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FIVE BLACK LENS FEATURES THAT CELEBRATE STORYTELLERS

Posted on by Chloe Cook

Five Black Lens Features That Celebrate Storytellers

By T. Marie King

Black Lens programming has proven to be an extraordinary platform for storytellers, enabling them to not only showcase their diverse experiences but also unleash the full power of their imaginations. As Sidewalk Film Festival + Cinema progresses, our commitment to empowering Black voices becomes even more resolute.

And as we commemorate the 25th annual Sidewalk Film Festival, I am thrilled to tell you about four outstanding documentary features that you absolutely cannot miss. Additionally, we have a throwback classic that holds a special place in our hearts, celebrating its 30th anniversary. Together, these films (and the many more in our lineup) promise an unforgettable cinematic experience for all attendees.

The Contradictions of Fair Hope

Saturday, Aug. 26, 3 p.m.

Birmingham Museum of Art

2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Blvd.

 

Uncover a lesser-known chapter of American history as this documentary delves into the era when newly emancipated slaves established “benevolent societies” to combat hunger, illness and the fear of impoverished burials. With a focus on The Fair Hope Benevolent Society in Uniontown, Alabama, the film provides a thought-provoking exploration of the Society’s complex juxtaposition with the annual “foot wash” celebration.

Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn

Saturday, Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m.

BJCC Forum Theatre

1001 19th St. N.

Executive produced by Al Roker, this inspiring documentary chronicles the remarkable journey of Malcolm Kenyatta, a “poor, gay Black man from North Philly,” as he embarks on his historic run for the United States Senate.

Let the Church Say

Sunday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m.

BJCC Forum Theatre

1001 19th St. N.

Delve into the heart of the Black American church through the eyes of the community itself. This documentary explores the significance and impact of the Black church, featuring insightful interviews that provide a compelling narrative of its role in the lives of Black Americans.

Invisible Beauty

Sunday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m.

BJCC Forum Theatre

1001 19th St. N.

Witness the transformative journey of fashion revolutionary and model turned agent and activist, Bethann Hardison. As a pioneer who understood the beauty of Black Long before the fashion industry caught up. Hardison’s story encompasses her experiences walking the runway alongside icons like Iman, discovering supermodels like Tyson Beckford, and mentoring legends like Naomi Campbell. The film also reflects on the challenges she faced as a trailblazer.

Poetic Justice

Saturday, Aug. 26, 12:30 p.m.

Dorothy Jemison Day Theater

800 19th St. N.

Join the journey of Justice, a grieving hairdresser, as she embarks on a road trip from South Central Los Angeles to Oakland, accompanied by her friend and an obnoxious postal worker. This heartfelt drama unravels the emotional and transformative experiences of the characters throughout their adventurous expedition.

These five features promise to captivate, educate and entertain. As we celebrate our rich storytelling tradition and commemorate Sidewalk Film Festival’s 25-year milestone, let’s embrace the power of cinema to unite and empower diverse perspectives. Don’t miss out on these cinematic gems. Check out the full lineup of the 25th Sidewalk Film Festival, and get your tickets and passes to make sure you get to see everything you’re excited about!

 

Festival Tickets

 

 

 

FOUR DOCUMENTARIES WE THINK YOU’LL LOVE

Posted on by Chloe Cook
Every year at Sidewalk, we’re thrilled to bring you some of the most exciting and thought-provoking documentary features we can find — and this 25th year is no exception, as we have a ton of new films that documentary fans are going to want to seek out. In this blog post, we’ll be showcasing four of this year’s can’t-miss selections that documentary fans will want to add to their schedules. Make sure you check each venue and get your tickets or passes now, as seating is limited in some cases, and you’ll want to make sure you get your seat for these hotly anticipated titles.

Nathan-ism

Saturday, Aug. 26, at 2:35 p.m.

Sidewalk Cinema Theater B

1821 2nd Ave. N.

We have a lot of films this year that peek beneath the surface of artists’ creative processes — see also our opening night selection, the Thomas Kinkade documentary Art for Everybody — and this portrait of Nathan Hilu, a 90-year-old folk artist, is a twisty and unexpected entry in this very specific thematic subgenre. Director Elan Golod’s film is a profile of Hilu, a man who has for 70 years compulsively created a visual memoir based on his experiences as a young Jewish serviceman assigned to guard Nazi war criminals who were facing trial at Nuremberg. As Nathan tells his remarkable story, Nathan-ism takes turns you won’t see coming, giving viewers a full and remarkable look at this complicated artist. Our festival screening is sponsored by Marjorie Perlman.

