‘Backside’, Documentary Highlighting Backstretch Workers, To Be Screened In Louisville

Wandering Eyes · 2025-09-10T15:12:08Z

Backside, an observational documentary that honors the primarily immigrant workforce that helps sustain the horse racing industry, will be screened at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville. Filmed over five years by an all-LatinX team, Backside 'offers an intimate look at the lives of workers who begin their days before dawn, seven days a week, caring for some of the world's most prized racehorses' in the barns behind Churchill Downs—known as the “backside.”

According to a release, the documentary 'goes beyond the pageantry of the [Kentucky] Derby to reveal the grit, skill, and dedication of immigrant and multi-generational workers whose labor often goes unseen. The documentary examines the intersection of class, race, and labor, humanizing the people who sustain an elite American sporting tradition while emphasizing the deep, symbiotic relationship between humans and horses.'

“Backside challenges audiences to see beyond the spectacle of the Derby,” said Dean Otto, Curator of Film at the Speed Art Museum. “It's an invitation to witness the dignity, expertise, and resilience of a community that quietly sustains one of America's most celebrated events.”

The Museum is collaborating with the Backside Learning Center, which supports the educational, social and personal growth of the backstretch community at Churchill Downs. Further support for the project has been provided by the racetrack.

“This film shines a light on those who are truly the soul of an industry so central to the history, culture and economy of our state.” said Sherry Stanley, executive director of the Backside Learning Center.

Screenings will take place at Speed Cinema from Thursday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, with post-film discussions featuring director Raul O. Paz-Pastrana, producers and grooms featured in the documentary. A Spanish-language screening with discussion in Spanish will also be offered. This marks one of the first screenings of Backside outside of its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Click here for ticketing information.