We speak to MIFF’s film-analysis and education expert Dr Josh Nelson about his lifelong love of cinema and the importance of nurturing visual literacy skills in schools and classrooms.

In the third instalment of a series in which we shine a spotlight on Critics Campus’s illustrious alumni, we speak to Kristen S. Hé (2015 cohort), Keva York (2017 cohort) and Merryana Salem (2020 cohort) about where their professional paths have led since their participation in MIFF’s incubator program for emerging critics.

We speak to writer/director John Harvey, whose film Katele (Mudskipper) won the VicScreen Erwin Rado Award for Best Australian Short Film, about submitting to MIFF, being part of a community and how festivals can foster creativity.

We speak to MIFF’s new CEO, Damien Hodgkinson, about his love of film and his vision for Melbourne’s beloved celebration of cinema.

We speak to Award for Emerging Australian Filmmaker recipient Annelise Hickey about taking the leap and submitting her film to MIFF as well as her experiences and learnings from the festival.

Critics Campus participant Charles Carrall speaks to director Sue Brooks about the making of her 2003 feature Japanese Story, shooting the film in the Pilbara and Toni Collette wearing pants.

Critics Campus participant Eric Jiang speaks to writer/director Lila Avilés about her intuitive approach to casting and its central role in creating the immersive, deeply empathetic atmosphere of Tótem.

Critics Campus participant Erika Lay speaks to writer/director Gabriel Carrubba about his debut feature, a queer coming-of-age story set in a far-flung suburb of Melbourne.

Critics Campus participant Đăng Tùng Bạch speaks to director Anthony Chen about his latest feature, an exploration of the burning passion of youth in a cold climate.

Critics Campus participant Indigo Bailey speaks to actor turned writer/director Alice Englert about her retreat-set black comedy and how its complicated characters were shaped.