Mississippi River Styx

Saturday, Aug. 26, at 12:40 p.m.

Kress Building Ballroom

301 19th St. N

A man with a terminal cancer diagnosis sets out on a final voyage down the Mississippi River on a rickety houseboat, hoping to float down the river’s entire length and reach the Gulf of Mexico before his time runs out. This is just the beginning of the wild new documentary Mississippi River Styx, which depicts the harrowing journey — and what happens when the journey ends, the man continues to live off the kindness of strangers, and locals in a Louisiana delta town start to wonder about the truth behind the story that initially captivated an entire region. If you’re a fan of previous Sidewalk documentary selections like Finders Keepers, you won’t want to miss this portrait of an eccentric drifter and his dangerous quest.

A Disturbance in the Force

Sunday, Aug. 27, at 3:30 p.m.

Lyric Theatre

1800 3rd Ave. N.

Any Star Wars fans out there? How about fans of kitschy cultural artifacts? If you were a fan of Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, the Sidewalk opening night selection in 2015 from co-director Jeremy Coon, you’ll enjoy A Disturbance in the Force. Co-directed by Coon and Steve Kozak, this is a documentary that examines in full detail how the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special was conceived, shot and aired — only to be almost instantly denounced by George Lucas and its cast, and grow into an object of fascination for Star Wars fans for decades. Featuring commentary by some of the most famous nerd figures in pop culture (including “Weird Al” Yankovic, Seth Green and Kevin Smith), A Disturbance in the Force is a must-see for bad movie enthusiasts. Our festival screening is sponsored by Amanda Bates of ARC Realty. (After, at 5:40 p.m., consider joining us at Sidewalk Cinema’s Theater A for a very special edition of VHS Time Machine, where we’ll show a secret vintage title that may be of interest to fans of this movie. Admission is free, but warning: Seating is limited!)

Mister Organ

Sunday, Aug. 27, at 3:30 p.m.

Alabama Theatre

1817 3rd Ave. N.

Now here’s a disturbing mind trip of a documentary you won’t want to miss. Filmmaker and journalist David Farrier begins his investigation of a New Zealand antique shop that has been overzealously clamping tires of cars that park in the street in front of the shop. As he digs into the story of Michael Organ, the parking monitor responsible, he is pulled into Organ’s dark web of manipulation and psychological warfare — and soon finds that just as he has been investigating Organ, Organ has been investigating him. Farrier, the filmmaker behind the absolutely wild documentary “Tickled,” has returned with another twisty story of a charismatic and dangerous man who is unafraid to turn the tables on his pursuer. Our festival screening of Mister Organ is sponsored by Brandino Brass.

And these are only four of an astounding slate of documentary features you can see during our 25th annual festival. Don’t have your passes or tickets yet? Go ahead and get whatever is best for your schedule now — you won’t want to miss this incredible lineup of films, or the exciting special events and parties we have in store.

 

Festival Tickets

 

https://sidewalk25.sched.com/

Festival Tickets

 

https://sidewalk25.sched.com/

 

FIVE MUST-SEE NARRATIVE FEATURES AT THE 25TH SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL

Posted on by Chloe Cook

With hundreds of films to see at the 25th annual Sidewalk Film Festival it might be hard to decide which ones to put on your festival schedule. Luckily, I am a features programmer and can help!

By Charlie Brown Sanders III, features programmer

Opening Night After Dark: Hello Dankness

Friday, Aug. 25, at 10 p.m.
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A and B
1821 2nd Ave. N.

With our 25th Sidewalk Film Festival, we have decided to add a new programming slot: Opening Night After Dark. Each year, we aim to grow the number of films we show, and this potential late-night slot always seemed like it could be something special if we could get the perfect film. I am happy to report that Hello Dankness is indeed that film! Consisting of footage from hundreds of films, it tells the story of how the 2016 election radically transformed the minds of all Americans. It just might not seem as straightforward as all that sounds. With its warped amalgamation of harsh truths and never-ending questions, Hello Dankness creatively sums up the confusing world we find ourselves living in. The cinematic examples in this feature film truly allow art to imitate life.

Buzzard (2014)

Saturday, Aug. 26 at 2:50 p.m.
Kress Building Ballroom
301 19th St. N

Another special opportunity we have during our 25th year is to take a look back at some of the films that have stood out from past years lineups! We have selected 25 films divided up between screenings throughout the year at the Sidewalk Cinema and our festival.

