The road from conception to production to premiere can be long and winding for any film, let alone a regionally-filmed indie, and all the more so for one whose launch is muddled by something like a global pandemic that drastically disrupted theatrical releases. Such is the case for J. Rick Castañeda’s All Sorts, which was filmed in Central Washington way back in 2018. When it had its virtual premiere during SIFF 2021, it was a consensus favorite at the SunBreak.
Chris said:
What a weird and wonderful SIFF discovery. It’s like “Better Off Ted” meets Fight Club meets Being John Malkovich. Diego (Eli Vargas) gets a job at a data-focused business by his ability to type at a brisk 55 wpm. He has a desk calendar that makes no sense and it’s like a week before he gets his computer. He also crushes on his officemate June (Greena Park), who turns out to be a prodigy in the weirdly competitive high speed filing. The boss, Vasquez (Luis Deveze), made me laugh every time he was on screen. He was so wacky and off the wall, but I would hate to work with him. So far, he’s been my favorite comic relief at SIFF, and Lord knows I needed it.
— Some Short Reviews
Chase also loved it:
The best thing I have seen is All Sorts. Part The Science of Sleep and part Being John Malkovich, it is surreal and abused while also containing a sentimental core. It is a film about trying to find joy and escape in the mundane of our day to day lives, something that at this moment really resonated with me. It has an independent spirit and inventiveness that really captured so much of what I love about movies.
— SIFF 2021 Check In: How’s your fest going?
So, at long last, it’s great to hear that the movie’s getting an in-person premiere, complete with a red carpet and a panel with Castañeda and other members of the cast and crew to answer questions and talk with audiences about their experiences after the screening.
Tonight’s premiere is at 6:30 pm at the Egyptian; after that, the surreal comedy will head to SIFF Film Center for the weekend.