Short Film AFIN 270
ALL ABOUT VALERIE
Directed by 
Nick Kozakis
AFIN 2025 Nominee
- 2025
- 18m
-
Australia - English
- MA15+
- Thriller
- Horror
Stills
3 frames
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Credits
Produced by
Starring
Synopsis
Valerie Broom is a celebrated musical theatre superstar but her career feels like it's slipping out of her fingers as motherhood takes priority and her much younger understudy vies to take her place on stage. Although she has a wonderful family and the support of her novelist husband, she's not willing to sacrifice her career.
To take the pressure off and support them as full time working parents, the Broom's hire a live-in nanny, Grace. She is the epitome of an ingenue but Valerie quickly realises that Grace isn't what she seems and begins to resent her presence when their family dynamics shift and she loses grip on reality.
Director's Statement
Crafting this film was one hell of a ride! It's like mixing a cocktail of passion, obsession, horror, and my love for tap dance and musical theatre…what a weird mix. I wanted to invite audiences into a world that's both familiar and mind-bendingly unique, like taking a wild trip down a rabbit hole you never wanna leave. I’m a big genre fan but the theme of obsession is where the real deal is. Diving into the crazy lengths people will go to…that’s something I had to explore. This film, it pushed me to new limits. Directing, choreographing with dance and stunt pros, getting that special effects magic, and even handling a baby on set! It was a wild, insane rollercoaster! 'All About Valerie,' it's not just a short, it's a journey. It challenges you to question trust, takes you into the deep, murky waters where paranoia collides with reality, and explores the depths we are willing to go to achieve our dreams.
What makes this one special
From the Judges
From the Judges
The camerawork drew genuine admiration, and the sustained use of red running through the frame gives this short a charged, unified look. There is real craft in the way the editing moves between the tap dancing routines and reality, and in a sound design layered with small, precise touches inside those routines. The panel found the black comedy tone held steady throughout, carried by writing that lets the plot come together with confidence.
Director's Biography
Nick Kozakis Director
Nick Kozakis, director and editor at Visible Studios, is a 3x ARIA nominated and ADG nominated director, helming projects with some of Australia's most talented creatives. Nick most recently has directed his second feature film, “Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism,” which has been acquired for North American distribution by XYZ Films, with Coven as the global sales agent for rest of world. Godless has played at many prestigious festivals, including but not limited to MIFF and Sitges where it won the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for best film. It had its world premiere at Overlook Film Festival in March 2023 and is now a Tubi Original. Nick has directed three proof of concepts; Hunter, Interface, and Help. Hunter was well-received in the festival circuit, also screening at Cannes Film Festival in 2016. Nick's portfolio includes many notable music videos (such as Dance Monkey for Tones And I which has over 2 billion YouTube views) and commercials across a vast array of genres and media platforms.
Trailer
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ALL ABOUT VALERIE was an official Nominee for Best Australian Short Film at the AFIN International Film Festival 2025, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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