Buzzard instantly made the list for me as it is one of the most visceral first-time screenings I’ve ever experienced at Sidewalk. Following Marty after he steals undeliverable refund checks from his company, we see how far this con man descends into paranoia and violence while attempting to stay one step ahead of the police. A beautifully photographed editing tour de force, we are very excited to bring Buzzard back to Sidewalk!

Sorcery (Brujería)

Saturday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m.
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
820 18th St. N.

Over the past 25 years, Sidewalk has developed a reputation for offering gripping horror and mesmerizing slow-burn films. Sorcery offers both in one instant classic. Follow Rosa as she sets out for justice, seeking help from the king of a powerful organization of sorcerers. A folk-horror revenge fairytale taking place on a remote island in the late 19th century, Sorcery’s perfectly crafted pacing of poetic brilliance is illuminated with gorgeous cinematography and aesthetic that calls to mind Tarkovsky, Haneke and Bergman. 

Medusa Deluxe

Sunday, Aug. 27, at 5:45 p.m.
Lyric Theater
1800 3rd Ave. N.

Another staple of the past 25 years at Sidewalk is the classic thriller, typically modernized. In Medusa Deluxe, talented and cutthroat hairstylists at a competition find one of their own has been murdered — before judging has even begun. A dazzling refresher on the whodunit subgenre, Medusa Deluxe is shot and edited to achieve the one camera take look and feel. An impressive debut feature, this whirlwind comedic — and at times claustrophobic — thriller is a film you will not want to miss!

Dogtooth (2009)

Sunday, Aug. 27, at 8:30 p.m.
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A
1821 2nd Ave. N.

The last film I’d like to recommend comes from Academy Award nominee Yorgos Lanthimos. Originally featured at our 2009 festival, Dogtooth is another retrospective title that absolutely grabs the audience by the throat from the start and does not let go until the credits. A controlling, manipulative father locks his three adult offspring in a state of perpetual childhood by keeping them prisoner within the sprawling family compound. Increasingly curious about the outside world, the older daughter hatches a plan to escape. Not for the faint of heart. WARNING! EXTREMELY VIOLENT!

While these five titles stand out to me as must-see narrative films, we of course have so much more to offer and we encourage you to check out our full film lineup here. And ticket sales are coming in hot. Be sure to order your Sidewalk Film Festival tickets and passes sooner rather than later

 

Six Additional Feature Selections + The Saturday Night Party of the 24th Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank

Posted on by Sam Eddins

Surprise! Announcing 6 additional features in the 24th annual Sidewalk Film Festival! Plus keep an eye out, we have a few more surprises to come. Grab those tickets NOW!

 

Sophia

Directed By Jon Kasbe & Crystal Moselle

Documentary

USA

89 Minutes

This stirring and visually immersive documentary brings us inside the spirited pursuits of David Hanson, a restless inventor aiming to perfect the world’s most life-like A.I.

 

 

Spin Me Round

Directed By Jeff Baena

Narrative

104 Minutes

Featuring Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Molly Shannon and Tim Heidecker, a woman wins an all-expenses trip to a company’s gorgeous “institute” outside of Florence, and also the chance to meet the restaurant chain’s wealthy and charismatic owner. She finds a different adventure than the one she imagined.

 

Keep the Cameras Rolling: The Pedro Zamora Way

Documentary

USA

Directed By William T. Horner & Stacey Woelfel

Shout, Life & Liberty

Runtime 98 Mins

The story of Pedro Zamora, the charming young activist who transformed the face of AIDS in America by allowing MTV’s REAL WORLD to chronicle his joy, his influence, and his journey with a disease that would ultimately kill him.

 

Petit Mal

Narrative

Colombia

Directed By Ruth Caudeli

Shout

Runtime 89 Mins

Three young women, Martina, Laia, and Anto, who are in a passionate, throuple see the dynamic of their relationship reshaped when one is called away for a long-term project.

 

A Life on the Farm

Documentary

UK

Directed By Oscar Harding

Runtime 75 Mins

When filmmaker Oscar Harding’s grandfather passed away in the rural English county of Somerset, his family inherited an extraordinary video tape – a feature-length home movie from neighbour Charles Carson, which can best be described as “Monty Python meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.  A LIFE ON THE FARM is an exploration and celebration of Charles Carson and his movies, rescued from obscurity, which present a moving and laugh-out-loud document of a time and place in danger of being lost to history.

