The “Best in Show” cast is getting back together for a bittersweet milestone that has fans across the internet reaching for the tissues.
American Cinematheque’s This Is Not a Fiction festival is officially kicking off this week in Los Angeles, and while the lineup is packed with heavy hitters, one specific event has sparked a massive viral buzz on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
In what is being called a “remarkable night” for comedy history, the festival will host a special screening of the hilarious dog-show mockumentary Best in Show. Following the film, Eugene Levy will take the stage for a deeply personal conversation to honor his late friend and legendary co-star, Catherine O’Hara.
The duo, who captured hearts globally as Johnny and Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, shared a decades-long creative partnership that started long before their Emmy-winning run. For fans, seeing Levy celebrate O’Hara’s legacy in the context of their classic collaborations is a “full-circle moment” that many are calling “pure magic.”
But the tears aren’t the only thing flowing—the festival is also bringing the laughs.
Speaking on the Doc Talk podcast, festival programmer Cindy Flores revealed that this year’s slate is leaning hard into the “mockumentary” craze that has taken social media by storm.
Millennials are already flocking to grab tickets for the th-anniversary screening of the cult classic Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, with co-star and director Akiva Schaffer set to appear.
And for the stunt-lovers? Get ready for some chaos. The festival is celebrating years of Jackass Number Two, with legends Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville booked to appear in person to discuss the film that defined a generation of “don’t try this at home” moments.
“This Is Not a Fiction balances a lineup of premieres and new films with retrospectives and restorations of classic documentaries,” Flores explained.
The festival, running April -, isn’t just about the laughs, though. It’s also honoring the serious side of cinema. The legendary Barbara Kopple will be on hand for the th anniversary of Harlan County, USA, and fans of prestige film are buzzing about a complete retrospective of Oscar nominee Gianfranco Rosi’s work.
The event even plans to honor the late Frederick Wiseman with a screening of his groundbreaking debut, Titicut Follies.
The Doc Talk podcast, hosted by Oscar winner John Ridley and Deadline’s Matt Carey, noted that the festival’s bold approach is exactly why it has become a celebrity magnet. In the past, the event has seen the likes of Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Conan O’Brien rubbing elbows with documentary luminaries.
Whether you’re there for the high-brow restorations or the high-octane energy of Johnny Knoxville, one thing is for sure: the tribute to Catherine O’Hara is going to be the moment everyone is talking about on Instagram the next morning.
The This Is Not a Fiction festival runs through April at various American Cinematheque locations in Los Angeles.
