FLITE
2023 · 15m · UK
Directed by Tim Webber
In London 2053, Stevie, the reigning world hoverboard champion, is imprisoned in a luxury high-rise by her controlling manager, and must engineer a daring escape — riding for her life through a dystopian city while a mysterious sci-fi concept called 'memory visualisation' blurs the line between past and present.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
Oscar VFX guy makes a hyper-realistic Unreal Engine hoverboard sci-fi — this is a tech demo wearing a script. Pretty pixels, hollow center.
Tim Webber, the Gravity VFX supervisor, makes his directorial debut on a hoverboard-escape Unreal Engine showcase — the technical achievement is undeniable but the story sounds like a tech demo wearing narrative clothing. Impressive, hollow.
Fifteen minutes hybridizing Unreal Engine CGI, motion capture, and LED volume filmmaking, directed by Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Tim Webber as his feature debut proof-of-concept — 488K views and Short of the Week selection confirm the realism actually works. The craft IS the pitch deck.
Reviews
Each of the film's elements entice — a thought-provoking sci-fi premise complemented by the sheer kinetic thrill of hoverboarding. One of the most technically impressive sci-fi shorts of recent memory.
A remarkable proof-of-concept short film to show the incredible potential of the Unreal Engine.
Festivals
- HollyShorts Film Festival 2023, Best Genre
- Ignite Film Festival 2023, Best Score, Best Post-Production
- North East International Film Festival 2023, Best Director Short Film