A hilarious send-up of dog show competitions from a troupe who themselves consistently earn the proverbial blue ribbon within the creative community, BEST IN SHOW (2000) was recognized in the year of its release with an AFI AWARD, naming it among the most outstanding achievements of the year. According to the official rationale, “With BEST IN SHOW, director Christopher Guest and the ensemble cast elevate the mock-documentary form to new artistic heights. The film raises comedy to the level of insight and weaves a seamless narrative fabric from actors’ improvisation around a central theme. Fred Willard’s performance is worthy of special recognition.” The film’s hilariously meticulous production was designed by Joseph Garrity (AFI Class of 1979), a frequent collaborator with Guest who returned to AFI in 2004 as a faculty member – and then became the Production Design Discipline Head in 2005. This year, after more than 20 years mentoring generations of talented storytellers with his signature gentle touch, Garrity leaves AFI to pursue new adventures of his own.
Visit the AFI Catalog to learn more about BEST IN SHOW.
