Running at just under four minutes, this short sees an executive trapped in the corporate world of grey suits, firmly-closed CEO doors and spiky cacti in the unwelcoming world of LDM Corporation. Trapped in it, the office worker reluctantly refuses a promotion, telling his CEO it's because of an "affliction" he suffers from.

There are tiny giveaway touches in the décor such as the mirror in the CEO's room, allowing him not only to see his employee behind him in the reflection of his huge windows overlooking the city, which is one of the reasons he doesn't turn around, but another reason for his reaction to the executive's refusal.

Composer Elena Theodorou does an excellent job of building tension in this succinct short, as the audience realises exactly why the exec wants to turn the promotion down, and then finally why his CEO agrees to it.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A promising employee tries to refuse a promotion.

Jonathon De Vere in I Am Afflicted (2021)

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Richard Bobb-Semple in Decisions in the Deep (2025)

I Am Afflicted

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