Nicole Cadelina

Nicole Cadelina is a writer and artist based in Western Sydney (Dharug). With works featured in The Western, Tharunka, PULP, and Framework, Nicole’s creative portfolio spans feature articles, podcasts, reviews, performance, and essays. Her editorial work covers interviews with emerging and established figures in art and media, including Culture Shock founder Jayslayyys, Here Out West co-writer Claire Cao, and ACMI CEO/Director Sebastian Chan. Nicole has also published poetry in UNSWeetened Literary Journal in 2022, where she received the Runner-Up Prize in Poetry.

Nicole was a recipient of the Varuna WestWords Fellowship and Blacktown Arts Residency. She is currently in pre-production for her debut short film Santa Niña, which was developed as part of Curiousworks’ Testing Grounds mentorship program. Nicole’s favourite genre of film is SBS World Movies after 9pm.

Instagram: @ni.muy

Location: Western Sydney (Darug)

Movie location I call home: The Victory Column in Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire. Angels make my <3 sing.

What was the film or experience that made you want to write about the screen?
Lav Diaz’s Norte, the End of History. Diaz’s film has taught me that the Philippines has a devoutly rich film culture, and gave me a reason to take a deep dive into our national cinema. It’s because of his work that I was motivated to write about Philippine cinema for my Film Studies Honours thesis.

Why do you think film criticism matters in 2024?
I believe it’s necessary for everyone to receive all kinds of provocations about art, even if we don’t always agree with them. However, I also believe that criticism shouldn’t be an excuse to lambast a work without reason – rather, it should be a platform for activating compassion between the critic and their readers. It is a critic’s duty to strike a fine balance between commentary and compassion, by encouraging readers to understand new, critical perspectives; or, at best, express humility towards filmgoers who may connect deeply with a film.

Who is a critic that inspires you?
Harry Windsor, a fellow Critics Campus recipient-turned-mentor – but I think I say this out of recency bias. I just wrapped up my time at Sydney Film Festival and spent the last four months working with him 24/7. So, thanks to him, he’s completely cooked up my brain. In seriousness though, Harry has inspired me directly during our time at SFF. He is ridiculously seasoned in his work. I’m in awe of his experiences, his portfolio, and even our discussions about film – in fact, he’s everything I’d aspire to be within the big, scary ecosystem of the film industry. I owe a lot to him, and if it weren’t for his encouragement and motivation, I wouldn’t be here at Critics Campus!

In five words, the future of cinema is: SBS World Movies after 9pm.

What’s your favourite film that you’ve seen this year?
Việt and Nam by Trương Minh Quý. It’s a painterly work of art, deeply associative and ripe with a tropical Southeast Asian gothic. The heart of this film is built upon mythmaking, sutured together with both personal and national memories – and there’s an approach to temporality that is sensual, affecting, and dreamy. To see it at SFF and completely sublimate myself in rich 16mm film was unforgettable.

My MIFF 2024 theme music is:
Vulfmon, Antwaun Stanley & Jacob Jeffries, ‘It Feels Good To Write A Song’