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Student filmmakers embrace Autodesk Maya, AI to win big at VES for 'Silhouette'
Student filmmakers from ArtFX School of Digital Arts recently won the "Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project" award for their short film *Silhouette* at the 22nd annual Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards. The event, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, celebrated excellence in visual effects across film, television, and other media.
In *Silhouette*, the protagonist, Claire, is a young woman living alone in a futuristic city. As her loneliness deepens, she begins to fade away, disappearing into the rain-soaked streets. The film was created using Autodesk Maya for modeling, rigging, and animation, with the open-source mGear plug-in playing a key role in the rigging process. To simulate crowd scenes, the team used EbSynth, an AI-powered tool that transforms live-action footage by painting over a single frame.
This year’s student category, sponsored by Autodesk for the 16th consecutive year, featured several other impressive films. Among the nominees were *Au 8ème Jour*, *L’Animal Sauce Ail*, and *Loup y es-tu?*, all of which showcased remarkable creativity and technical skill.
The *Silhouette* team included students Alexis Lafuente, Antoni Nicolaï, Chloé Stricher, Elliot Dreuille, Baptiste Gueusquin, and Marc Forest. Their work not only highlighted their artistic talent but also demonstrated how powerful tools like Autodesk Maya can be used to bring unique storytelling to life.
Leona Frank, Autodesk’s director of Media & Entertainment marketing, praised the talent and innovation displayed by the student filmmakers. “It’s inspiring to see the depth of storytelling and visual effects coming from young artists,†she said. “Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to the VES for giving them a platform to shine.â€
Other nominated films also made use of Autodesk technology. *Au 8ème Jour* featured handcrafted sets and animals made from fabric, thread, and yarn, all modeled and animated in Maya, with Arnold for rendering. *L’Animal Sauce Ail* told a lighthearted yet meaningful story about environmental responsibility, while *Loup y es-tu?* combined handmade papier-mâché elements with digital lighting and shading techniques.
The VES Awards honored 25 categories, with nominees selected from 25 countries through a rigorous global judging process. The event highlighted the growing influence of student filmmakers and the importance of mentorship and access to industry-standard tools.
Autodesk continues to support education by offering free software such as Maya, 3ds Max, Flame, and Arnold, empowering students to develop the skills needed for future careers in design and visual effects. For more information on the VES Awards and this year’s winners, visit www.vesglobal.org.