Birmingham’s annual film festival historically held in the downtown Theatre District will transition to the outdoor location of The Grand River Drive-In at The Backyard in Leeds due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 event transition will provide this year’s attendees with a safe option to view the more than 150 features and short films set to screen during the Aug. 24-30 festival. View our Youtube playlist of each film’s trailer here.
Sponsored by Regions Bank, the 22nd Annual Sidewalk Festival at the Drive-In will screen films each evening on all four screens with some nights offering second films on each screen. Gates will tentatively open each day at 6:30 p.m. with the start of the first films of the night scheduled for 8 p.m. daily.
We’re excited to share with you the first seven feature films of the festival’s lineup:
BLOODY NOSES, EMPTY POCKETS (2020)
- Documentary, USA
- Director: Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross
- Runtime: 98 Minutes
- Synopsis: A look at the final moments of a Las Vegas dive bar called ‘The Roaring 20s.’
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEvilRp8we4
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11392114/
THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN (2020)
- Narrative, USA
- Black Lens, Life & Liberty
- Director: David Midell
- Runtime: 83 Minutes
- Synopsis: Based on the true story of the events that led to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were dispatched to check on him.
- Trailer: https://vimeo.com/338803742/4cbe756a4b
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8906722/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
EMA (2019)
- Narrative, Chile
- Shout/Sidewalk
- Director: Pablo Larraín
- Runtime: 107 Minutes
- Synopsis: A couple deals with the aftermath of an adoption that goes awry as their household falls apart.
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xVGjzPaV6s
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8800266
JASPER MALL (2020)
- Documentary, USA
- Alabama Film
- Director: Bradford Thomason, Brett Whitcomb
- Runtime: 85 Minutes
- Synopsis: A year in the life of a dying shopping mall in Jasper, Alabama.
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V7ytbs3y5U
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11262098/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
ROAR (1981)
- Rated PG
- Narrative, USA
- Director: Noel Marshall
- Runtime: 102 Minutes
- Synopsis: No animals were harmed in the making of this movie, 70 members of the cast and crew were. Wildlife preservationist, Hank, lives harmoniously alongside a menagerie of over 100 untamed animals on a preservation in the African plains. When his wife and children arrive for a visit, a long-brewing battle for dominance between the lions erupts and threatens their very lives.
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cny_D50Rr44
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083001/
MIRACLE FISHING (2020)
- Documentary, USA
- Director: Miles Hargrove, Christopher Birge
- Runtime: 85 Minutes
- Synopsis: The story of a father’s kidnapping as told through the 1994 video diaries of his son, the film’s Director Miles Hargrove.
- Website: https://www.miraclefishing.com/
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11904798/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
SUZI Q (2019)
- Documentary, USA
- Director: Liam Firmager
- Runtime: 98 Minutes
- Synopsis: Story of trailblazing American rock singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro, who helped redefine the role of women in rock ‘n’ roll when she broke out in 1973.
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeDmFod1ZVM
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9783620/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2
Tickets for these films are now on sale at sidewalkfest.com/tickets. Additionally, onsite tickets will be available for each individual film and will be priced based on the number of individuals in each vehicle (one person per car = $15, two people per car = $26, three people per car = $35, four people per car = $42, and five people or more per car = $47). Concessions and bar service will be provided by The Grand River Drive-In at The Backyard.