17-day festival runs October 23 to November 9 at Barbican, BFI Southbank, and Rio Cinema

The 12th edition of Doc’n Roll Film Festival runs from 23 October to 9 November across ten venues in the UK and Ireland. The programme includes 21 feature films and eight shorts, with seven world premieres, 12 UK premieres, and two London premieres. Screenings take place at the Barbican, BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, and Rio Cinema, among other locations.

The festival opens at the Barbican with Glen Matlock‘s I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol, directed by Nick Mead and Andre Relis. Matlock co-wrote ten of the twelve songs on the Sex Pistols’ sole studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, released in 1977. He left the band in February 1977 and was replaced by Sid Vicious. The 90-minute film presents Matlock’s account of the band’s formation and his subsequent departure.

Glen Matlock was born in 1956 in Kensal Green, London. He met Steve Jones at Christopher Wren School in Shepherd’s Bush, and the two later formed the Sex Pistols with Paul Cook and Johnny Rotten in 1975. After leaving the Pistols, Matlock formed Rich Kids with Midge Ure, later of Ultravox. He has worked as a session bassist for Iggy Pop, toured with Blondie, and collaborated with The Faces. He rejoined the Sex Pistols for their 1996 reunion tour and subsequent performances. Matlock released his first solo album, Who’s He Think He Is When He’s At Home?, in 1996, followed by Born Running in 2001 and Good to Go in 2010.

World premieres include Natacha Horn‘s How Tanita Tikaram Became a LIAR, a 53-minute film described as an anti-documentary. Horn, who is married to Tikaram, structures the work around Tikaram’s 2024 album LIAR (Love Isn’t A Right), a follow-up to her 1988 debut Ancient Heart. The film addresses Tikaram’s experiences as a British woman of Indo-Fijian and Malay-Sarawakian descent.

Tanita Tikaram was born in 1969 in Münster, West Germany, to a British Army officer father of Indo-Fijian descent and a Sarawakian mother. She grew up in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and released Ancient Heart at age 19. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and sold over five million copies worldwide. The single “Twist in My Sobriety” reached number two in Austria and Germany. Her second album, The Sweet Keeper, was released in 1990. Tikaram’s commercial success declined in the UK after her first two albums, though she maintained a following in mainland Europe. She has released twelve studio albums, most recently Can’t Go Back in 2012 and LIAR (Love Isn’t A Right) in 2024. She married filmmaker Natacha Horn in 2022.

Ella Margolin directs Pieces of Heaven: Porridge Radio, filmed at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The 66-minute film documents the band’s performance following the release of Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me in 2024, stated to be their final album. Dana Margolin formed Porridge Radio in Brighton in 2014 and released three studio albums on Secretly Canadian.

Arthur Baker directs Rockers Don’t Stop: The Revival of Rockers Revenge, a 76-minute film following the New York group’s reunion to record their first album. Rockers Revenge, led by Donnie Calvin, scored a UK number four hit with “Walking on Sunshine” in 1982, produced by Baker. The track reached number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Baker produced New Order’s “Confusion” in 1983, Afrika Bambaataa‘s “Planet Rock” in 1982, and Bruce Springsteen‘s “Dancing in the Dark” remix in 1984. He worked with Bob Dylan on Empire Burlesque and co-wrote “I’m in Love Again” with Al Green. Baker was born in Boston in 1955 and began DJing in the 1970s before moving into production.

Tim Kowalski‘s Nash the Slash Rises Again! runs 80 minutes. Nash the Slash, born James Jeffrey Plewman in 1948 in Toronto, played electric violin and mandolin. He performed with bandages covering his face throughout his career. Nash scored live performances of Luis Buñuel’s Un Chien Andalou and released his debut album Dreams and Nightmares in 1978. He signed to DinDisc Records, a Virgin Records subsidiary run by Richard Branson, and released the single “Danger Zone” in 1980. Nash toured with Gary Numan in 1979 and 1980. He formed the band FM with Ben Mink and Martin Deller in 1977. Nash died in 2014.

Hoj Jomehri directs Sound of a Dream: Lee Burridge, a 77-minute portrait of the DJ and producer. Burridge was born in 1968 in Dorset and began DJing in the late 1980s. He co-founded Tyrant Records with Craig Richards in 1997 and released the album Conspiracies & Hyperrealities under the name Tyrant. Burridge became a resident at Fabric in London in 2000 and held a residency at Burning Man. He founded the All Day I Dream event series in 2011, which expanded into a record label. Burridge has released mix compilations for Renaissance and Global Underground.

David C. Schendel‘s Tony Foster: Painting at the Edge runs 95 minutes and was produced using solar power. Foster, born in 1946 in Lincolnshire, creates large-scale watercolours on location in wilderness areas. The Royal Geographical Society awarded him the Cherry Kearton Medal in 2001. Foster’s expeditions include the Grand Canyon, the Himalayas, and the Andes. His work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Royal Geographical Society. Foster emigrated to the United States in 1986 and lives in Cornwall, England.

