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Sidewalk is excited to announce the 2^nd Annual Black Lens Film Week, February 20 – 26.  Black Lens Film Week celebrates Black cinema, filmmakers, and artists – committed to elevating Black voices and stories. Join us for a week filled with engaging narratives, family-friendly films, cult classics, and captivating documentaries.

What can you expect to see during Black Lens Film Week?

We will kick off Black Lens Film Week with the Mario Van Peebles film Panther (1995), a drama that chronicles the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its birth through its decline. We will close out the week with Peebles’ film Posse (1993), a Western story about a group (posse) of African American soldiers who assist their leader in taking revenge on the men that killed his father. You don’t want to miss these two amazing films!

A special thanks to the City of Birmingham for sponsoring the documentary Storming Caesar’s Palace, a film that follows the story of Ruby Duncan and a band of mothers who launched a revolutionary Black feminist anti-poverty movement in the 1960s and 1970s.

Also be sure to join us for the 30^th Anniversary celebration of The Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston, and our Shaft Double Feature which includes Shaft (1971) and Shaft (2000).

 

Our Black Business Fair begins Tuesday, February 21 highlighting entrepreneurs and artists from across the city of Birmingham. Black Lens Trivia is back on Friday and Saturday night along with special Happy Hour music from the Kickback.

So, come celebrate with us!

– T. Marie King, Lead Shorts and Black Lens Programmer

For more information on Black Lens Film Week and a full list of films programmed, visit us at: www.sidewalkfest.com/tickets.

Nick Ferlisi has been involved with Sidewalk since 2015, serving as a member of the Youth Board and participated/attended the Festival almost every year since. Since 2022, he’s worked at the Cinema as a Projectionist. Nick’s deep love of film has been prevalent for most of his life, aspiring to become a filmmaker at a young age with the hope of telling a variety of stories for all to enjoy. As time has gone, on one thing is certain: Nick lives and breathes film. Whether it’s an old-timey classic, a grandiose technicolor epic, a campy B-horror flick, an artsy international think piece, or even a blockbuster superhero spectacle, he’s probably seen them all! One of his favorites is February’s Staff Pick…and here’s what he had to say about it:

“Vertigo, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 suspenseful sensation, was one of his films I didn’t get around to seeing until my sophomore year of college film class –  and it disappoints me that it took so long to discover this astonishing classic. From the colorfully eye-popping intro to the gripping finale, I found my mind spinning around in amazement and curiosity as this story has a great deal to tell – making me come back for more. This film manages to thrill me, shock me, and entertain me…as well as perplex me. I was truly hypnotized by those spirals! When looking back at the journey for this film’s place in cinema history, it’s an interesting story. This was a film made by a world renowned director that wasn’t very well-received upon release – then fast-forward some decades later and it’s hailed as one of the greatest films ever made… second chances do exist!

I’ve seen an abundant amount of old movies (more than I can honestly count) and I want to share the love for these old pictures with newer audiences. Some things take time to be fully appreciated… and that’s what happened here with Vertigo. Not only do I want people to have the opportunity to see an old classic, but to take some time to appreciate and learn from the old stuff, as well.

Hope everyone will be on the edge of their seats and enjoy the suspense!”

– Nick Ferlisi

The nominations for the 95th Academy Awards have been announced, with Birmingham native and Sidewalk alum Daniel Scheinert’s (one half of directing duo Daniels) Everything Everywhere All At Once leading the race with 11 nominations! AL.com reported it today and had a profile on the filmmaker back in April where he couldn’t help but mention his love and gratitude for Sidewalk, “…(it’s) still my favorite film festival, so anytime I can go, I go. I always tell other filmmakers that it’s the right size of a film festival where you can walk to all the theaters, and it’s just one fun weekend.” We couldn’t be more proud of how far he’s come and can’t wait to screen the 11-time nominated film again in February. This is just one of many films screened over the past year at the Sidewalk Cinema that have received such honors.