 

The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

Narrative

USA

Directed By John G. Avildsen

Family, Rated PG

Runtime 112 Mins

Arguably the most over-the-top (and fun) Karate Kid in the series, Ostracised villain John Kreese attempts to gain revenge on Daniel and Miyagi, with the help of a Vietnam War comrade, the wealthy owner of a toxic waste disposal business. Part of the Sidewalk Family line-up, kids 12 and under are free! Please note that THE KARATE KID PART III is rated PG by the MPAA.

 

 

Sidewalk’s Saturday Night Roller Disco @ CITYWALK BHAM – 9pm-1am

BYO SKATES! Skate rentals will be on site, but are first-come-first-serve, and availability is limited. Free skate rentals with party pass. Waver required to participate. Cash bar on site.

VIP and Weekend Passholders get FREE admission, drinks, and skate rental.

$25 party passes available at here.

 

The 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival will be held Aug. 22-28 in downtown Birmingham’s theatre district.

 

Purchase your passes now at sidewalkfest.com/tix.

The Next 8 Selections for the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank

Posted on by Sam Eddins

We are incredibly proud and excited to announce the next 8 titles in the 2022 Sidewalk Film Festival line-up!

 

God’s Creatures

Directed by Saela Davis & Anna Rose Holmer

Narrative

From A24 and the filmmaking team behind 2016 Sidewalk selection The Fits, this simmering psychological drama stars Academy Award nominee Emily Watson, Paul Mescal and Aisling Franciosi. The lives of the residents of a small, isolated fising village in Ireland are shaken when the prodigal son (Mescal) of one of its residents (Watson) returns unexpectedly. As the two re-develop their intense close bond, whispers of an alleged crime threaten to upend their reunion. God’s Creatures explores the collision of maternal bond and female advocacy while also providing a glimpse at a unique part of the world rarely depicted on screen.

 

Jasmine is a Star

Directed by Jo Rochelle

Narrative (Black Lens)

Jasmine is a 16-year-old with big dreams. She wants to make it as a fashion model and influencer, even as the dreary reality of her high school life makes that dream seem unachievable. She wants to make her way independently through the industry, despite her often doting parents’ interference. And she wants to be a voice for Black girls with albinism, like her — though her own shyness sometimes stands in the way. Jasmine is a Star is a beautiful portrait of teenage dreams and the struggles of standing out, and we are proud to share this film as our Black Lens Spotlight selection, to be screened on Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Sidewalk Cinema.

 

Pretty Problems

Directed by Kestrin Pantera

Narrative (Alabama)

Birmingham native Britt Rentschler leads this hilarious comedy of manners, this year’s winner of the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award at SXSW. Rentschler and Michael Tennant star as Lindsay and Jack, a broke middle-class couple stuck firmly in dead-end jobs and dissatisfaction. But after Lindsay has a chance encounter with a wealthy stranger at work, the two are invited to a weekend getaway at a Sonoma Valley home full of booze, drugs and ostentatious wealth. What are their hosts’ motivations? Pretty Problems is a clever and wildly funny socioeconomic satire about the way the other half lives, and how all the money in the world can’t solve one’s dissatisfaction with oneself.

 

Three Minutes — A Lengthening

Directed by Bianca Stigter

Documentary (Life & Liberty)

Three minutes of 16mm film footage, shot in 1938 by an émigré from America, are all that remain of the small village of Nasielsk, Poland. Its roughly 3,000 residents, mostly Jewish, were deported less than a year later — and most were killed in the Treblinka extermination camp. Now, director Bianca Stigter has taken those three minutes and examines them frame by frame in this stunning documentary exploration of memory and history, co-produced by Academy Award winner Steve McQueen.

Trailer

 

Body Parts

Directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan

Documentary

 Following the reckoning of the #MeToo movement, the film and television industry had to reassess many of its traditional and potentially manipulative practices surrounding nude scenes. This lively and entertaining documentary examines the exploitative history of film and TV nudity, how performers have begun to take back their power when filming these scenes, and the push for intimacy coordinators and on-set environments that are fully comfortable and consensual. Note: This film is not yet rated… but it’s a movie about nude scenes, so you do the math.

 

Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids

Directed by Andrew Jenks

Documentary

Who knew that the cuddly Cabbage Patch Kids dolls paved the way for holiday shopping mayhem and Black Friday rioting? This entertaining documentary digs into the rise and fall of Cabbage Patch Kids, from modest origins in Georgia to national hysteria, as the popular toys spawned consumer chaos with desperate parents literally fighting each other to get their hands on the hottest toy around. But behind the innocence of Cabbage Patch Kids lies a darker story of American entrepreneurial greed. Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris.

