Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie @SXSW 2025

The tensions between Canadians and Americans are so high because of the imposed Donald Trump tariffs. It caused the Canadian Independent Music Association to cancel their annual staple Canadian House where the event showcased the best in Canadian music at SXSW in Austin. But if you are looking for an alternative, then the next best thing is to check out director Matt Johnson‘s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

The mockumentary sitcom television show premiered on Viceland back in 2017. CBC purchased the rights to the show having it televised on CBC Gems back in August 2019. In April of 2024, Matt Johnson decided to make a film that was based on this hilarious show which is now slated to premiere during SXSW. You know that these two are repping Canada at their finest.

The duo Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, lifelong best friends, first developed the characters while in high school in Mississauga, with Johnson noting that the characters of Matt and Jay are heavily based on their real-life personalities and experiences growing up in Toronto. When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008. 

The film blends scripted scenes with candid, unscripted moments, often capturing the reactions of unsuspecting people on the street or in everyday situations. This fusion of fiction and reality gives the series an unpredictable, energetic vibe, making it stand out as a refreshing take on the mockumentary genre. FERNTV says that we should no doubt support this Canadian content.