“It’s inspiring to see from the next generation of filmmakers.”

After a freak accident in space, a mechanic crash lands on a barren ice planet unaware his ordeal is only just beginning.

Before we start, we’d like to remind you that Beacon is a student film. This is not to prepare you for any lack of vision or production quality, but because it will prove that age has nothing to do with creating a superb film. It’s inspiring to see from the next generation of filmmakers.

Beacon is a stunningly beautiful film with incredible art direction and pushes itself with every scene. The story is simple yet engaging, allowing for plenty of breathtaking locations which feel big and cinematic. This is a short film intended to be watched on the big screen. It’s also great to see the use of 2D animation for the main character as it gives the film a stand out look not seen in many animations.

Director Andrew Stadler has a clear vision for this film which is inspiring. It takes on many influences of Sci-Fi horror films but creates it’s own distinct identity. Stadler also handles a lot of the animation himself with the rest of the team which given the result of the film, all seemed to be working together like a well oiled machine.

The use of concept design and animation, particularly for the backgrounds is exceptional. The story certainly allowed for a lot of creativity for the animators and is exciting to watch. Every shot is an art piece worth hanging on your wall, something you only find in animations of this calibre. The animation flows seamlessly and doesn’t feel awkward. The film looks high budget and is a testament to the entire team that worked on it.

The sound and score by Chad Gutierrez is exceptional, being the perfect backdrop to the cinematic visuals and actioned packed scenes. Everything about this film works and works well.

We can’t praise this film enough and hope the team continue to produce more films for everyone to see. If you enjoy animation, Sci-Fi and gorgeous concept art, we encourage to see this film by any means possible. It’s a solid 5 out of 5 stars from us…

— APEX Film Awards