By Nikita Chronis
Filmmaking is an art unlike any other, where directors craft stories using tools of colour, character, and creative collaboration.
Among our Greek Australian community, 2024 Aria award-winning filmmaker Nick Kozakis is carving out a reputation as an innovative and exciting voice in cinema – both at home and abroad. Recently, Nick reflected on his heritage, journey and ambitions.
“Growing up, I didn’t really lean into my Greek identity, not as much as my brothers at least,” he admits. “I was more Anglicised, and suffered from the odd pang of cultural cringe; but the festivals, dances, and mythology left a mark on my imagination.”
Classics like Aesop’s Fables and Disney’s animated Hercules (1997) sparked his early creativity, as well as fascination with his Hellenic heritage.
While initially focused on graphic design, Nick found his way to filmmaking through experimentation.
“I started with a camcorder, shooting pranks and stunts with friends, in a very Jackass-y way. It was raw but exciting – I could create whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It wasn’t like I needed a 9-5 job just to switch on the camera. The energy was electric,” he says.
Nick’s passion deepened when he entered Swinburne University of Technology, and meet fellow Greek Australian filmmaker Jason Raftopoulos, despite initially feeling out of place.
“The turning point for me was watching a screening of Jason’s short film Father’s Day, which he himself screened during an editing class. It was the proof of concept for his later feature film, West of Sunshine. I was shocked at how genuinely amazing it was,” Nick explains.
“I quickly connected with him, and soon after he borrowed my red camera for another film he was shooting. We developed our relationship from there.”
At university, Nick embraced risk-taking, learning through trial and error.
“I experimented a lot and failed a lot,” he shares. “But those failures taught me invaluable lessons. Playing it safe wouldn’t have gotten me anywhere.”
This willingness to push boundaries has become a cornerstone of his filmmaking philosophy.
“Look, at university, we were taught to be like Swiss army knives. We understood the relevance and importance of the rules of filmmaking. Yet, I believe that the more you master those rules, the more experimental you can afford to be. The crazier I was in my films at university, the harder I fell – but the more I learnt! I like stretching myself and falling over and over again,” he chuckles.
Nick cites David Fincher and Joseph Kahn as major influences.
“Their visual sensibility is genius,” he says. “They have inspired so many amazing filmmakers over the years. I mean, they built entire worlds in their movies within three minutes!”
Describing his approach to the craft and filmmaking style, Nick emphasises the importance of camera movement in creating a sense of urgency or stability.
“For me, the camera is a character. In our film Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism (2023, winner of the 2023 Sitges Film Festival and nominated for multiple AACTA awards), the camera is always slow and lurking whenever we have stability in the narrative. However, when anything chaotic or violent is taking place, the camera is handheld and frenetic. When the picture suddenly stops, it is like an indication for the audience to take a breath; as if some semblance of calm, just for that moment, has returned,” he explains.
Nick is passionate about delving deeper into his Greek heritage through film.
“Greek mythology is an endless well of inspiration,” he says, hinting at an upcoming project exploring these stories.
“Storytelling is deeply embedded in Hellenic culture, from ancient plays to modern cinema… I would love to rediscover and tap into my roots once again.”
Next year, the Greek Australian filmmaker is busy with numerous projects, including features such as Body Farm with Brianna Gardner and Muck Up Day with Jessica Lylie and Choosday Films. He’s also continuing collaborations with Sooshi Mango, blending humour and creativity in quirky ways.
“We just finished a parody of a cinema classic, and it’s been a blast. I’m keen for everyone to see it!” Nick concluded.
Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism can be watched on Binge, Foxtel and Shudder.
