DIY The Rise and Fall and Rise of Punk Rock is a new documentary that takes a deep dive into the legacy of Punk Rock “from its gritty beginnings in 1980s Southern California garages to the genre’s ongoing influence on music, fashion, and culture today.”
What started as a small project documenting the Austrian Punk Rock label SBÄM at its festivals in Europe quickly grew into something bigger. Filmmakers, along with SBÄM’s Stefan Beham and co-producers Joel Herrera and Rolo Cantu, realized they weren’t just telling the story of European punk, they were looking at a global scale and the people involved in living Punk music.
The director’s cut of DIY will make its debut at the Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF) on April 25, 2025. As one of the biggest Oscar-qualifying film festivals in the U.S., this means the documentary could potentially be in the running for an Academy Award in the “Best Documentary Feature” category.
After DIFF, a summer release plan will be finalized, with more screenings to come, including an official European premiere slated for late 2025.
The documentary is officially described thus:
DIY explores the roots of punk rock and its defining “Do It Yourself” spirit, as told by the bands and individuals who helped shape the movement. It covers punk’s underground rise, its rebellious ethos, and its eventual clash with — and infiltration of — the mainstream.
The film features voices like Bad Religion, NOFX, and the Circle Jerks, alongside never-before-seen interviews with artists such as Fat Mike, Laura Jane Grace, Kevin Lyman, John Feldmann, Brett Gurewitz, Rick DeVoe (Blink-182’s manager), Steve Caballero, Campino (Die Toten Hosen), Frank Turner, Moby, and actors like Wil Wheaton, Fred Armisen, John Ross Bowie, Wotan Wilke Möhring, and more.
You’ll also hear from members of Bowling For Soup, Goldfinger, Destroy Boys, Lagwagon, Mad Caddies, Pulley, and a more.
The documentary is described further:
DIY doesn’t just celebrate punk’s highest highs — it also takes a hard look at the struggles the genre faced in the mainstream media and music industry. The rise of punk festivals, especially those run by SBÄM, plays a central role in the story, showing how the scene has evolved and stayed true to its roots.
