Wilson

After crash-landing on an uncharted planet, a space marine named Wilson creates a quiet life with an unlikely companion - a native creature who becomes his closest friend. But when Wilson falls terminally ill, he must make an impossible decision: return to Earth for a cure and abandon the only friend he has left, or stay and face the end on the world that became his home.  This, for me, certainly has echoes of Avatar, but is sufficiently different for it to build its own world - and it isn't short of the usual sci-fi tropes either. Yet it all comes together in a refreshingly novel way and is very much set in its own universe.

Here's the surprise - this film was made by students on a very limited budget.  Quite incredible.  Hats off to directors Célia Safti, Emile Menard, Laura Martinelli, Lise Lett, Mallaury Labourse, Noah Ross, Romane La Rosa, and Vincent Gleizes for this beautifully crafted short film. Created at ESMA – École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques, the piece features original music by Inès Hadjla, with sound design by Guilhem Favard, Tristan Le Bozec, José Vicente, and Yoann Poncet. The voice work comes from Emile Menard, completing a talented team whose work blends artistry, emotion, and technical finesse.

Watch Wilson below: