Flea markets, murder and typography –- these aren’t the topics covered by the latest batch of “Dummies” books, but rather the subjects of some upcoming documentaries. With a trio of film festivals — this month’s SXSW Film Festival and next month’s Hot Docs Festival in Toronto and Durham’s Full Frame Festival — the documentary has finally come into its own, both as a viable box office draw and as a film festival attraction. What follows are trailers for some of the notable documentaries that will be screening at these festivals, which we can only hope will help them land solid distribution and a wider audience.

1 More Hit
Renowned hip-hop producer J-Swift (The Pharcyde) ends up addicted to crack and living on the street.
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Fall From Grace
A profile of Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church, which believes “God hates fags.”
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Fish Kill Flea
A rundown shopping mall in upstate New York is home to an eccentric flea market filled with oddball characters.
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Girls Rock!
A journey into the Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls where young women are encouraged to express themselves through loud music just like boys do. Features interviews with Sleater-Kinney, the Gossip and others.
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The Gits
The short life and untimely death of Mia Zapata, lead singer for on-the-verge punk band The Gits, is told through the eyes of the people who knew her best.
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Hell on Wheels
Filmmakers spent five years documenting the struggle associated with establishing a new all-girl roller derby league in Austin, Texas, which ultimately sparked a revival in the sport’s interest.
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Helvetica
As the Helvetica font turns 50 years old, its influence on visual culture and graphic design is examined.
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Kurt Cobain: About a Son
Told through interviews conducted by Michael Azzerad for his book “Come As You Are,” the film is a meditation on the life of Kurt Cobain, as told by Kurt himself. Directed by AJ Schnack who made “Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns),” a documentary about They Might Be Giants.
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Manufacturing Dissent
Michael Moore gets the cameras turned on him in this critical look at his life and work.
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Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Bowie and the Beatles love him, but is the enigmatic British songwriter a stereotypical tortured artist or a criminally misunderstood genius?
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