Film Fest

Film Fest is a 90s throwback film about a guy who makes a 90s throwback film in 2020, only to discover that no one cares...except in the out-of-touch land of The Hollywilde International Film Festival of Cinema, where a flamboyant, washed-up filmmaker turned festival director provides a welcoming platform for all manner of Sundance rejects and experimental auteurs.

The movie gives a mockingly accurate breakdown of the current state of the indie film industry and makes fun of everyone in it. Filmmakers and those who aspire to be filmmakers, along with their loved ones, should see it for that reason. It also artfully weaves in various elements of the 90s coming of age movies, complete with a dose of Rachael Leigh Cook, who plays herself in the film.

Matt Cook (CBS's Man With A Plan) plays the hero of the story...well, he thinks he's the hero... insecure everyman, artist, Logan. Spoiler Alert: The adorable Diona Reasonover (NCIS) plays Alex, the actual hero - I think. There's some debate, as the characters have a habit of discussing their own situation in terms of plot and story elements and they disagree on this point.

Will Sasso (Mad TV, The Three Stooges, etc.) brilliantly plays the benevolent legend (in his own mind), Montgomery Nash.

Fans of The Groundlings Comedy Troupe will notice that the film is loaded with its players, in addition to Matt Cook, most notably Laird MacIntosh (Saving Private Ryan) and Allison Dunbar (Startup) in supporting roles, and some hilarious show stealing moments by Patty Guggenheim, Greg Worswick and Michael Croner.

Jason Genao (On My Block, The Get Down, etc.) plays a pre-pubescent disruptor who is wonderfully pitted against MacIntosh's veteran cinematographer in a nerd clash for the ages.

Brendan Schaub, MMA fighter turned comic and podcaster, plays the perfect parody of a movie bully, who, in one of the film's more meta moments, is made fun of for being too "on the nose" to be a movie bully.

Ellen Wong (GLOW, Scott Pilgrim, etc.) turns in a terrific performance as Logan's longsuffering - but not quite infinitely longsuffering - girlfriend. CJ Vana plays a lowly Production Assistant, Kyle the P.A. (so lowly he doesn't get a last name) who comes of age in pure 90s fashion as the story unfolds.

Anyone who works in the film industry, anyone who's ever made a film or knows an aspiring filmmaker, or who's ever been to a film festival will recognize the characters in this film. Those depictions are spot on. But movie lovers of all stripes will enjoy Film Fest and its simple message: be the hero of your own story.

As others have noted, the low rating seems way out of place here. This is an enjoyable little film with some excellent performances. It's not side-splitting, but it has some chuckles as well as some captivating drama. And Will Sasso steels the show with his performance. One of the better movies I've come across on the streaming platforms recently.

What a great watch! Simple, fun, great likeable characters, no slapstick humour but real life laughs! Congratulations on a true film.

It's kind of fun, but not profound. The movie has some pretty fun performers, while some of the cast are less exciting. Allison Dunbar, Brendan Schaub, Dana Powell, Ellen Wong, Joe Raffa, Patty Guggenheim, Rachael Leigh Cook, Sara Rue, Shannon Dang, and Will Sasso are all great in this movie! The rest of the cast are a little tedious to watch. Much like How I Met Your Mother, the main actor is just unbearable. If they could have had anyone else in that lead role, the movie would have been better.

The story is fun, and definitely worth watching - especially for industry insiders, which I am not. I do run my own business, and I spent a lot of my career working with startup companies. The main character's cynical attitude was annoying; being positive is necessary for success. Some startup companies fail because they want to be billionaires overnight, and they think the small gig is beneath them. A small festival, a small award, a tiny bit of exposure - these are all valuable. The next project isn't a chore; it's the reason we came here.

I don't get the low score, this was a good little film. Similar in spirit to Best of Show in providing an inside look at the self-absorbed world of indie filmmakers.