Remember when you were a child and freely roamed about using your imagination? I remember kids declaring a specific space as theirs or for “Boys/Girls only”. Now take that same mindset, insert it into an adult, and make it inclusive, rather than exclusive. That, more or less, is the simplest motivation behind a micronation.
Micronations, directed by Joe Kowalski, provokes discussions about borders, sovereignty, and community. The feature documentary takes audiences around the world to explore an unconventional community of people creating their own nations. I quickly found myself fixated on a do-it-yourself culture attempting to forge its own bite-sized civilizations. A massive gathering of self-declared kings, queens, and monarchs takes place every year in Las Vegas for an event called Microcon. Here is where we’re introduced to a long list of democracies, republics, and matters that run off into the imaginative abyss.
The first micronation introduced is the Republic of Molassia. Located in Dayton, Nevada, it’s situated 30 miles east of Carson City and 45 miles southeast of Reno. Sitting on 11 acres of land, it has its own currency called “velours” and has existed since 1977. Other entities introduced include West Artica, Slowjamastan, the United Federation of the Terra Excelsior Republic, and the Kingdom of Ruritania. These micronations are overseen by a variety of leaders, from West Artica’s “Grand Duke” Travis to the Republic of Molassia’s “President Grand Admiral Colonel Doctor” Kevin Baugh.
Some of the ideas behind the makeup of micronations are fun, creativity, and most importantly, inclusivity. Now, for the adults in the room, these territories aren’t sovereign countries in the eyes of the United States or the United Nations. Micronations like the Republic of Molassia and Florida’s Conch Republic are still legally subject to U.S. laws and authorities. But who needs to take any of that seriously when the U.S. Coast Guard joins in your annual re-enactments?
The Conch Republic Great Sea Battle is an annual reenactment in Key West, Florida, celebrating the 1982 secession of the Florida Keys from the United States. The playful spirit of this dissent is reflected in the “rebel” boaters’ battle with the Coast Guard using water cannons, stale Cuban bread, and conch fritters. As you can imagine, it’s a well-attended tourist attraction each year. You’ll be confronted with locations like the Kingdom of Zaqistan and the Republic of Vevchani, names that are more likely to draw a chuckle than vacation planning. But when you least expect it, Kowalski and co. shifts gears.
Things became a lot more structured and serious when the doc featured micro-like living arrangements around the world, with two in the United States. In Portland, an area of tarmac has become a home for the unhoused, known as Dignity Village, which was formed after a group of unhoused individuals banded together and pushed back against the city for their constant removal. An ultimatum was issued: disband or gather at a specific cemented area without any assistance. They chose the latter. The second example was Begich Towers in Whittier, Alaska, where almost the entire town lives in a single apartment complex. The tight-knit community has shops within the building and even a school.
Micronations gets a 6.5 out of 10. In its totality, it sings of what “could” be. Watching kids debate civic responsibility will have you feeling confident in the future. But it also begs the question, the future of what? And for whom? It runs a bit slow and is probably 20 minutes too long, but if you’re down for an adventure into the unexplored, this is your film. The addition of archival content and a quick history lesson added a layer of authenticity to the film.
SCHEDULE:
Friday, June 5 – 5:45 PM | Village East by Angelika
Saturday, June 6 – 3:00 PM | Village East by Angelika
Thursday, June 11 – 5:15 PM | AMC 19th St. East 6
Micronations will make its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival on June 5.
-Jon Jones
Category: Viewpoints
Country: USA
Director: Joe Kowalski
Cast: President Kevin Baugh, Queen Carolyn Shelby, Grand Duke Travis McHenry, Prince Phil Pillin, King Ernest Emmanuel
Runtime: 97 mins
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: June 5, 2026