The observational documentary began by“guerrilla style,” prioritizing the workers’ consent over the Kentucky Derby’s.
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“Backside” is a cinéma vérité-style documentary that observes the lives of the workers who care for the horses at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.
The film – created by Denver-based director Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana – recently screened at the Denver Film Festival. It will be available to the public in 2026 via PBS’ Independent Lens in April, followed by a release on Amazon Prime in July.
