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.
