This Is Not a Fiction 2025
Festival | This year’s festival will feature more than 15 premieres and special events with over 35 guests including Errol Morris, Kazuo Hara, Conan O’Brien, Mark Frost, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Charles Burnett, Jeff Probst, Chris Smith Courtney Stephens, Michael Almereyda, Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss and more. Stay tuned for lineup announcements!
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
The American Cinematheque is proud to present the second annual ‘This Is Not a Fiction’ festival celebrating documentary and non-fiction art forms from April 9-17. This year’s festival will feature more than 15 premieres and special events with over 35 guests, including Conan O’Brien (World Premiere of Max Original series CONAN O’BRIEN MUST GO Season 2), Bill Hader and Fred Armisen (DOCUMENTARY NOW! 10th anniversary), Jeff Probst and surprise SURVIVOR guests (Tribute to SURVIVOR: An Evening with Jeff Probst), Charles Burnett (KILLER OF SHEEP 4K Restoration), Errol Morris (CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS), Kazuo Hara (THE EMPEROR’S NAKED ARMY MARCHES ON), and more legendary filmmakers in-conversation.
Taking place at AC’s historic Aero, Egyptian and Los Feliz 3 theatres, this year’s edition furthers the inaugural edition’s mission to offer an ever-expanding view of nonfiction filmmaking, featuring not only the pantheon of classic documentaries and cutting-edge contemporary work, but also everything from live television sports coverage, reality TV, experimental cinema, travelogues, playful mockumentary form and more.
The centerpiece of the festival features two legendary documentarians, Errol Morris and Kazuo Hara, together for a historic conversation following a screening of THE EMPEROR’S NAKED ARMY MARCHES ON introduced by Bill Hader on April 12. Morris will be honored with a retrospective that includes GATES OF HEAVEN, VERNON, FLORIDA, THE THIN BLUE LINE, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, FAST, CHEAP & OUT OF CONTROL and his latest film with Netflix CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS. Kazuo Hara will also receive his first ever Los Angeles retrospective featuring his early films GOODBYE CP, EXTREME PRIVATE EROS: LOVE SONG 1974 and the West Coast premiere of MINAMATA MANDALA.
The festival will open at the Aero Theatre on April 9 with the World Premiere of Season 2 of the hit Max Original series CONAN O’BRIEN MUST GO followed by a Q&A with host Conan O’Brien. Closing night of the festival at the Aero features the Season 3 return of the critically acclaimed HBO Original documentary series 100 FOOT WAVE with an L.A. Premiere and Q&A to follow on April 17. Other special events include a 10th anniversary screening of DOCUMENTARY NOW! at the Egyptian Theatre featuring a panel with creators, actors and writers Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, creator and director Rhys Thomas, director Alex Buono and writer Micah Gardner on April 13. AC will celebrate over 60 years of NFL Films sports coverage as part of NFL Films: A Documentary Dynasty featuring surprise guests, on April 13 at the Egyptian Theatre, and in celebration of the 25th anniversary of SURVIVOR, Emmy award-winning host Jeff Probst will join the festival at the Aero Theatre on April 13 to look back at the show’s enduring legacy.
Featured premieres include the L.A. premiere of I KNOW CATHERINE, THE LOG LADY followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Richard Green and Twin Peaks creator Mark Frost on April 17 at the Egyptian Theatre, and the West Coast premiere of Rodney Ascher’s expressive and dream-like film GHOST BOY. Additional special events at the Aero include Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch for two nights on April 14 and 15 for the Apple TV+ two-part documentary film event NUMBER ONE ON THE CALL SHEET, filmmaker Thom Zimny for a conversation following a screening of Hulu’s ROAD DIARY: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND on April 12, and a screening of Onyx Collective and Hulu’s SLY LIVES!, another detailed look at a band’s rise, reign and fade, will be followed by a Q&A with producer Joseph Patel, also on April 12.
As part of closing night at the Los Feliz 3, filmmakers Courtney Stephens and Michael Almereyda will join the West Coast Premiere of the acclaimed JOHN LILLY AND THE EARTH COINCIDENCE CONTROL OFFICE. Premieres featuring in-person guests at the Los Feliz 3 include the L.A. premieres of MIDDLETOWN with returning filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss on April 11 and PREDATORS with filmmaker David Osit on April 16. Additional premieres at the Los Feliz 3 include the World Premiere of the 4K restoration of WINTER SOLDIER, West Coast premieres of Radu Jude’s EIGHT POSTCARDS FROM UTOPIA and SLEEP #2 on April 12 and Marta Mateus’ FIRE OF WIND on April 11, the L.A premiere of Jem Cohen’s LITTLE, BIG AND FAR and NEON’s MEN OF WAR on April 15.
Additionally, the AC will host the L.A. premiere of the KILLER OF SHEEP 4K restoration, co-presented by the UCLA Film and Television archive and featuring a discussion with filmmaker Charles Burnett on April 16 at the Aero Theatre.
The Los Feliz 3 will also feature advance screenings of PAVEMENTS with actor Tim Heidecker on April 10, HENRY FONDA FOR PRESIDENT with Alexander Horwath on April 12, and Albert Serra’s exploration into bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey’s career in AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE on April 11. This second edition will feature the first THIS IS NOT A FICTION shorts program with 9 short films on April 13. Cinematic Void will likewise host a screening of “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” paired with Todd Phillips debut documentary HATED: GG ALLIN & THE MURDER JUNKIES on April 12.