Back in July, you might remember we set up a crafts station in honor of a popular little mollusk. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On ended up earning a nomination for Best Animated Feature. At the same time we screened the stunning documentary Fire of Love – nominated for Documentary Feature Film – and one of the year’s biggest successes, Top Gun: Maverick – nominated for Film Editing, Music (Original Song), Sound, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted Screenplay), and Best Picture.

In October we screened Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness, which is up for Writing (Original Screenplay), Directing, and Best Picture. In November we screened frontrunner Todd Field’s TÁR, which earned nominations for Film Editing, Writing (Original Screenplay), Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, and Best Actress for Cate Blanchett.

Newcomer Paul Mescal (who also starred in the 2022 Sidewalk Film Festival favorite, God’s Creatures) received a Best Actor nomination for Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun. One of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of the year, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, is up for Best Documentary Feature. And Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale received nominations for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Supporting Actress for Hong Chau, and Best Actor for Brendan Fraser.

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s phenomenon Everything Everywhere All At Once garnered the largest number of nominations, receiving a total of eleven: Costume Design, Film Editing (another Birmingham native, Paul Rogers), Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Writing (Original Screenplay), Directing, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu, Best Supporting Actor for Ke Huy Quan, and Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh.

We couldn’t be happier for one of our hometown heroes and we’re celebrating by bring Everything Everywhere All At Once back to the Sidewalk Cinema on February 10 – 12. We’ve also got our final screenings of The Whale this Thursday, January 26. Keeping in theme, we’ll also be screening this year’s Oscar Shorts soon – date to be determined, but stay tuned!

We’ll be having our free Oscars Watch Party the night of the ceremony, March 12.

Introducing Sidewalk’s 2023 Staff Picks screening series, a monthly series where members of our staff pick a movie that means the world to them. We’re kicking things off with Mel Brooks’ 1987 comedy classic, Spaceballs, as picked by J. Matt Cobb.

J. Matt has been volunteering for the Sidewalk Film Festival for nine years and has been a projectionist/concessionaire for four years. A Virgo whose hobbies include “hoarding vinyl (except the Taylor Swift kind), spreading the evangelical good news about coffee, eating above-average pizza, trolling Reddit for gossip, handling marketing & social media for too many accounts, Netflix and chilling by myself, watching dog & cat videos, promoting Lakeview life, and #JMattspeaking.” He told us his favorite music genres are R&B/soul, disco, and 80s pop/rock, and his favorite TV shows are Family Guy, Moonlighting, South Park, and Schitt’s Creek. Here’s what he had to say about one of his favorite movies: the cult classic, Spaceballs.

“Spaceballs, Mel Brooks’ 1987 Star Wars spoof, was like my first film that I abused relentlessly on a VHS cassette. My brother, cousins, and I would fumble over with uncontrollable laughter, abusing the rewind button over scenes that merged my Looney Tunes-trained adolescent imagination with the silly wit of Brooks’ one-liners. I was never big on Star Wars, but I got all the references in the film. And there’s plenty of comical jabs at other sci-fi and blockbuster movie franchises. To me, this is zany parody cinema done at peak Mel Brooks perfection. 

I’ve seen this movie countless times. Seriously, I stopped counting. And I’ve had my share of comedy films in my lifetime. But this never grows old. Whether you’re seeing this for the first time…or in the words of Michael Winslow’s character, ‘you’ve lost the bleeps, lost the sweeps, and lost the creeps,’ Spaceballs will almost always leave you in fits of hysterical laughter. And at a crazy pace — ‘ludicrous speed’ to be exact – it’ll have you ‘going to plaid.’  

Enjoy this comedy masterpiece…and may the Schwartz be with you.”

–  J. Matt Cobb

 

See our Staff Pick screening of Spaceballs at the Sidewalk Cinema on January 28 at 8:00pm and February 2 at 6:30pm. Get tickets at sidewalkfest.com/tickets.

Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema is excited to announce the winner of the inaugural David Brower Grant for Alabama Filmmakers, Theo M. Moore II. 

Moore is the founder of Hiztorical Vision Productions (HVP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Opelika, AL. Through his work, Moore aims “to share uplifting information about African American history that is not always easily accessible or taught to the general public.” He says, “The films and projects we usually see of African Americans are from the victimization standpoint rather than a focus on the success stories of those who were civically engaged or made contributions to this country.” Moore has three documentary shorts under his belt, Crown the County of Lowndes (2018), Hobson City: From Peril to Promise (2019), and Afrikan By Way of American (2021). Hobson City: From Peril to Promise was screened at the 2020 Sidewalk Film Festival.

Moore was selected by a committee of local filmmakers including the grant’s namesake, David Brower. Brower says, “Having this grant in my name is a greater honor than any awards I’ve garnered for my actual work.  I’ve been proud to learn that I helped so many on their paths while just doing what comes naturally to me.  I hope this grant bolsters the spirit of mentorship each year above and beyond what I can continue to do personally.”  

The David Brower Grant for Alabama Filmmakers, given in the spirit of mentoring and collaboration, in the amount of $1,500, is open to Alabama artists of all ages, ethnicities, genders and experience levels, to aid in a filmmaking endeavor, in any genre, at any stage of production. The next round of applications will open Summer 2023.

Congratulations to Theo!

 

Happy, Happy Holidays From Sidewalk! Join us for our festive 2022 holiday line-up! This year we’re offering an explosion of celebratory madness. 

Here’s a quick rundown: We all love Christmas at the Alabama Theatre so be sure to catch DIE HARD and/or HOME ALONE this season. Then join us around the corner at the Sidewalk Cinema for DIE HARD 2 and/or HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (beware of the scary cameo). 

 

Catch the film that inspired HOME ALONE (so much so that the producers threatened legal action on the grounds of plagiarism), the 1989 cult classic DIAL CODE SANTA CLAUS aka DEADLY GAMES. 

 

It wouldn’t be the holidays without Dolly Parton – all screenings of A SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS are free! What other Christmas movie opens on a fog machine filled music video set accompanied by a voice-over from Dolly and is directed by Henry Winkler?!

 

 It’s the year of the Coastal Grandmother so grab your cream-colored turtleneck and linen pants and join us for Nancy Meyers’ THE HOLIDAY. We have lots of Coastal Grandmother surprises in store – the best outfit gets a free popcorn (and possibly a date with Keanu Reeves)!

 

The holiday staple, GREMLINS, is back on the screen this year and not to be missed – it’s basically Sidewalk’s holiday house band. 

 

 

If you’re looking for something with even more Christmas gore, catch the one and only SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT. We’re even offering a midnight screening – where else in town can you see a late-night Christmas film… aside from your couch?! After all, we’re all due for at least one “Merry f-ing Christmas” this year. “You see Santa Claus tonight you better run boy, you better run for ya life” – Grandpa. 

Still not debaucherous enough for you? How about the Christmas edition of Bad Movie Night. We can’t tell you what the film’s going to be, but we promise it’s really, really bad and really, really free. We’re in celebration-mode, so we’re tripling down this year and also offering a Bad Movie Holi-Day double feature to give everyone a chance to break away from the fam (or drag them with you) for an afternoon at Sidewalk. 

As we head into the New Year, we have the seasonally appropriate WAITING TO EXHALE. So catch I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY at the multiplex and join us at Sidewalk for a champagne toast to Whitney. Plus we’re out of school so MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (a Sidewalk staff favorite) is also on the slate! 

That’s a lot! But then the holiday season reminds us all of the importance of cinema in our lives. Would it truly be the holidays without your cinematic seasonal favorites? We hope you’ll join us at Sidewalk to celebrate the holidays, the end of another year, and the start of the new one – and, of course, the glorious medium that has the power to evoke memory, conversation and comfort and to connect us all (or at least gives you 90+ minutes of escape!). Happy Holidays, the movies wouldn’t be the same without you.

