‘Problemista’ Trailer: Tilda Swinton Joins Julio Torres In A Funny, Surreal Twist On The American Dream

You may not yet know filmmaker, writer/director, and actor Julio Torres, but you should, given the fact that A24 and Tilda Swinton co-signed on him seemingly immediately for his feature-length debut. Torres is best known as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and as the co-creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO series “Los Espookys.” While the latter HBO comedy was short-lived, those who saw it clearly loved it. Torres quickly turned around his debut, “Problemista,” which debuted to rave reviews at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year (our review here).

READ MORE: ‘Problemista’ Review: Julio Torres Debuts With A Charming Immigration Fairy Tale [SXSW]

Somewhat autobiographical in nature, at least as a starting point, Torres stars as an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in NY (which somewhat mirrors the Salvadorian comedian/filmmaker’s life story). As time runs out on his work visa, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country.

In our SX review, writer Matthew Monagle wrote, in “‘Problemista,’ writer-director Julio Torres adopts the structure of fairy tales to tell a warm, funny, and thoughtful narrative of the immigrant experience in America.”

The film stars Julio Torres himself, Tilda Swinton as the art-world outcast, plus RZA, Catalina Saavedra, Larry Owens, Greta Lee, and Isabella Rossellini.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream. From writer/director, Julio Torres comes a surreal adventure through the equally treacherous worlds of New York City and the U.S. Immigration system.

Producers on the film include Torres, Dave McCary, Ali Herting, and Emma Stone, clearly another admirer and fan.A24 will release the film on August 4, 2023, in limited release. Watch the first trailer below.