 

All Man: The International Male Story

Directed by Bryan Darling & Jesse Finley Reed

Documentary (SHOUT)

One of the most influential and beloved mail-order catalogs of the ‘70s and ‘80s, International Male helped define and spread trendy cosmopolitan fashion for men across the country to audiences gay and straight alike. All Man: The International Male Story takes you behind the scenes and showcases its creative directors, fashion models and long-time customers who found style and community in the pages of International Male. And it shows how the wildly successful and influential catalog worked to redefine not only fashion, but American masculinity itself.

Trailer

 

Cat Daddies

Directed by Mye Hoang

Documentary (Family)

 Move over, cat ladies — men are just as wild about their feline companions, and here’s the documentary portrait to prove it. Cat Daddies profiles eight men — influencers, firefighters, stuntmen and long-haul truckers among them — who defy convention and are crazy about their kitties. As 2020 approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts everyone’s life, cats become a necessary and vital source of stability and comfort — especially in the case of David Giovanni, a former New York construction worker experiencing homelessness who seeks only to care for his beloved cat. If you’re cat-crazy too, Cat Daddies will put a smile on your face and bring a tear to your eye.

Trailer

The 24th annual Sidewalk Film Festival will be held Aug. 22-28 in downtown Birmingham’s theatre district. 

Purchase your passes now at sidewalkfest.com/tix.

Opening Night + 8 Other Selections for the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank

Posted on by Sam Eddins

We are thrilled to announce the second batch of titles for the upcoming 24th annual Sidewalk Film Festival, including our opening night selection.

 

OPENING NIGHT SELECTION: Butterfly in the Sky

Directed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb

Documentary (Alabama, Black Lens)

Birmingham’s own Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb have previously played at Sidewalk with their documentary features GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, Jasper Mall, and A Life in Waves, among others. Now, we’re thrilled to open the 24th annual Sidewalk Film Festival with their latest documentary. Butterfly in the Sky is the story of the beloved public television show Reading Rainbow, the product of a committed team of educators and producers who used their platform to instill a love of reading in their young viewers. With long-time host LeVar Burton at the helm, they sought to create a kinder, more curious, and more empathetic generation. Now, those involved reflect on the success of their mission. This behind-the-scenes look at one of the most treasured children’s television series shows how this ragtag crew changed the lives of millions. Butterfly in the Sky recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Join us for the hometown premiere on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Alabama Theatre and stick around for our Opening Night Afterparty, right outside the theater on 3rd Ave. N.

 

The Pez Outlaw

Directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel

Documentary

Now here’s a “true crime” documentary that won’t make you feel terrible about the state of humanity. Bryan Storkel (a Sidewalk regular who also produced opening night selections Butterfly in the Sky and 2018’s White Tide) and Amy Bandlien Storkel direct this wildly entertaining documentary about Steve Glew, a Pez enthusiast who made millions in the collectors’ market by traveling to Europe and acquiring rare Pez variants unattainable in the U.S. But his exploits drew the attention of Pez Candy USA, whose CEO — the “Pezident” — makes it a special mission to shut Glew down. This escalating war of wills and Pez dispensers set the stage for the Storkels’ magnificently bubbly film, as quirky as Glew himself and as sweet as Pez candy.

Trailer

The Third Saturday in October Part V

And

The Third Saturday in October

Directed by Jay Burleson

Narrative (Alabama)

Jay Burleson’s Alabama-shot and -set double feature introduces a new iconic masked murderer in a loving homage to the grimy, cheaply made horror franchises that produced one too many sequels. Despite what you might think, we’ll start with Part V, which finds the murderous and possibly undead Jakkariah Harding slicing and dicing rural Alabama football fans during the weekend of a big college football rivalry. Then we’ll jump back to the “first” film, which shows how Harding claimed his first victims. Burleson and his cast and crew of Sidewalk regulars and local faces have made two charming and affectionate tributes to the slasher franchises of the ‘80s and ‘90s — and if you’re a horror fan, you’ll want to get tickets to both.