Cheers,

Rachel (Morgan)

Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema Creative Director

Congratulations to the Sidewalk alumni nominated for the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards this morning! Sidewalk is always thrilled when the films we select to showcase to the Birmingham area are more widely recognized as being among the best of the year — and this year, a fantastic selection of films we’ve shown at this year’s festival and at the cinema have been acknowledged.

The slate of nominees was led by A24’s spring sensation “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” which picked up a whopping eight nominations, including best feature and best director and best screenplay for writer/directors Daniels. One-half of Daniels, Birmingham native Daniel Scheinert, has often credited Sidewalk for helping kickstart his filmmaking career. We played “Everything Everywhere All At Once” for weeks at the cinema, and it looks to continue its awards season dominance as the year goes on.

We’re incredibly proud of Sidewalk Alum Liz Cardenas who is nominated for the Independent Spirit Producers Award. Liz produced Sidewalk titles “A Ghost Story”, “Never Goin’ Back” and “7 Days” and was the writer of the Sidewalk short film “Imago” which received the 2017 Shout Jury Special Mention. Sidewalk was proud to host the world premiere of the family film “Summer’s Shadow” written by Liz way back in 2014. Way to go Liz!

Winner of the 2022 Sidewalk jury awards for best Black Lens feature and best narrative feature, Ellie Foumbi’s debut feature “Our Father, the Devil,” was a surprise nominee in the Indie Spirits’ best feature category. Star Babetida Sadjo also won a Black Lens Special Mention for Performance from the 2022 Sidewalk jury.

And Todd Field’s “Tár,” which we’ll be opening at the cinema on Nov. 25, was a nominee in many categories. The acclaimed film has gotten attention for Cate Blanchett’s lead performance since its festival premiere earlier in the fall.

Other Sidewalk cinema alumni popped up throughout the nominees: You may have seen best director nominee Halina Reijn’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies” at the cinema, or lead performance nominees Mia Goth for “Pearl” and Regina Hall for “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.” The uncategorizable “Nepture Frost,” a queer Afrofuturist sci-fi musical, picked up recognition for its cinematography after playing at Sidewalk in the summer. And just because he’s small doesn’t mean he isn’t mighty — “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” picked up a nomination for best editing after its popular run at the cinema in August.

And if you caught the dark comedy “Funny Pages” at the 2022 festival, you may recall best breakthrough performance nominee Daniel Zolghardi in the lead role. And we are thrilled that Isabel Castro who directed the Sidewalk 2022 documentary “Mija” is a nominee for the Indie Spirits’ Truer Than Fiction award. Mija received a Documentary Feature Special Mention from the Sidewalk 2022 jury.  Also nominated for the Truer Than Fiction award, writer/director Rebeca Huntt for the Sidewalk Cinema film “Beba”.

Congratulations to all the nominees, Sidewalk is proud to have been a stop on the journey of so many of these wonderful films and filmmakers. Check out the full list here.

Keep an eye on the Sidewalk Cinema schedule –  we hope to bring several other Independent Spirit nominated films to Birmingham including “Aftersun” and “The Inspection”. Plus announcing: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” is scheduled to screen at the Sidewalk Cinema in December. 

 

Love, 

Your Sidewalk Programming Team Besties 

Corey Craft & Rachel Morgan

Want to shop local this Black Friday?

Want to give experiences instead of stuff?

Looking for gifts for those hard-to-shop-for people in your life?

Want to save money?

Want to support Sidewalk Film?

 

Then join us for our Annual Black Friday Sale!