7:30 PM
CONAN O’BRIEN MUST GO
Free (members-only)
Aero Theatre | Q&A with host Conan O’Brien
World Premiere of CONAN O’BRIEN MUST GO Season 2
Opening Night!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
PAVEMENTS
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with actor Tim Heidecker
Advance Screening!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:30 PM
GHOST BOY
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Rodney Ascher
Co-presented by Beyond Fest
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
10:00 PM
Two By Radu Jude: EIGHT POSTCARDS FROM UTOPIA / SLEEP #2
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | West Coast Premieres!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
MIDDLETOWN
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss
L.A. Premiere!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:30 PM
GATES OF HEAVEN / VERNON, FLORIDA
$17.00 (member) ; $22.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris. Moderated by Bill Hader.
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Errol Morris: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
10:00 PM
FIRE OF WIND
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | West Coast Premiere!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
11:00 AM
THE BEAR
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Egyptian Theatre | ‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Saturday Afternoon Adventure Movie’
12:00 PM
FAST, CHEAP & OUT OF CONTROL
$17.00 (members-only)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Errol Morris: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
12:30 PM
SLY LIVES! (AKA THE BURDEN OF BLACK GENIUS)
Free
Aero Theatre | Q&A with producer Joseph Patel
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
3:00 PM
THE EMPEROR'S NAKED ARMY MARCHES ON
$17.00 (member) ; $22.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Egyptian Theatre | Introduction by Bill Hader. Q&A with filmmaker Kazuo Hara. Moderated by Errol Morris.
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Kazuo Hara: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
3:00 PM
This Is Not a Fiction 2025 Shorts Program
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmakers
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
4:00 PM
ROAD DIARY: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND
Free
Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Thom Zimny. Moderated by Chris Willman.
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
6:00 PM
HENRY FONDA FOR PRESIDENT
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker Alexander Horwath
Advance Screening!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
THE THIN BLUE LINE / A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Egyptian Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Errol Morris: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
10:00 PM
Cinematic Void Presents “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” / HATED: GG ALLIN AND THE MURDER JUNKIES
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | ‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Cinematic Void’
11:00 AM
WINTER SOLDIER
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | World Premiere of 4K Restoration!
WINTER SOLDIER has been restored from a director’s original 16mm print held at the Academy Film Archive. Scanned to 4K and restored at CineSolutions in Santa Clarita, California in 2024.
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
1:00 PM
NFL Films: A Documentary Dynasty
Free
Egyptian Theatre | Panel discussion with surprise guests
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
1:00 PM
Errol Morris Presents PSYCHO
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Introduction by filmmaker Errol Morris
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025,’ ‘Errol Morris: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’ and ‘Sunday Print Edition’
3:00 PM
KOYAANISQATSI
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Aero Theatre | ‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Transcendental Appointments’
4:00 PM
CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Egyptian Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Errol Morris
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Errol Morris: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
4:00 PM
MINAMATA MANDALA
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker Kazuo Hara
West Coast Premiere!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Kazuo Hara: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
7:00 PM
Tribute to SURVIVOR: An Evening with Jeff Probst
Free (members-only)
Aero Theatre | Panel discussion with host Jeff Probst and special guests!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:30 PM
DOCUMENTARY NOW!
$22.00 (members-only)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Egyptian Theatre | Panel with creators, actors and writers Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, creator and director Rhys Thomas, director Alex Buono and writer Micah Gardner
10th Anniversary!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
GOODBYE CP
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker Kazuo Hara
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Kazuo Hara: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
7:30 PM
NUMBER ONE ON THE CALL SHEET: PART ONE
Free
Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker and executive producer Reginald Hudlin
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
10:00 PM
A.K.
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | 40th Anniversary!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
EXTREME PRIVATE EROS: LOVE SONG 1974
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker Kazuo Hara
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’ and ‘Kazuo Hara: An American Cinematheque Retrospective’
7:30 PM
NUMBER ONE ON THE CALL SHEET: PART TWO
Free
Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Shola Lynch
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
10:00 PM
MEN OF WAR
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | L.A. Premiere!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
PREDATORS
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker David Osit
West Coast Premiere!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:30 PM
KILLER OF SHEEP
$12.00 (member) ; $17.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Aero Theatre | Introduction by archivist Jill Borders and Q&A with filmmaker Charles Burnett
L.A. Premiere of New 4K Restoration
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
10:00 PM
LITTLE, BIG, AND FAR
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | L.A. Premiere!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
I KNOW CATHERINE, THE LOG LADY
$17.00 (member) ; $22.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Egyptian Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Richard Green, Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost and producer Sabrina Sutherland
L.A. Premiere! Closing Night!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
100 FOOT WAVE
Free
Aero Theatre | Q&A with executive producer and director Chris Smith, executive producer Joe Lewis and subjects Garrett McNamara and Nicole McNamara
L.A. Premiere of Season 3! Closing Night!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
7:00 PM
JOHN LILLY AND THE EARTH COINCIDENCE CONTROL OFFICE
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmakers Courtney Stephens and Michael Almereyda
West Coast Premiere! Closing Night!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
10:00 PM
AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE
$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)
Ticket prices include a $2.00 online booking fee.
Los Feliz 3 | Advance Screening!
‘This Is Not a Fiction 2025’
