Julio Torres

Julio Torres is a Salvadoran writer, comedian, actor, and director known for his unique approach to contemporary comedy. After relocating to New York, Torres began performing stand-up across the city, gaining recognition for his offbeat, stream-of-consciousness style. His experiences navigating the U.S. immigration system on a student visa later informed his feature film work, often exploring themes of identity and belonging. Critics frequently describe his comedy as otherworldly and surrealist, blending fantastical elements with a subtle sense of melancholy.

Torres contributed as a writer to The Chris Gethard Show before joining the writing staff of Saturday Night Live, where he created sketches such as "Papyrus" and "Wells for Boys." His work included inner monologues for Cecily Strong's Melania Trump impression and a sketch featuring Ryan Gosling focused on the font used in the title of James Cameron's "Avatar." Torres received multiple Emmy nominations as part of the Saturday Night Live writing team. He later collaborated with Gosling on a sequel to "Papyrus," which was released online.

After pitching a Spanish-language comedy to HBO, Torres co-created "Los Espookys" with Fred Armisen and Ana Fabrega. The series, set in an unnamed Latin American country, follows friends who orchestrate fake supernatural events for clients. "Los Espookys" received a Peabody Award in Entertainment, a GLAAD Award, and a Dorian Award, and was recognized by the New York Times as one of the best TV shows of the year.

Torres' comedy special "My Favorite Shapes" premiered on HBO, directed by Dave McCary and produced by Fred Armisen and Lorne Michaels. He went on to write, direct, and star in the HBO series "Fantasmas." Both "Los Espookys" and "Fantasmas" earned Peabody Awards. Torres' first feature film, "Problemista," was released by A24 and stars Torres as Alejandro, a Salvadoran creative navigating life in New York City, alongside Tilda Swinton. He is also the author of the picture book "I Want to Be a Vase," illustrated by Julian Glander and inspired by his stand-up work.

Torres was named to TIME Magazine's TIME100 Next list in the artists category and received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Vision, presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and featured on PBS. The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics honored Torres with the Wilde Wit award, recognizing his contributions to comedy and LGBTQ representation. His comedy special "Color Theories" was released on HBO. Through work spanning television, film, stand-up, and literature, Torres continues to influence the comedy industry with his surrealist sensibility and exploration of immigrant and LGBTQ experiences.