Backside
Directed by Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana

Saturday, September 27, 3 pm CINEMA+ | BUY TICKETS

$12 | $8 Speed members

“A moving portrait of unsung heroes.”—Christopher Reed, Hammer to Nail

Backside offers an intimate and tender glimpse into the lives of primarily immigrant workers who begin their days at 4 am, seven days a week, year-round, caring for some of the world’s most prized racehorses.

Set against the backdrop of a racing season at Churchill Downs’ barn area in Louisville, Kentucky —known as the “Backside”—this observational film reveals the symbiotic relationship of human and animal labor, celebrating the quiet beauty of unseen work and the resilience of those who sustain it.

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. 2025, U.S., DCP, in Spanish and English with English subtitles, Open Captions, 85 minutes. Recommended for 12+

(NOTE: The Sunday, September 28 screening will offer the program with a version in English and Spanish with Spanish subtitles and Open Captions in Spanish.)

Co-presented with the Backside Learning Center, a nonprofit providing support and resources for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families. Learn more about their mission here: backsidelearningcenter.org.

Generous support for this program has been provided by Churchill Downs.

CINEMA+ with a post-screening discussion with director Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana, producer Gabriella García-Pardo, producer Patricia Alvarez Astacio, and grooms featured in the documentary.