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This one's for fans of niche, informative, fascinating documentaries.
2025's film festival scene, including SXSW and Raindance – have brought us some truly incredible stories of the most random and magical communities, as well as some devastating true stories.
The trailer is drop dead gorgeous.
Here's GLAMOUR's round up of the most interesting documentaries about a range of subcultures, from Eminem stans to the intricacies of a Scottish fishing village's beauty pageant.
Free Party: A Folk History
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A documentary diving deep into the birth of the free party movement in the late 80s and early 90s and the impact it had from raves to festivals and political protests.
“This film is a unique look at a much-underrepresented moment in cultural history," its director Aaron Trinder has said.
“It was the last great unifying youth movement before the digital age, one that challenged the authorities, connected environmental awareness with music, and questioned laws on land rights and trespass,” he said. “With new laws criminalising trespass and protest across Europe, the story is more relevant than ever.”
Free Party: A Folk History was virtually premiered on 30 May.
Stans
Premiering at London's SXSW Festival, Stans takes a look at, well, stans. Specifically those of Eminem.
Released 25 years after Eminem's iconic track Stan, which is incidentally about a rather unhinged fan, the documentary at Eminem fans and fan culture itself.
According to director Steven Leckart, it offers “an entertaining and vibrant look at the modern nature of fandom and how social media has irrevocably changed the relationship between artists and their audience.
“I just saw an opportunity to make an unconventional doc … We’ve seen a glut of docs that are just so straightforward and standard. And so this is a beautiful opportunity to do something different.”
Stans will be available to watch on Paramount+ internationally later this year.
Band
Band's intriguing synopsis reads as follows: “Was it a cult? Celebrities of the quirky marching band world, The Serenaders dedicate every waking moment to perfecting their performance…but when brainwashing meets the Bossa Nova, there is no escape. BAND combines stunning archive footage with new interviews, to present a portrait of a community gripped by obsession.”
Band was officially selected for Raindance and will be having its global premiere screening at the festival on the 26th June. It will then be available to watch on Netflix's Still Watching YouTube channel from 27th June.
Immortals
A fascinating, moving insight into a new generation of Iraqi youth, as they “relentlessly fight for a better future” in the face of the 2019 revolution, "knowing nothing but war since the US-led occupation". The documentary follows feminist Milo and filmmaker Khalili who spearhead this group and their mission.
Immortals was officially selected for Raindance and will be having its global premiere screening at the festival on the 19th June.
Flamingo Camp
We get to know a vulnerable community of young queer and trans anarchist based in an off-grid squatter town in the Californian desert. Their safe space, named Flamingo Camp, is then hit by an “unthinkable” tragedy.
Flamingo Camp was officially selected for Raindance and will be having its global premiere screening at the festival on the 23rd June.
Beyond the Divide
A must watch, Beyond The Divide witnesses the first meeting of ex-Neo Nazi Nigel Bromage and Black British activist Chris Otokito. It boasts raw interviews, re-enactments and archival footage and shows Nigel's navigation of an ordinary childhood to a world of far-right extremism.
It looks at the worrying rise of extremism across the world, analysing why radicalisation occurs and the people who are fighting against it everyday.
Beyond the Divide was officially selected for Raindance and will be having their global premiere screening at the festival on the 26th June. It will then be available to watch on Netflix's Still Watching YouTube channel from 27th June.
The Angry Bird
A close up look on the banger racing scene – niche, we know – which remains a crucial place for Romany gypsies to celebrate their culture. We see the only women on the track in a male-dominated sport when Georgie races in Angry Bird.
When she endures a crash, she must face up to the dangers of her sport and the sexist pressures within her community to give it up and start a family.
The Angry Bird was officially selected for Raindance and will be having their global premiere screening at the festival on the 26th June. It will then be available to watch on Netflix's Still Watching YouTube channel from 27th June.
The Herring Queen
Another niche subculture – a Scottish fishing village's beauty pageant. The people of Eyemouth participate in an ancient tradition where young boys “become men” by catching herring and young girls are crowned as their queens. With no herring left to catch, we take a closer look at the village's beauty pageant, as well as the impact of the global climate crisis and how it is challenging gender roles and the mental health of many.
The Herring Queen was officially selected for Raindance and will be having their global premiere screening at the festival on the 26th June. It will then be available to watch on Netflix's Still Watching YouTube channel from 27th June.
