Doc Talk Podcast: Cindy Flores Shares Insights on Programming Documentaries and Mockumentaries
The American Cinematheque’s This Is Not a Fiction festival is set to begin this week in Los Angeles, marking its third edition from April 16 to 24. This year, the festival has positioned itself as a key player in the documentary space, featuring renowned filmmakers such as Barbara Kopple, Gianfranco Rosi, Ross McElwee, Caveh Zahedi, and Liz Garbus.
A significant highlight of the event includes a comprehensive retrospective of Rosi’s work, showcasing acclaimed films like the Oscar-nominated Fire at Sea (2016) and his latest release, Pompei: Below the Clouds. Additionally, two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple will attend a screening of her classic documentary Harlan County, USA for its 50th anniversary, alongside a 4K restoration of American Dream.
This Is Not a Fiction provides a dynamic mix of premieres and new films alongside retrospectives and restorations of classic documentaries. The festival is uniquely characterized by a diverse programming approach, including a notable selection of mockumentaries. This year, it will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Popstar: Never Stop Stopping, featuring co-star and co-director Akiva Schaffer, as well as the 20th anniversary of Jackass Number Two, with filmmakers Jeff Tremaine and Johnny Knoxville scheduled to appear. The festival will also screen Best in Show, the iconic mockumentary directed by Christopher Guest, followed by a conversation featuring both Guest and Eugene Levy.
In an insightful discussion about the festival’s innovative programming, Flores emphasized the involvement of figures such as Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Jeff Probst, and Conan O’Brien alongside documentary luminaries. Doc Talk cohosts John Ridley and Matt Carey further explored recent political events, including President Donald Trump’s comments regarding Iran and Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Hungary, seamlessly connecting these topics to the documentary landscape.
Listeners can catch the latest episode on various podcast platforms, including Spotify, iHeart, and Apple.
