Watch: Behind the Scenes of Oscar-Qualified Short ‘Shimmer’ (Exclusive)

In a fantastical world where strange lights hang in the sky, a father’s mission to reach them strains his relationship with his children. This is the imaginative fable unfolding in Shimmer (Fulgores), an Oscar-qualified 3D CG animated short created at the Escena Animation Studio — a talent and production skills incubator run by the Escena School of Animation & Creative Arts in Mexico City.

Written, directed and produced by studio director Andrés Palma, the film has been honored with the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences’ coveted Ariel Award for Best Animated Short. Shimmer has also been recognized by international festivals such as Animaze, Ignite, Mirada Corta, FilmQuest and Shorts Mexico, as well as screening as an official selection of Pixelatl, Spark, Chilemonos, Animation Dingle and more. Now, the film team is ready to vie for Oscar glory.

In a behind-the-scenes featurette shared with Animation Magazine, the team describes the four-year creative, technical and educative process of crafting Shimmer, which was fully realized using Unreal Engine 5. In the video, we hear from team members including Palma, Joselo Dorantes (production coordinator), Digital Animation BA students Braulio Martínez and André Castañón, and Pablo Cárdenas (lighting supervisor). Palma also reveals the personal inspirations behind the short’s story, and hints at other short and game projects in the works at Escena. The rendering power and creative possibilities of UE5 are highlighted as a key factor in achieving the award-winning result.

Synopsis: Cast away on a desolate beach littered by long forgotten shipwrecks, Ricardo desperately seeks to draw the attention of shimmering lights blazing in the sky behind the thick cover of clouds.

Every day moves him closer to finishing the construction of a monumental lighthouse that could hold the key to their rescue, but he’s grown blind to the deepening mistrust his neglect has fostered in his eldest daughter, whose own plans will force her father to choose between his dreams and his children.

Originally trained as a classical artist, Andrés Palma has been working in the Mexican film, animation and visual effects industries for nearly two decades, serving as a VFX supervisor, producer and director. He was a strategic partner with Technicolor for the first branch of MPC in Latin America. In 2018 he took over the direction of Escena Animation Studio, and makes his directorial debut with Shimmer.

A For Your Consideration screening and panel event with Palma and executive producer Jorge R Gutiérrez will be held for Academy voters, industry professionals and the public at the Lumiere Theatre in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, November 19.

For more information and to watch the official trailer, visit shimmershort.com.