 

The Smell of Money

Directed by Shawn Bannon

Documentary (Black Lens, Life & Liberty)

A rural North Carolina community battles a factory-farming conglomerate over the hog waste processing practices that have made daily life unlivable in their homes and polluted their air, land and water. This shocking documentary, exposing some of the foul secrets of corporate farming, develops into a legal David vs. Goliath story, as the predominantly Black residents of this small community band together against one of the largest pork companies in the world. The Smell of Money asks you to consider the human cost of what you put on your plate, and showcases some truly inspiring homegrown activists pushing for a cleaner, nicer-smelling future.

Trailer

 

Chop & Steele

Directed by Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Nader

Documentary (Life & Liberty)

Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett are two guys who have pushed each other into a series of elaborate pranks since they first became friends in grade school. While on tour with their Found Footage Festival — a celebration of weird VHS tapes the two have found over the years at yard sales and thrift shops — Prueher and Pickett amuse themselves by getting booked on local news stations as “experts” in fields they know nothing about. But posing as the hilariously inept strongman duo Chop & Steele (despite, as they point out, not appearing muscular at all) is a bridge too far for one TV station’s parent company, who sues the duo, making their future as comic agents of chaos uncertain. Chop & Steele is a hilarious docu-portrait of the joys of doing stupid stuff with your BFF.

 

Refuge

Directed by Erin Bernhardt and Din Blankenship

Documentary (Life & Liberty)

How do you fix hatred? Chris is a veteran whose wartime trauma led him to a life of white nationalism and a leadership position in the Ku Klux Klan. Heval is a Kurdish refugee working as a physician in the diverse city of Clarkston, Georgia. When Heval reaches out to form an unlikely connection, Chris is forced to reconsider the hollowness of his white supremacist mindset, and in doing so finds greater healing than he might ever have anticipated. The timely Refuge arrives at a moment when divisions in the United States run deeper than in decades. But by following Chris’s path from radicalization to reconciliation, Refuge shows that empathy and love can bridge these divisions.

Trailer

 

Searchers

Directed by Pacho Velez

Documentary

What are we looking for when we’re looking for love? This innovative documentary asks dozens of New Yorkers that question, superimposing the screens of their phones over their faces as they scroll through their dating apps, looking for a partner, fling or soulmate. The result is revealing, comic and wistful — a portrait of people of varying ages, orientations, racial and ethnic backgrounds all searching for a connection.

Trailer

 

SPECIAL EVENT: “Etowah : A Film about Duquette Johnston” followed

by a live performance by Duquette Johnston

Directed by Daniel Fox

Documentary short (Alabama)

Join us at the newly renovated Carver Theatre all weekend for incredible films, including a screening of this new short documentary on Birmingham musician Duquette Johnston and his latest album, “The Social Animals.” Then, stick around for a special live performance from Johnston on the Carver stage. We’re thrilled to host one of Birmingham’s most beloved music artists in the historic 4th Avenue Business District, the hub of our jazz scene and home of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

The 24th annual Sidewalk Film Festival will be held Aug. 22-28 in downtown Birmingham’s theatre district. 

Purchase your passes now at sidewalkfest.com/tix.

 

Announcing the First Nine Official Feature Selections of the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank

Posted on by Casey Engelbrecht

We are beyond excited to announce the first nine official feature selections for the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank, to be screened in downtown Birmingham’s theatre district Aug. 22-28.

Take a look, keep an eye out for many incredible film announcements to follow in the coming weeks, and get your Sidewalk 2022 passes today!

 

Mija

Directed by Isabel Castro

Documentary (Life & Liberty)

 

This remarkable documentary from Disney and Nat Geo follows Doris Muñoz, a young Mexican-American woman working as a music talent manager for a hot new artist and providing a key source of income for her undocumented parents and her brother, who has been deported. But as circumstances force her business to evolve, she meets Jacks Haupt, another hungry young artist from a mixed-status family for whom making it in show business isn’t just a dream — it’s a necessity. Part confessional, part crowd-pleaser, Mija shines a light on these first-generation Americans hustling to make it big and give their families a ticket to a better life. 

 

The Automat

Directed by Lisa Hurwitz

Documentary

 

The Automat is a fond remembrance of Horn & Hardart, a more than 100-year-old chain of popular fast food restaurants at which customers would select a menu item from rows of coin-operated windowed compartments and eat their meals at communal tables. For generations, these restaurants were New York fixtures; this documentary interviews many of its most famous former customers, including iconic comedian Mel Brooks and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Trailer

 

A Walk With Joey

Directed by Dana Lynn Falletta and J. Neil Bloomer

Documentary (Alabama, Life & Liberty)

 

Joey Hale survived a brain tumor at a very young age and defied all odds to mount a recovery, thanks to some needed inspiration from his beloved football team the San Diego Chargers and a close friendship with former Auburn player Lionel “Little Train” James. Now Joey pays it forward to others all around the Birmingham area and beyond, bringing smiles to his customers at Publix and ministry and charity to those less fortunate. A Walk With Joey is a fond portrait of a true Alabama original whose life has touched thousands.