A.A Khan directs Not Indian Enough – King Khan, an 87-minute film. Arish Ahmad Khan, known as King Khan, was born in 1977 in Montreal to Sikh-Punjabi parents. He formed King Khan & the Shrines in 2000 and released their debut album on Sympathy for the Record Industry. Khan formed The Black Jaspers with Mark Sultan in 2005, later renamed The King Khan & BBQ Show. He recorded with Mark Boyce as Tandoori Knights in 2008. Khan has released eleven albums with the Shrines and collaborated with Butthole Surfers on the track “Bite Me” in 2016. He has lived in Berlin and Barcelona.

UK premieres include Alison Ellwood‘s Boy George & Culture Club, running 96 minutes. Boy George, born George Alan O’Dowd in 1961 in Bexley, Kent, formed Culture Club in 1981 with Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, and Jon Moss. The band’s debut album Kissing to Be Clever was released in 1982 and reached number five on the UK Albums Chart. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” reached number one in the UK in 1982. Culture Club sold over 50 million records worldwide. The band split in 1986 following George’s heroin addiction and the breakdown of his relationship with Moss. Culture Club reformed in 1998 and have toured intermittently since. George pursued a solo career, releasing Sold in 1987, which reached number one in the UK. He was convicted of assault in 2009 and sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Tom Stern directs Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt, running 106 minutes. Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary formed the band in San Antonio, Texas, in 1981. Both studied at Trinity University. The band’s early lineup included King Coffey on drums and Teresa Nervosa. Kathleen Lynch, a performance artist and dancer, appeared at the band’s live shows from 1984 to 1989. Butthole Surfers released their debut EP in 1983 on Alternative Tentacles. Their 1996 album Electriclarryland, released on Capitol Records, included “Pepper”, which reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The band signed to Capitol after years on independent labels including Touch and Go Records and Latino Buggerveil. Kurt Cobain listed their 1987 album Locust Abortion Technician in his top 50 albums. Lynch died in 2011.

Billy Shebar and David C. Roberts direct Monk in Pieces, a 94-minute film on Meredith Monk. Born in 1942 in New York City, Monk studied at Sarah Lawrence College and began creating performance works in the 1960s. She formed The House in 1968, a company for interdisciplinary performance. Monk’s vocal compositions employ extended techniques and invented syllables rather than conventional lyrics. She released her first album Key in 1971. Her opera ATLAS premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 1991. Philip Glass has cited Monk as an influence. Björk and David Byrne appear in the film. Monk received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1995 and the National Medal of Arts in 2015. Her work has been performed by Kronos Quartet and Bang on a Can All-Stars. The film shows Yuval Sharon directing a new production of ATLAS with singer Joanna Lynn-Jacobs at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Xavier Laradji and Maxime Lachaud direct A Way to Die: The Short Films of Coil, 100 minutes of restored 8mm and 16mm footage. Coil was formed in 1982 by John Balance and Peter Christopherson. Christopherson, born in 1955 in Leeds, was a member of Throbbing Gristle and co-founded Psychic TV with Genesis P-Orridge. Balance, born Geoffrey Nigel Laurence Burton in 1962 in Mansfield, joined Psychic TV in 1983. Coil released their debut album Scatology in 1984. Christopherson worked as a video director for Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, and Rage Against the Machine. Balance died in 2004 after falling from a balcony at his home. Christopherson died in 2010. The film includes previously unreleased Coil recordings.

Robert Clem directs Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me, 88 minutes. Willie Mae Thornton was born in 1926 in Ariton, Alabama. She recorded “Hound Dog” in 1952 for Peacock Records in Los Angeles. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote the song specifically for Thornton. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953 and sold over two million copies. Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1956. Thornton recorded “Ball ‘n’ Chain” in 1961. Janis Joplin recorded the song with Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968. Thornton signed to Arhoolie Records in 1965 and recorded five albums for the label. She performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1966 and at European festivals in the 1970s. Thornton died in 1984 in Los Angeles.

Nuala O’Connor directs In Time: Donal Lunny, 90 minutes. Dónal Lunny was born in 1947 in Tullamore, County Offaly. He played bouzouki, guitar, and bodhrán. Lunny co-founded Planxty with Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, and Liam O’Flynn in 1972. The band split in 1975 and reformed in 1978. Lunny left Planxty in 1973 to form The Bothy Band with Matt Molloy, Paddy Keenan, and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill. The Bothy Band released four albums before disbanding in 1979. Lunny formed Moving Hearts in 1981 with Moore and Declan Sinnott. He produced albums for Clannad, Paul Brady, and Kate Bush. Lunny worked as musical director for Riverdance from 1994 to 1996. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2008. The film includes a reunion performance with Moore.

