EDM Documentaries Released in 2025 That You Should Watch
From the resurgence of a genre to the shutting down of clubs, many filmmakers delve into their reasons, trace the origins of a genre, and highlight the contributions of electronic music greats and pioneers, as well as…
From the resurgence of a genre to the shutting down of clubs, many filmmakers delve into their reasons, trace the origins of a genre, and highlight the contributions of electronic music greats and pioneers, as well as emerging artists making their mark on the scene. We take a look at six such EDM documentaries of 2025 that you should check out or add to your watchlists now!
Nightclubs: Is the Party Over?
The world continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our lives even years later. The effervescent nightlife scene in particular has witnessed the permanent closure of many nightclubs over the years, and the ‘Nightclubs: Is the Party Over?’ documentary by the BBC sheds light on the issues clubs are facing post-pandemic. Insights from promoters, DJs, and ravers aid in recognizing why more than a third of the nightclubs in the UK have closed their doors.
“Clubbing is becoming a luxury, and that’s just crazy,” DJ/producer SHERELLE says in the documentary. “You should be able to listen to music at any time you want. You should be able to enter a club and be with friends at any time you want. It actually doesn’t feel like we’re in a very good space… So hopefully lots of communities come together, lots of DIY things are created and we do things physically because we can put stuff out on social media all we want, but if we’re not physical about creating these spaces, then nothing will get done.”
“A lot of people talk about the misconceptions of people not wanting to go out, but the reality is people can’t afford it. The night-time economy saw a net decline of 2.8% across the board, which, as you can appreciate, is hugely challenging for the sector,” states the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, Michael Kill as per DJ Mag. “About seven out of ten of them are barely breaking even or losing money. Under the current decline, in terms of figures, that projection would suggest that by the 31st of the 12th 2029, we would have no more clubs left.”
Watch ‘Nightclubs: Is the Party Over?’ on BBC iPlayer
DESIRE: The Carl Craig Story
After the UK debut at the Glasgow Film Festival, the Carl Craig documentary titled ‘DESIRE: The Carl Craig Story’ will hit the big screens across the UK and Ireland on May 8, 2025. Following the life and meteoric rise of a globally known phenomenon that is Carl Craig, the 90-minute film highlights the Detroit techno scene’s star in the 80s and 90s.
“The crew and I followed Carl all over the world at a breakneck pace. We were afforded full access to an artist whose humility rivals his creativity,” says director Jean-Cosme Delaloye. “We got to see the other side of the party, when the lights go out in the club and Carl only has a few hours to rest before heading to the next event.” Heavyweights like Roni Size, Detroit-based Moodymann, Giles Peterson, and French producer/DJ Laurent Garnier also feature in this movie, which premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival last year.
SCENES: Latin Electronic
From SoundCloud comes a new mini-documentary exploring the underground Latin electronic music scene “where traditional rhythms collide with futuristic soundscapes.” Titled ‘SCENES: Latin Electronic,’ this 4-minute clip features artists Nick León, 2DEEP, Sinego, and Bianca Oblivion, who underline the work of Latin artists in electronic music and help share their talent with a larger audience.
Move Ya Body: The Birth Of House
Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, ‘Move Ya Body: The Birth of House’ traces the Queer Black origins of house music from the 1979 Disco Demolition Night, highlighting the work of queer DJs and producers of color, with Chicago DJ/producers Jesse Saunders and Vince Lawrence making an appearance. The 90–minute film is made up of archival footage, interviews, and more, taking viewers back to the underground clubs of Chicago and the queer underground dance scene. ‘Move Ya Body: The Birth of House’ has been directed by Elegance Bratton.
Trance Revival: Von wegen Trash-Musik!
‘Trance Revival: Von wegen Trash-Musik!’ digs into the history of trance and eurodance while also looking at the genre’s comeback. Berlin’s Sachsentrance collective and French DJ/producer Grand V share insights in this 15-minute Arte Tracks series documentary. It also features music from La Bouche, Darude, and others.
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