 

The Sun Rises in the East

Directed by Tayo Giwa

Documentary (Black Lens)

 

In 1969 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, prominent Black activists and educators founded The East, a pan-African cultural organization established to enrich the lives of children and promote Black self-determination. This documentary tells its story, as The East grew to include a school, publisher, clothing shop and bookstore — and changed the lives of parents and students alike by giving a neighborhood the tools it needed for empowerment.

Trailer

 

The Thief Collector

Directed by Allison Otto

Documentary

 

In 1985, a priceless painting was cut from its frame at the University of Arizona Museum of Art and stolen in broad daylight. It resurfaced 32 years later — but you wouldn’t believe me if I told you where it was found. The Thief Collector tells the unbelievable story of a heist with the unlikeliest of perpetrators, examining the complicated motives of its audacious criminals with bubbly flair in a film everyone will be talking about.

Trailer

 

Peace in the Valley

Directed by Tyler Riggs

Narrative

 

A young mother is suddenly widowed when her husband is killed in an act of heroism during a mass shooting incident. The wrenching (and unfortunately constantly) timely drama Peace in the Valley focuses on the aftermath, as the family struggles to rebuild their lives. Anchored by an excellent lead performance from Brit Shaw and Sidewalk fixture Michael Abbott Jr. in a dual role, this sensitive work tries to find meaning in the violent meaninglessness of the new American normal.

 

Funny Pages

Directed by Owen Kline

Narrative

 

A young cartoonist drops out of school to make it on his own in the seedy margins of Trenton, New Jersey, in this dark comedy from A24 and producers Josh and Benny Safdie. The directorial debut of actor Owen Kline, Funny Pages is a grimy and gleefully tasteless look at a subculture of comic book-obsessed young men.

 

The Integrity of Joseph Chambers

Directed by Robert Machoian

Narrative (Alabama)

 

Director Robert Machoian and Alabama’s own Clayne Crawford last collaborated on The Killing of Two Lovers; their latest, shot in Alabama, is another deeply tense thriller about modern masculinity gone awry. Crawford plays the title character, a man fearful of imminent societal collapse who seeks to prove he can make it on his own during a hunting trip. But when things go terribly wrong, Joseph Chambers has to prove his mettle in unexpected ways.

Trailer

 

Good Girl Jane

Directed by Sarah Elizabeth Mintz

Narrative

 

A lonely teenage girl falls in with the wrong crowd in this stunning debut feature from Sarah

Elizabeth Mintz. Rain Spencer stars at the title character, who meets a group of trendy friends

and starts experimenting with drugs in the aftermath of her parents’ divorce. But Jane soon falls under the sway of a charming older man — and things spiral out of control. You may think you know this story, but you’ve never seen it done quite this well. Good Girl Jane won Best Narrative Film and Best Performance for Spencer at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

 

The remaining titles, including our Opening Night selection, will be announced in the coming weeks.

If you haven’t already secured your VIP or Weekend Pass, you can do so now at sidewalkfest.com/tix. Prices increase on July 15!

2021 Sidewalk Film Festival Award Winners

Posted on by Casey Engelbrecht

2021 Volunteer of the Year: Amanda Veach-Cook

 

Recipient of the Black Lens Filmmaker Grant sponsored by the Law Firm of Stacey A. Davis: Somica Spratley

 

Sidewrite Awards:

Best Alabama Screenplay: “Perfect By Christmas” by Kimberly Soliman

Best Short Screenplay: “El Vals” by Alycya Magaña

Best Feature Screenplay: “Boundaries” by Asad Farooqui and “Our Brilliant Leaders by Brandon Garner

 

ReelSouth Short Film Award:

“Florida Woman” dir. Catie Skipp

 

Best Family Film

The Shocklosers Survive Camp Analog dir. Lee Fanning

 

Best Student Film

“In the Weeds” dir. Nick Milczarczyk

 

Best SHOUT Feature

LFG dir. Sean Fine & Andrea Nix

 

Best SHOUT Short

“No Man’s Land” dir. Anna Andersen & Gabriella Canal

 