Isolde Woudstra directs A Beautiful Place – A Music Doc About Lebanon Hanover, 48 minutes. Lebanon Hanover was formed in 2010 by William Maybelline and Larissa Iceglass. Maybelline, born in Sunderland, previously played in The June Brides. Iceglass, born Larissa Georgieff in Switzerland, sang in several Swiss bands. The duo’s debut album The World Is Getting Colder was released in 2012 on Fabrika Records. They released Why Not Just Be Solo in 2013 and Tomb for Two in 2016. Lebanon Hanover has toured extensively across Europe. The film documents their 2024 tour, including shows in Bristol, London, Paris, and Berlin.

Lola Rocknrolla directs The Big Johnson, 95 minutes. Dean Johnson was born Dean Edward Andropoulos in 1961 in Waterbury, Connecticut. He fronted the rock band Dean and the Weenies in New York in the 1980s and signed to Island Records in 1984. Island dropped the band after Johnson refused to conceal his sexuality. He formed a new version of Dean and the Weenies in 1988 and released the album Macho in 1989. Johnson performed as a drag queen, notable for being bald. He promoted the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fag Bar parties at CBGB from 1993 to 1997, the first LGBTQ events at the venue. Johnson worked as an escort later in life. He was found dead in an apartment in Manhattan in November 2007, aged 46. Another escort, Marlon Belon, had died in the same apartment four days earlier. Johnson’s death was initially ruled accidental due to drug intoxication.

Valerio Bariletti and Morgan Bertacca direct Felix, Dare to Dream, 105 minutes. Felix Leu was born in 1952 and grew up in Paris. His mother was Swiss sculptor Eva Aeppli, who was married to artist Jean Tinguely. Leu worked as Tinguely’s assistant. He began tattooing in the late 1970s. Leu founded Leu Family Iron tattoo studio in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the 1980s with his partner Loretta Leu. Their four children all became tattoo artists. The studio moved to multiple locations including Tahiti and Spain. Leu specialised in tribal and indigenous tattoo styles. The family opened The Leu Family’s Family Iron in 2004 in Lausanne.

Storm Di Scozia directs Chasing Rainbows: My Visual Duet with Jimmy Scott, 62 minutes. Jimmy Scott, born James Victor Scott in 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, had Kallmann syndrome, which prevented his voice from changing during puberty. He began singing professionally in the 1940s and recorded for Savoy Records in the 1950s. His 1955 single “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” reached number six on the Billboard R&B chart. Scott stopped recording after a contractual dispute and worked in hotel administration for two decades. Lou Reed used Scott’s 1963 recording of “Sycamore Trees” in the final episode of Twin Peaks in 1991. Scott signed to Sire Records in 1992 and released All the Way. Quincy Jones and Doc Pomus advocated for Scott’s return to music. Scott performed at Bill Clinton’s inaugural ball in 1993. He died in 2014. Storm Di Scozia, born in Glasgow, performed on the television series Glee. Annie Lennox introduced Di Scozia to Scott in 2014, leading to their collaboration.

Mariana Thome and Lucas Barros direct Scab Vendor: The Life and Times of Jonathan Shaw, 90 minutes. Jonathan Shaw was born in 1955 in New York City. His father was bandleader Artie Shaw, who led a swing band in the 1930s and 1940s. His mother was actress Doris Dowling, who appeared in The Lost Weekend in 1945. Shaw travelled through Latin America in the 1970s and studied tattooing in Japan. He opened Fun City Tattoo on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1993, four years before tattooing was legalised in New York City. The studio became a gathering place for artists and musicians. Shaw tattooed Johnny Depp, Iggy Pop, and Courtney Love. He published his memoir Scab Vendor in 2009. Shaw died in 2021.

London premieres include Elegance Bratton‘s Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, 88 minutes. The film documents the creation of house music in Chicago in the early 1980s. Vince Lawrence was born in Chicago in 1964. He worked at his father’s record store, Chosen Few Records. Lawrence produced “On and On” with Jesse Saunders in 1984, cited as the first house record. He formed Sleezy D and released “I’ve Lost Control” in 1986. Lawrence produced tracks for Steve “Silk” Hurley, Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, and Marshall Jefferson. He founded the label Prescription Records in 1993.

Fabien Pisani directs Para Vivir: The Implacable Times of Pablo Milanés, 106 minutes. Pablo Milanés was born in 1943 in Bayamo, Cuba. He co-founded the Nueva Trova movement with Silvio Rodríguez in the 1960s, which aligned with the Cuban Revolution. Milanés released his debut album Versos de José Martí in 1973. He was imprisoned in a UMAP labour camp in 1965 for his perceived ideological unreliability. Milanés left Cuba in 2004 and lived in Mexico and Spain. He criticised the Cuban government in later years. Milanés died in 2022 in Madrid. Pisani is Milanés’ adopted son. The film includes interviews with Joan Manuel Serrat, Chico Buarque, Harry Belafonte, and Fito Páez.

Vanessa Lobon Garcia and Colm Forde co-founded Doc’n Roll Film Festival in 2014. The festival expanded to include distribution and world sales in 2017. Doc’n Roll Films was founded in 2013.

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