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 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 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.

Critics Campus participant Kevin Bui speaks to director Robert Connolly about his newly remastered debut feature, 2001 Australian economic thriller The Bank.

Critics Campus participant Lauren Collee speaks to critic and The Sweet East screenwriter Nick Pinkerton about the film’s artistic priorities, literary inspirations and enigmatic protagonist.