Best Black Lens Feature

The Passing On dir. Nathan Clarke

 

Best Black Lens Short

“Graffica!” dir. Yogi Dada

 

Best Life + Liberty Film

North By Current dir. Angelo Madsen Minax

 

Alan Hunter Best Alabama Film

Socks on Fire dir. Bo McGuire

 

Best Documentary Short

“Golden Age Karate” dir. Sindha Agha

 

Best Narrative Short

“Burros” dir. Jefferson Stein

 

Best Animated Short

“Clarence of Tomorrow” dir. Shawn Spear

 

Kathryn Tucker Windham Storyteller Award

“Leylak” dir. Scott Aharoni & Dennis Latos

 

Best Documentary Feature

The Kids dir. Eddie Martin

 

Jambor-Franklin Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature

The Novice dir. Lauren Hadaway

 

 

Spirit of Sidewalk Award

Dorothy Oliver, “The Panola Project”

 

Audience Choice Awards

Best SHOUT Film: Building a Bridge dir. Evan Mascagni & Shannon Post

Best Black Lens Film: Accepted dir. Dan Chen

Best Alabama Film: “The Panola Project” dir. Rachael DeCruz & Jeremy S. Levine

Best Documentary Short: “Not Worth Killing” dir. Eric M. Ivey

Best Narrative Short: “Forgive Us” dir. D.W. Hodges

Best Documentary Feature: The Neutral Ground dir. CJ Hunt

Best Narrative Feature: Catch the Fair One dir. Josef Kubota Wladyka

 

Sidewalk Programmers Short Film Award

“Taffy” dir. Jon Crawford

 

Sidewalk Programmers’ Feature Film Award

Television Event dir. Jeff Daniels

 

 

 

Vaccination and COVID-19 Testing Update for the 2021 Sidewalk Film Festival

Posted on by Casey Engelbrecht

Attention Sidewalk Family!

 

Due to a continued increase in case counts, shrinking hospital beds across our state and a general interest in public health, we will be requiring that all attendees of the 23rd Annual Sidewalk Film Festival event must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48-hours prior to entry to the event (August 23-29, 2021). 

 

  • All fans must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least two weeks after final dose) and provide proof of vaccination; i.e. original vaccination card, copy of vaccination card, picture of vaccination card. Or, have received a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48-hours before entry to any of the Festival Venues and provide proof of negative result.
  • Unvaccinated fans under 12 years of age will be required to take a COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48-hours before entry to the facility and will provide proof of negative result.

HOW TO:

Festival Spotlight Films, Monday, August 23-Thursday, August 26

  1. Arrive at the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema well in advance of your film start time with your vaccine card (or a photocopy or photo) or your negative COVID-19 diagnostic test results (from a healthcare provider, clinic etc..) and present to the Sidewalk greeter. 
  2. The greeter will check your vaccination card to ensure that you are fully vaccinated (that at least two weeks time has passed since your last shot) or your negative test results to make sure that they are less than 48 hours old. 
  3. Once your proof of vaccination/negative test results has been shown, entrance will be granted to the cinema. 

*this process will be repeated for each spotlight night

**You can receive a free rapid test from Birmingham AIDS Outreach

 

Festival Weekend, Friday, August 27- Sunday, August 29

  1. Visit one of our three PUBLIC HEALTH checkpoints located:
    1. outside of our Central Box Office on the corner of 19th St. and 2nd Ave. N. (FRIDAY-SUNDAY)
    2. on the McWane Center Plaza on the corner of 19th St. and 3rd Ave. N.  (FRIDAY-SUNDAY)
    3. on the ASFA Plaza on the corner of 19th St. and Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd (SATURDAY-SUNDAY)
  2. The greeter will check your vaccination card  (or photocopy or photo)to ensure that you are fully vaccinated (that at least two weeks time has passed since your last shot) or your negative test results to make sure that they are less than 48 hours old. 
  3. Once your proof of vaccination/negative test results has been shown, the greeter will place a public health wristband on your wrist which should be worn for the duration of your festival experience. 

*You can receive a free rapid test from Birmingham AIDS Outreach onsite (corner of 3rd Ave. N. & 19th St) Friday from 6pm-11pm or Saturday from 10am-3pm

You will NOT be able to show proof of vaccination/test results at the door of our screening venues during festival weekend, you MUST visit one of our PUBLIC HEALTH checkpoints to have your status verified.

 

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to adapt to the many circumstances of this year’s festival that are beyond our control.