Meet Mateo Nikolav | Writer/Director & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mateo Nikolav and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mateo, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always knew I wanted to be a filmmaker. I still remember going to the movies for the first time when I was three years old and returning home to rip my family’s VHS tapes to try and decipher what made movies so special.

Growing up in South America in the early 2000s, there wasn’t a big local film industry to support my aspirations, but once I started playing with cameras and editing software, I was immediately drawn to tell stories that brought people together.

Moving to the United States only reinforced this feeling, as I became enamored with the cultural richness America often neglects. As an artist, the endless possibilities and realities that this country represents speaks to me.

All to say I’ve pursued a career in filmmaking because cinema has the power to connect us to one another regardless of our background.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up in three different countries shaped my vision and drive as a director. The best part is I feel like I have many places to call home.

While it was difficult to leave my family and friends behind, moving abroad helped me embrace my queerness and my sensibilities as an artist. Each new city allowed me to explore and understand my identity without fear of the past holding me back. And being exposed to contrasting environments, cultural contexts and traditions from a young age taught me that there’s always more than one side to any story, and that each side is equally valid, complex, and unique. So I firmly believe that this is what I was born to share and celebrate in all of my work as an artist: our shared human experience.

Similarly, my time in Los Angeles has taught me how important it is to have a dream and believe in it. As artists, there’s often times when our finances or projects might not reflect our full potential, but there is an unspoken freedom about knowing your path– it helps you go on, no matter the circumstances. Getting here wasn’t easy, so I do feel as if the universe listened and allowed me to pursue my aspirations against all odds.

To that note, I’m beyond eager to introduce audiences to the films Mindo Laboratories has been working on! I’m currently developing a few projects with my collaborators… We have a docuseries about queer individuals that we’ve been shooting for three years, a coming-of-age film about a family that grapples with a circumstantial need to abandon their home, and a psychological drama about a seminary student who falls in love with another man.

I recently directed a commercial spot for Beats by Dre with NCAA legend Kiki Rice too. We had a great time on set.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love showing people around. Specially in a city with as many hidden gems as Los Angeles.

I’d start with a beach day– Breakfast at Cafe on 27, followed by El Matador beach for a couple hours and lunch at Broad Street Oyster Co. in Malibu. I’d then drive down to Santa Monica to see the pier followed by a walk by the Venice Canals before dinner at The Butcher’s Daughter in Abbot Kinney.

The next day, breakfast at Porto’s in Glendale, followed by a trip to DTLA to ride the Angels Flight, walk around the Blue Ribbon Garden, The Last Bookstore, grab lunch at Grand Central Market, explore Little Tokyo, the Arts District and Placita Olvera before making it back east for late dinner at Laurel Hardware… And if the energy is there, I’d suggest going to Davey Wayne’s for drinks and good vibes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m grateful for my family and the community I’ve found in Los Angeles.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my family’s kindness, unity, and humor. Growing up in a household that nurtured my creativity and sensibilities taught me everything I need to know about perseverance, discipline, and joy.

I’m also thankful for my mentors, teachers and industry friends, like Alexis Johnson, Julie Pizzi, Daphne Rozenblatt, Kate Vanoff, Bijon Imtiaz, Reed Van Dyk, Robert Max Leon, the Television Academy Foundation, Translation, and Apple– incredibly talented people who have believed in my voice as a storyteller and helped shape my creative journey.

Website: https://mindolabs.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mateonikolav

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/mateonikolav

Image Credits
Mateo Nikolav
Mindo Laboratories