 

In person at the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema

Friday, November 24, 11am-10pm

Saturday, November 25, 12pm-10pm

Sunday, November 26, 2pm-10pm

 

Merchandise: In-person only Nov. 24-26 / Cyber Monday Sale Nov. 27

Enjoy amazing deals on all Sidewalk Merch all weekend long. Spend $50 or more and receive a complimentary Sidewalk tote. Preview what we will have for sale at sidewalkfest.com/store.

 

Gifts of Membership: In-person only

Gift a Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema Membership at any level SECOND UNIT and above and receive a Sidewalk Ornament and two free cinema tickets to gift or keep for yourself! All gifts of Sidewalk Circle Memberships will receive an extra special surprise gift.

 

eGifts Cards: In-person only

Purchase $60 or more in eGift cards and receive two free cinema tickets to gift or keep for yourself!

 

2024 Sidewalk Film Festival VIP Passes

For the first time ever, we are offering a Black Friday Pre-Sale on VIP passes for the 26th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival – $175 for yourself or a friend – November 24-27 ONLY. Buy in person and receive a complimentary VIP gift pack.

 

 

I grew up in the age of unfettered access to the television, when VHS tapes lined the living room closet, many of which were the much sought after EP versions that could fit THREE movies that you had recorded by hand on them. I remember when the feature that could distinguish between the programming and the commercials came out, freeing you up to record without having to pause every 10 minutes. With unfettered access came unfortunate choices; Aliens at age 8 wasn’t a good choice, nor was my repeated fascination with Disney’s Long John Silver.

In my family, though, Jewish films were just as important as It’s a Wonderful Life and Ghostbusters (I exaggerate on the latter, to be honest). I remember the horrifying British film Escape from Sobibor, taped on one of those VHS-EPs, making such an impression; the movie highlighted a somewhat successful escape from the Polish extermination camp, where over 300 Jews fled into the forest. We’re all familiar with Schindler’s List, but go back and watch this visceral retelling if you have the time.  

Why have a Jewish Film Week? This week, someone left a potential bomb at Temple Beth-El, just down the street from my home synagogue of Emanu-El. Kanye West doubled down on antisemitic remarks, turning to Parler when other social media suspended him. Kyrie Irving was suspended for open support of conspiracy trash movies. New Jersey synagogues are on high alert due to open threats. According to the FBI, 60% of hate crimes in 2020 occurred against Jews.

We have to tell the stories of Jewish history, identity, stories of antisemitism and stories of celebration. Much like those old VHS tapes in my family’s closet, these stories are disappearing in our real world—an 8 year old who survived Auschwitz is now 85 years old. Without experiencing the horror and tragedy of the Holocaust in film, we start to lose what it means to understand oppression and genocide and its toll on a generation of people. Alongside that, we must make films that show the new side of Jewishness: the LGBTQ+ experience, gentrification forces here and abroad, the politics of Israel and Jews, and freedom of speech expressed across the board. 

Here are some of the highlights of Jewish Film Week at Sidewalk that I’m looking forward to sharing with you:

 

Plan A: The story of Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds” wasn’t original; in 1945, a group of Holocaust survivors planned retribution against the country that imprisoned and murdered their people. This is the true story of retribution.

 

 

The Chosen: What happens when the son of a vocal Zionist meets the son of a beloved Chasidic rabbi? The story of friendship and understanding one another’s place in Jewish culture–not to mention American culture–is one of the best Jewish films of the past 50 years.

 

 

Kiss Me Kosher: Love is complicated. When Shira brings Maria home to meet her family, her conservative grandmother laments “yet another Maria”–but grandma has her own secret love that will surprise everyone. 

 

 

Farewell, Mr. Haffmann: French actor Daniel Auteuil gives a magnificent performance as a jeweler in 1941 Paris who is forced to hide from the Nazi occupation. After failing to flee with his family, the bargain turns against both Haffmann and the couple hiding him, as danger closes in.

 

 

iMordecai: a Holocaust survivor was born in another world, another time, and received a modern gift: an iPhone. How will he fit into this new world?

