We acknowledge Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF are based.
We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Problemista

Directed by Julio Torres
2023
USA
104 minutes
Unclassified 15+
Book Tickets
Buy a Flexipass now and save!
A queer, quirky farce written, directed by, and starring surrealist comedian Julio Torres as a man avoiding deportation by working for an eccentric art collector (a witty and wacky Tilda Swinton).

Torres (Los Espookys) plays himself as Alejandro, a zany, softly spoken Salvadoran chasing his lifelong dream of being a toy designer in the Big Apple. When he faces deportation after losing his job, he finds a new role as a PA to art-world doyenne and dragon lady Elizabeth (Swinton). Beside handling her unrelenting demands, Alejandro must also navigate the Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare that is the US immigration system before time runs out. Torres’ debut blends his trademark absurdist comedy with surreal visual flair and satirical commentary, with cameos from rapper RZA, Greta Lee (Past Lives, SFF 2023), and narration from the iconic Isabella Rossellini.

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

Flexipasses cannot be redeemed for Back By Popular Demand sessions
A uniquely funny, delightfully whimsical, and endlessly smart odyssey through art, connection, and perseverance
Lex Briscuso, Little White Lies
A comedic, surrealist fantasy that serves as an epic critique of capitalism
Valerie Complex, Deadline
A showcase for its Karen-on-steroids villain
David Fear, Rolling Stone

Tickets

Fri 7 Jun
6:30pm
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 5
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Mon 10 Jun
6:15pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Sat 15 Jun
8:30pm
Ritz Randwick - Cinema 1
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Mon 17 Jun
8:30pm
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
Assisted Listening
Wheelchair
Past Event Cancel
Program Strand
Features, Back By Popular Demand
Year
2023
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Country
USA
Language
In English
Premiere Status
Australian Premiere
Director
Julio Torres
Producer
Ali Herting, Julio Torres, Emma Stone, Dave McCary
Cast
Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA
Screenwriter
Julio Torres
Cinematographer
Fredrik Wenzel
Editor
Sara Shaw, Jacob Schulsinger
Premiere
Australian Premiere
Genre
Comedies, Off-Beat, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, LGBTQIA+ Films
Company Credits
Australian Distributor: Park Circus
Cart
Clear Cart

Your cart is empty.

View over 500 sessions to find the right films and events for you!

Browse In Cinema Program

Check out our list of films showing in your area

Browse Films

Donate Today
Help us bring you the best in cinema worldwide.
Booking Fee
$0
Subtotal
Total
Planner

Your planner helps you schedule your entire SFF experience. It shows sessions you've saved, purchased or added to your cart in a helpful timeline.

Sign in or register to save your planner!

Your planner is empty.

Use your planner to create your own unique SFF Experience

Browse Films & Events

Share
Your SFF
Let the world know what you'll be watching. Don't forget to tag @sydfilmfest!