Interview With "Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie" Filmmakers Matt Johnson & Jay McCarrol

"Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie" is a Canadian time-travel mockumentary-adventure film directed by Matt Johnson ("BlackBerry") and written by Johnson and Jay McCarrol. The film stars Johnson and McCarrol as fictionalised versions of themselves in a band called "Nirvanna the Band" as they attempt to book a gig at the Rivoli, a bar and restaurant in Toronto, even though they have never actually written or recorded a single song, nor taken any steps to contact the Rivoli's management about booking a show. A new plan to play the Rivoli goes wrong, sending Matt, Jay, and their friend/cameraman Jared back in time to 2008, leaving them stranded unless they can find a way back to the future. The film is based on Johnson and McCarrol's 2007–2009 web series "Nirvana the Band the Show," as well as its 2017–2018 sequel television series "Nirvanna the Band the Show." The film had its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest film festival, where it received positive reviews for its premise, humor, performances, writing, and direction with such a small budget. Johnson and McCarrol were both kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from NEON on February 13th. Thank you, and enjoy!

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