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Spotlight Nights for the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank

Posted on by Sam Eddins

Announcing our Spotlight Nights for the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank! 

Our Spotlight Nights kick off Festival week (Monday – Thursday, August 22 – 25) and focus on four of our tracks of programming: Alabama Films, Black Lens Films, Life + Liberty Civil and Human Rights Films, and SHOUT, LGBTQ Films. Join us at the Sidewalk Cinema every night at 7:00pm for great films celebrating diverse voices and stories.

 

ALABAMA SPOTLIGHT NIGHT: ALABAMA SHORTS

Monday, August 22 | 7:00pm

Alabama might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about filmmaking, but the craft is alive and well in the deep south. Sidewalk’s mission is to encourage, inspire, and support filmmaking and the appreciation of independent film in Alabama, and one of the many ways we serve this mission is through the Alabama films track at the festival each year. These are films that were either shot in Alabama, were made by an Alabama-based filmmaker, or utilize Alabama cast and crew- sometimes all three.

 

Vanderwaal’s Journey

Directed by Jahman Ariel Hill, Victoria Hurst

20 minutes • USA

Narrative

Vanderwaal’s Journey is an amalgamation of horror, scifi, and afrofuturism heavily inspired by Lovecraft Country, Random Acts of Flyness, and Sampa the Great’s Black Atlantis. We follow Vanderwaal, a Black man from Alabama, on a transatlantic voyage to find the cure for both a deadly pandemic-inducing virus and the gentrification of his hometown. On this journey he battles the virus, monsters, white supremacy (aka monsters), and more in a quest that takes him to places he never could have imagined.

 

The Film Department: Pilot

Directed by Annie Funderburk

9:46 minutes • USA

Narrative

The Film Department pilot is a comedy mockumentary about a university’s film department gearing up for their famous annual Senior Showcase

 

No Mean Feet

Directed by Ted Kendrick

8:28 minutes • USA

Narrative

A hunter tracks the legendary Bigfoot to find the task is no mean feat.

 

Why Not UAB

Directed by Micheal Atiyeh

9:46 minutes • USA

Documentary

Why Not UAB is a short documentary that describes the rebirth of UAB Football after it was shut down in 2014 and returned in 2017. The films main focus in the success that the team has had over the last four years.

 

Preacher’s Pulpits and the Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Directed by Anissa Latham-Brown

9 minutes • USA

Documentary

Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is known around the world as an iconic piece that captured the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement and outlined critical reasons for activism. But why did King decide that this letter was necessary? Who was he writing to, and how has Martin Luther King Jr’s letter continued to impact Birmingham’s faith communities? This short film blends archival, animation, and documentary interview techniques to investigate.

 

Love Without Parole

Directed by Greg Womble

26:58 minutes • USA

Documentary

Michael falls deeply in love and matrimony follows. But married life can be tough when you’re serving a life-without-parole sentence in a notorious Alabama prison. The union soon dies, but the love doesn’t. When Michael is miraculously freed after serving 36 years for relatively minor crimes, will the romance be reignited?

 

LIFE + LIBERTY CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SPOTLIGHT NIGHT: BATTLEGROUND

Tuesday, August 23 | 7:00pm

Life + Liberty films focus on historic civil rights events and modern-day human rights issues in the most appropriate of venues – downtown Birmingham, the center of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Now in its eleventh year, the Life + Liberty track was inspired by the growing popularity of documentaries covering these important issues as well as Birmingham’s own place in civil rights history.

Our Life + Liberty night brings a special screening of BATTLEGROUND, an urgently timely window into the intersection of abortion and politics in America, following three women who lead formidable anti-abortion organizations to witness the enormous influence they wield. As the nation faces the end of Roe, the film also depicts those on the front lines of the fierce fight to maintain access. BATTLEGROUND was partially filmed in Alabama and includes Alabamians Jenna King and Samantha Blakely.

 

SHOUT LGBTQ SPOTLIGHT NIGHT presented by AIDS Alabama: A RUN FOR MORE sponsored by Magic City LGBTQ Health Studies

Wednesday, August 24 | 7:00pm

Launched in 2006, SHOUT showcases features, documentaries, and short films that explore issues and situations involving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. SHOUT is Alabama’s first queer film showcase and is proud to support the Magic City’s LGBTQ+ community by advocating for awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of diversity.