 

 

 

Mighty Ira: Ira Glasser was director of the ACLU for over 20 years, with a lifelong ambition of protecting free speech. But it was his vehement defense of the rights of the “Illinois Nazis” to free speech that was make-or-break for the organization, as it sought to establish a place as leading defender of the Constitution. 

 

Sidewalk’s Jewish Film Week is November 13 – 19, 2022.

For more info on these and other great titles during Sidewalk’s Jewish Film Week series, visit sidewalkfest.com/jfw.

The 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank has finally wrapped! A huge thank you to everyone involved from our wonderful staff, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees. 

 

For the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the 2022 Sidewalk Film Festival Award Winners!

 

2022 Volunteer of the Year: 

Lindsey Christina, Jaysen Michael, and David A. Smith

 

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

Aija Penix

 

SideWrite Awards:

 

Best Alabama Screenplay: 

“Redwood Summer” by Rangeley Wallace

 

Best Short Screenplay:

“Dave’s Lucky Day” by Kevin R. Fintland

 

Best Feature Screenplay:

“Redwood Summer” by Rangeley Wallace

 

ReelSouth Short Film Award:

The Space Between You and Me, dir. Lily Ahree Siegel

 

Best Family Film: 

She Dreams at Sunrise, dir. Camrus Johnson

 

Family Honorable Mention

Space Race, dir. Shane Dioneda

 

Family Special Mention

Ruby Monroe, Shipwreck

 

Best Student Film:

Surviving Clotilda, dir. Olivia Grillo & Kathryn Jamieson

 

Best SHOUT Feature:

Petit Mal, dir. Ruth Caudeli

 

Best SHOUT Short:

North Star, dir. P.J. Palmer

 

SHOUT Special Mention:

Keep the Cameras Rolling: The Pedro Zamora Way, dir. William T. Horner & Stacey Woelfel

 

Best Black Lens Feature:

Our Father, the Devil (Mon Père, le Diabe), dir. Ellie Foumbi

 

Best Black Lens Short:

The Devil Will Run, dir. Noah Glenn

 

Black Lens Special Mention for Performance: 

Babetida Sadjo, Our Father, the Devil (Mon Père, le Diabe)

 

Alan Hunter Best Alabama Film:

Butterfly in the Sky, dir. Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb

 

Alabama Special Mention:

The Third Saturday in October Double Feature, dir. Jay Burleson

 

Best Documentary Short:

The Originals, dir. Cristina Maria Constantini & Alfie Kim Koetter

 

Documentary Short Special Mention:

More Than I Remember, dir. Amy Bench

 

Best Narrative Short:

North Star, dir. P.J. Palmer

 

Best Animated Film:

The Park Bench, dir. Rob Edwards

 

Best Documentary Feature:

Descendant, dir. Margaret Brown

 

Doc Feature Special Mention

Mija, dir. Isabel Castro

 

Doc Feature Special Mention

Nothing Lasts Forever, dir. Jason Kohn

 

Best Narrative Feature:

Our Father the Devil (Mon Père, le Diabe), dir. Ellie Foumbi

 

Aaron Hillis Clint Howard Character Actor Award:

Molly Reisman, Retrograde

 

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS:

Best SHOUT Film: 

More Than I Remember, dir. Amy Bench

 

Best Black Lens Film:

Black Mothers Love and Resist, dir. Débora Souza Silva

 

Best Alabama Film:

Butterfly in the Sky, dir. Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb

 

Best Documentary Feature:

A Life on the Farm, dir. Oscar Harding

 

Best Narrative Feature:

Jasmine Is A Star, dir. Jo Rochelle

 

Best Documentary Short:

Favorite Daughter, dir. Dana Reilly

 

Best Narrative Short:

The Devil Will Run, dir. Noah Glenn

 

Programmers Award

Nothing Lasts Forever, dir. Jason Kohn

 

Life + Liberty Award

The Smell of Money, dir. Shawn Bannon