After announcing a handful of titles over the past few months, we’re honored to announce the full lineup for the 26th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank! You can check out the entire schedule here and read our spotlights on our Opening and Closing Night selections below. This year’s lineup includes more than 200 films from over 60 countries, representing a wide-variety of genres and diverse perspectives.
Festival VIP, Weekend and Day Passes are on sale NOW at sidewalkfest.com/tix. Get your festival passes before the price increase on August 1st!
Premium Single tickets for individual screenings at the festival will go on sale on Friday, July 26th.
Opening Night: Exhibiting Forgiveness, sponsored by Gilead Sciences
Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m.
Opening Night Passes are on sale now
We are thrilled to open our 26th year with a Black-directed narrative film for the first time: artist Titus Kaphar’s debut feature Exhibiting Forgiveness. Directed by Kaphar and starring Alabama native André Holland, the film follows the journey of Tarrell (Holland), a successful Black artist whose life is disrupted by the unexpected return of his estranged father, La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), a recovering addict seeking reconciliation. While his mother, Joyce (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), has forgiven La’Ron, Tarrell grapples with the challenge of forgiveness. With a powerful performance by Holland and a dynamic supporting cast, Exhibiting Forgiveness offers a poignant reflection on the enduring impact of past traumas and the arduous journey toward healing. Exhibiting Forgiveness screens Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m. at the Alabama Theatre. Titus Kaphar and André Holland will be in attendance and participate in a post-film discussion moderated by T. Marie King. Immediately after, step outside onto 3rd Ave N. for our Opening Night After-Party.
Closing Night: Missing From Fire Trail Road, sponsored by The VAL Group
Sunday, August 25 at 6 p.m.
Premium Single Tickets for Closing Night are on sale now. Premium Single Tickets for all other festival titles will be available Friday, July 26.
We’ll close out our festival with director Sabrina Van Tassel’s documentary Missing From Fire Trail Road. This riveting documentary details the case of Mary Ellen Johnson Davis, a Native American woman who disappeared in 2020. Her story exposes how hundreds of indigenous women continue to go missing in the USA, perpetuating trans-generational trauma on Indian reservations. Join us for our screening of Missing From Fire Trail Road on Sunday, August 25, at 6 p.m. at the Alabama Theatre.
Buy passes now – sidewalkfest.com/tix