 

Our SHOUT Spotlight Night brings a special screening of A RUN FOR MORE. Growing up, Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe learned to be a fighter, but never imagined having a chance to make history as the first openly elected transgender official in Texas. Unfolding amidst an onslaught of trans legal attacks, A Run for More immerses viewers on Frankie’s journey as she finds her voice, questions her relationship to community, and tries to win an election.

 

BLACK LENS SPOTLIGHT NIGHT: JASMINE IS A STAR

Thursday, August 25 | 7:00pm

Now in its seventh year, the Black Lens track aims to shine a light on some of the most outstanding feature narrative and documentary films produced by and starring people of color. The films that are shown as a part of this program reflect the diversity of the black experience in America, both past and present.

Our Black Lens Spotlight Night will feature a screening of JASMINE IS A STAR: a determined 16-year-old with albinism makes it her mission to become a professional model in her hometown of Minneapolis, while attempting to go unnoticed in every other aspect of her teenage life.

 

Our Spotlight Nights are separately ticketed events, $15 for each night. VIP Passholders can add Spotlight Nights onto their Pass for an additional $5.

For more info on tickets and passes, visit sidewalkfest.com/tix. 

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 94th Academy Awards at Sidewalk Cinema from Corey Craft

Posted on by Sam Eddins
Corey Craft is Sidewalk’s Lead Features Programmer and co-host of our Sidetalks podcast.

Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards are quickly approaching, and as usual, a few films we played at the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema were in the mix.

The science-fiction epic Dune received 10 nominations — second only to Jane Campion’s psychosexual Western The Power of the Dog, which received 12. You may have seen director Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel at Sidewalk back in October. Hopefully, you saw it on a big screen somewhere; its unparalleled (and Oscar-nominated) cinematography, visual effects, and sound add up to a grand spectacle particularly designed for theaters.

Did you catch Drive My Car back in January? The tender Japanese drama from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi is an unexpected contender in the best picture race. Despite coming from a small distributor (the fantastic folks at Janus Films) without the big advertising dollars the studios have, and largely based on excellent word of mouth from critics and audiences, Drive My Car became the first Japanese film nominated for best picture, and Hamaguchi the first Japanese director to contend for best director since the great Akira Kurosawa was nominated in 1985 for his King Lear adaptation Ran.

Speaking of Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Macbeth was a popular ticket at Sidewalk in January, and Denzel Washington is now an Oscar nominee for his thunderous lead performance in Joel Coen’s brilliant reimagining. This is Washington’s 10th Oscar nomination. But receiving her first is Kristen Stewart, so gripping as a tormented Princess Diana in Spencer. We played director Pablo Larrain’s biopic-as-psychological-thriller back in November, where its unpredictable story was particularly captivating on the big screen.

And you may have caught two of the year’s biggest documentaries at Sidewalk. Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), director Questlove’s brilliant music documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, was a popular selection at the cinema and the 2021 Sidewalk Film Festival, where it played in the beautiful Lyric Theatre. And we just closed our run of Flee, the innovative animated documentary that tells the story of a gay Afghan refugee’s coming of age. Flee popped up as a nominee in the categories of best-animated feature, best international feature, and best documentary feature — a historic hat trick.

Finally, best international feature and best original screenplay nominee The Worst Person in the World. The charming and inventive Norwegian romantic comedy, one of the most surprising films of 2021 played as part of our Women In Film Week.

Join us at Sidewalk on Sunday, March 27, to watch the Academy Awards! We’ll be hosting a watch party along with a FREE, LIVE Academy-Award Edition Podcast recording of Sidetalks, the official, film-centric podcast of  Sidewalk Film. RSVP here. 

Women In Film Week Returns to the Sidewalk Cinema

Posted on by Sam Eddins

Women in the film industry are grossly underrepresented (and undercompensated). In 2020, 78.9% of movie directors of theatrical films were male and as recently as 2014 a disgusting 95.7% of theatrical movie directors were men. And yet, look at the list of amazing films directed by women in just the past couple of years: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, NOMADLAND, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, CODA, THE LOST DAUGHTER, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE, THE POWER OF THE DOG and ZOLA! That’s just to name a few.

These statistics don’t surprise me, when I was in film school at The Savannah College of Art and Design (acknowledging that’s been more than a minute), I was one of only 6 female film majors out of over 200. The women in the program were, by far, the hardest working, the most passionate and, dare I say, produced the best work in the department (well except for Pam). Considering the statistics, the history and the barriers to entry (a whole other story), it’s no surprise that the average trip to the theater doesn’t include a ton of options for seeing movies led by female filmmakers. At the Sidewalk Cinema, we work to consistently highlight work by underrepresented filmmakers. For National Women’s History Month, Sidewalk presents a full week of programming celebrating just some of the most brilliant recent work by female filmmakers, as well as several exceptional repertoire selections.

