Micro Short
Dilemma
Directed by 
Nick Kozakis
AFIN 2026 Nominee · 2 nominations
- 2026
- 6m
-
Australia - English
- M
- Dark Comedy
Stills
9 frames 
Still in the running. Winner announced at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.
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Credits
Written by
Produced by
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Cinematography
Synopsis
A mysterious Stranger offers a grief-stricken father a supernatural bargain: resurrect his murdered daughter by killing her killer. But when the Stranger’s deal transports him into the past and presents the killer as a sleeping child, the moral dilemma takes an absurd turn. As the father’s shockingly pragmatic solution upends the Stranger’s plans, a cycle of vengeance is set in motion that spins out of control, the story slyly poking fun at the very idea of “impossible choices,” blending dark suspense with a devilish sense of humour.
Director's Statement
I’ve always been a deep thinker. Probably to my own detriment. My brain loves throwing moral dilemmas at me, the kind of “what would you do?” questions that sound straightforward until you actually sit with them and realise there’s no good answer. When I read Dilemma, that’s exactly what hooked me. I was also really keen to finally work with Duncan Samarasinghe. I’ve wanted to collaborate with him for a long time, and this felt like the perfect opportunity. The script had a sharp idea at its core and a tone that allowed us to play in a space I don’t always get to explore. What really excited me was the chance to start the film with genuine tension and stress, almost like you’re settling in for something heavy and serious, and then suddenly get slapped in the face with a huge comedic hit. The Stranger believes she is presenting an impossible moral test, this perfectly constructed philosophical trap, but humans are messy. Grief is messy. And that is where the whole thing derails. Doing something comedic was really enticing, but it was important that the humour didn’t undercut the emotion. The comedy comes from behaviour and logic rather than jokes, from watching a very neat moral idea fall apart in the face of raw human instinct. That balance between dread, absurdity and dark humour is where the film really lives for me. Dilemma isn’t trying to give answers or tell people how to feel. It’s more of a playful prod at the idea that morals are clean and consistent, when they’re actually messy and personal. If the film builds tension, makes you uncomfortable, and then catches you off guard with a laugh, then we’ve done our job.
What makes this one special
- Nick Kozakis has been here beforeAlso in the 2025 programme
- Nominated in 2 AFIN categoriesBest Australian Micro Short Film · Best Australian Lead Performance
Director's Biography
Nick Kozakis Director
Nick Kozakis, director and editor at Visible Studios, is an award-winning director with 4 ARIA nominations and 1 ARIA win, as well as an ADG nomination, known for helming projects with some of Australia’s most talented creatives. Nick has most recently completed production on his next feature film, “Kick On,” an action-horror currently in post-production. Nick directed his feature film, “Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism,” which was acquired for North American distribution by XYZ Films, with Coven as the global sales agent for the rest of the 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. Godless has also been nominated for 3 x AACTA awards. Nick’s portfolio includes many notable music videos (such as ‘Dance Monkey’ for “Tones And I” which has over 2 billion YouTube views). With a knack for building tension and suspense, Nick has quickly become one of the most exciting and promising emerging talents in the film industry.
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Dilemma was an official Nominee for Best Australian Micro 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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