Micro Short
Alone
Directed by 
Lyndon Cantwell, 
Nisha Selvaraj
AFIN 2026 Nominee · 2 nominations
- 2026
- 10m
-
Australia - English
- M
- Drama
- Thriller
Stills
10 frames Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
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Credits
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Chief Electrician
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Synopsis
A young widow seeking solace is lured into a dinner gathering by a charismatic man from her grief support group, only to discover that the empty guest list and eerie noises hide a sinister trap.
On the nomination
We're incredibly grateful to have our film nominated by the AFIN International Film Festival. It's especially meaningful to receive this recognition from festival organisers who are filmmakers themselves and understand the care, collaboration, and persistence that go into bringing a story to the screen. Thank you for including our film alongside so many inspiring works - we're honoured to be part of the festival.
Director's Statement
The experience and expression of loneliness varies from person to person. Grief, and the ‘why am I here when they are not’ guilt following the death of a loved one is arguably the most extreme form of this. ALONE explores the depths of which this emptiness can take us, and how far we might go to overcome it. Maya finds herself alone in a new environment, barely understood, away from family, and without a sense of security. She goes out of her way in search of support, and inadvertently steps into a spider’s web. The intention with ALONE is to highlight the fact that grief and loneliness can be all-consuming and blinding. The audience sees the story play out and will objectively know that our protagonist should not accept the invitation she receives but the hope is that she is not judged for her decision.
What makes this one special
- World PremiereThe filmmaker tells us this is where it happens
- Nominated in 2 AFIN categoriesBest Australian Short Film · Best Australian Lead Performance
- A first-time filmmaker
Directors' Biography
Lyndon Cantwell Nisha Selvaraj Directors
Nisha Selvaraj and Lyndon Cantwell are Melbourne-based actors and first-time co-directors who bring a strong performance background and deep storytelling instincts to their filmmaking. Both are graduates of the Howard Fine Acting Studio and share a passion for creating emotionally resonant, character-driven stories. Nisha Selvaraj grew up in Malaysia and moved to New Zealand at the age of seventeen. She completed a Masters of Science in Psychology and moved to Melbourne in 2023 to pursue her interest in acting. Her acting credits include Walking Shadows Vol.3 and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and she continues to train extensively in voice, improvisation, and movement techniques. Nisha’s cultural fluency and artistic discipline shape her approach to directing with nuance and sensitivity with the aim of furthering South East Asian representation in Australian arts and media. Lyndon, who grew up in Queensland and studied in Melbourne, blends technical precision with creative instinct. Alongside his degrees in aerospace engineering and accounting, he has built a diverse screen and stage career, appearing in Superwog, The Blythe Star, and the award-winning Walking Shadows. His directorial vision is influenced by a lifelong love of film, music, and storytelling. Together, Nisha and Lyndon aim to create compelling, character-driven films that reflect the complexity of the human experience with honesty, heart, and cinematic integrity. “Alone” is their directorial debut.
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Alone was an official Nominee for Best Australian Short Film and Best Australian Lead Performance at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.
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