Christy Collins

Age: 37

Twitter handle: @_ChristyCollins

City I call home: Melbourne

Genre/style/region of cinema I am most passionate about: I love realist narrative films and comedies that focus on human relationships. I have a special interest in Dutch and Flemish films.

A film that changed me/my mind: After seeing Emilio Estevez’s The Way, my husband and I went to Spain to walk the 800km Camino de Santiago. It’s the only film to ever cause me to lose two toenails.

MIFF 2015 film I’m most looking forward to: I’m a reader, a fiction writer, and a Jason Segel fan, so I’m very much looking forward to The End of the Tour about David Foster Wallace.

I’m looking forward to Critics Campus because: I’m looking forward to building my skills and learning from industry experts, and to having a great excuse to see lots of films.

Cinema excites me because: Good films help us understand each other and ourselves. Especially with international film festivals - when we have access to so many voices and visions from across the world - this is an incredibly powerful and important thing.

Favourite Critic and why: Dana Stevens for her unflinchingly personal approach to film: emotionally, morally and aesthetically. She is also funny and smart. I don’t always agree with her assessment but her delivery – sometimes verging on the personal essay – keeps her work fresh and authentic.

A publication I’d one day like to write for: The Saturday Age – the idea of my work being stumbled upon by an old classmate, or read over a leisurely brunch and very good coffee, would be a particular thrill.

What listicle about MIFF would be most likely to go viral: First date films to make you look smart (but that you won’t fall asleep in).