next, and on a bigger screen.
Director's Biography
Shaun Escayg is a Trinidadian/American Writer and Director with an extensive background in visual effects and animation in film, music videos and video games. Escayg is best known for his work on films such as Transformers- Dark of the Moon, Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Short films such as Fish and Noka- Keeper of worlds. Music videos such as Ghetto Boy and Rockstone by Stephen Marley, and video games such as, The last of us, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Marvel’s Avengers.
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Ikarus was Winner of Best Visual Effects at the AFIN International Film Festival 2021, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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