Pointing out a few of the brilliant options in the Women In Film Week line-up:

Don’t miss the chance to see Academy Award nominee THE POWER OF THE DOG on the big screen, directed by Jane Campion (the first woman to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director twice) and featuring glorious cinematography by female director of photography, Ari Wegner. THE POWER OF THE DOG has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards.

Written and directed by Joanna Hogg and starring Honor Swinton Byrne and Tilda Swinton, we’re honored to include THE SOUVENIR and THE SOUVENIR PART II in the Women In Film Week series. Both films are semi-autobiographical accounts of Hogg’s London film school experiences. In a meta fashion typical of Swinton, Hogg and Tilda Swinton have known each other since Hogg’s mid-1980s film school days and her short student film, CAPRICE, starred a then-unknown Tilda Swinton.

We’re incredibly excited about the opportunity to celebrate female friendship with the fun Friday night double feature of GIRLS TRIP and BRIDESMAIDS (with bottomless champagne)! Written by Erica Rivinoja, Kenya Barris & Tracy Oliver, GIRLS TRIP is the first film written, produced, directed, and starring Black creators and actors to cross the $100-million mark. While female-led comedies are consistently considered risky financial endeavors, BRIDESMAIDS is the most financially successful Judd Apatow production. Written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the film was a game-changer regarding the successful financing of future female-led comedies. It’s also really fun to watch while considering this: Melissa McCarthy based the look and characterization of Megan on Guy Fieri.

Highlighting the work of the legendary Polly Platt, who was never provided the opportunity to direct (or at least has never been credited as such), we’re offering a Polly Platt double feature with two of her most indelible contributions to production design, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK. Many claim that, while married to Peter Bogdonavich, Platt was actually responsible for the directorial vision of his early work, including THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and PAPER MOON, and that such explains the nosedive Bogdonavich’s post-Platt filmwork took. Beyond her contribution as a writer, producer, and director, Platt was known for being the driving force behind getting numerous iconic films made, as well as for the elements that made them truly iconic. Oh, and she’s also responsible for THE SIMPSONS. Consistently overshadowed throughout her career, we’re excited to shine a light on Polly Platt’s visionary work. For more on the incredible life of Polly Platt, it’s highly encouraged to pre-game the double feature by listening to the wonderful YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS podcast mini-series. “POLLY PLATT: THE INVISIBLE WOMAN.”

Plus there’s: THE RESCUE, from the directors of Academy Award-winning FREE SOLO, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and Jimmy Chin. The documentary traces the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue mission that saved a football team from an underwater cave. JULIA, the amazing Julia Child biographical documentary directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West. LADY BUDS the documentary that tells the story of “six courageous women who come out of the shadows of the cannabis underground to forge a path to legalization”, directed by Chris J. Russo. WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA that interweaves archival footage and interviews, along with former ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jeffery Robinson’s personal story, to explore the legacy of white supremacy in the U.S. and the responsibility to overcome it, directed by sisters Emily and Sarah Kunstler. The Women Adventure Film Tour features outdoor short films focused on female adventurers. The Sundance premiere, PASSING, Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut, based on the novel of the same name… and more!

Join us at Sidewalk for Women In Film Week to celebrate just a tiny selection of the enormous contributions made by women in the film industry despite the odds. Then join us throughout the year to celebrate the brilliant work of female filmmakers that we frequently spotlight.

 

Happy National Women’s History Month!

 

– Rachel Morgan
  Sidewalk Film Creative Director

Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema Announces Hires, Promotions

Posted on by Sam Eddins

Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema announced today a recent internal restructure, including four new hires and seven staff promotions.

“These internal additions and shifts will enhance our team’s abilities to execute and deliver on multiple Film Center + Cinema activations planned for the Birmingham community this year,” says Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema Executive Director, Chloe Cook.

New Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema staff include:

Nick Adrian, Marketing Manager

 

 

 

Jessica Chriesman, Director of Education and Outreach

 

 

 

Patrick Johnson, Programming Team Member

 

 

 

Meryem Tunagar, Programming Team Member

 

 

 

Existing Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema staff receiving internal promotions include:

Desteni Clifton, promoted from Bartender to Lead Bartender and Concessionaire

 

 

 

Sam Eddins, promoted from Tech Director to Director of Film Exhibition

 

 

 

Casey Engelbrecht, promoted from Marketing Manager to Director of Operations

 

 

 

Tonya Fleming, promoted from Box Office Associate to Box Office and Office Manager

 

 

 

T. Marie King, promoted from Shorts Programmer to Lead Shorts Programmer and Black Lens Programmer

 

 

 

Danielle Muratorri, promoted from Special Events Manager to House and Events Manager

 

 

 

Catherine Wright, promoted from Development Coordinator to Director of Development

 

 

 

“As we look to how we as an organization want to grow and succeed in 2022, we know none of that progress is possible without a committed team to lead all efforts,” Cook said. “Our future is definitely made brighter by these staff changes, and we look forward to what’s next together.”

2022 Midnight Madness Series

Posted on by Sam Eddins

We’re excited to announce the Sidewalk Cinema’s first ever late night movie series, Midnight Madness! We’ll have a different culty, fun film on the screen at midnight one weekend night a month.

When I was in high school, every Saturday night the little cinema by Century Plaza Mall had a longstanding midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. This allowed my curfew to be 2:30am on Saturday nights! The screenings were always over-the-top fun and somehow felt special every time. It was pretty much the best thing ever. When I lived in New York, Two Boots Theatre (and pizza) for years had a standing Friday midnight screening of DONNIE DARKO. There were at least a half dozen die-hard Darko fans (and assumed cinema completists) who attended every single Friday night – it was always a memorable trip to the cinema and truly the best kind of otherworldly. The series was iconic and when Two Boots closed, they ended on a Friday midnight DONNIE DARKO screening. We’re hoping to capture even a little bit of the old school Birmingham, Two Boots midnight movie magic.

Sidewalk’s Midnight Madness series kicks off with DONNIE DARKO on February 26th. Check out the rest of the lineup and join us – we’ll have coffee and cocktails waiting!

(Showtimes and tickets for additional titles will be added soon.)
February 2/26
Donnie Darko (2001)
March 
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
April
April Fool’s Day (1986)
May
Rock-N-Roll High School (1979)
June
Troll 2 (1990)
July 
Roadhouse (1989)
August
The Room (2003)
September
Serial Mom (1994)
October
The Wicker Man (1973 ?)
November
Krush Groove (1985)
December 
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Note: January was Mad Max (1979)
(If you’re in high school and want to attend, I’ll buy your ticket – email [email protected] for free ticket and extended curfew!)
– Rachel Morgan, Creative Director
A little more about Midnight Movies – check out the book Midnight Movies by J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum or this article: Where Have All the Midnight Movies Gone?: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/04/midnight-movie-culture

Intern with Sidewalk!

Posted on by Casey Engelbrecht

Sidewalk Film is now accepting applications for Summer (June-August) 2025 interns. 

Please note, due to the volume of intern applications we receive, we do not necessarily respond to all applicants.

Applicants who are selected will be notified by June 1, 2025.

The following internship positions will be available

  • Festival Film Traffic and Programming Intern
  • Operations Intern
  • Development Intern (All terms)
  • Box Office Intern
  • Marketing Intern

We are happy to work with students who are completing an internship for school credit as well as those who are not required to complete an internship as a part of their degree program. Internships are open to undergraduate and graduate students from any college or university. Film knowledge is a plus, but not a requirement for our 2025 internships. 

 

All internships will require a minimum of 16 hours per week and open availability during our festival (August 18 – 24, 2025).

 

All interns receive a stipend based on their individual schedule and term of commitment.

 

In order to be considered for a Sidewalk Film internship, you must complete the basic application here, and submit a resume and recommendation letter. Applicants who do not complete all three steps will not be considered. 

 

General Expectations: 

We expect all interns, regardless of their specific role, to exhibit professionalism, punctuality, dependability and attention to detail. 

 

Specific Expectations Per Role: 

  • Festival Film Traffic and Programming Intern (great for someone who is interested in film/film programming/critique, data management)
    • Assist Technical Director with festival film traffic, communication with filmmakers, programming staff, and marketing staff. Data entry, use of Microsoft Word and Excel will be required. This is NOT a programming position in which you will be selecting films for the Festival. Film knowledge is a plus, but not a requirement.
  • Festival Box Office Intern (great for someone who is interested in theater operations, customer service, computer information systems or data analysis)
    • Assist Box Office staff with customer service, ticket sales transactions, data entry and management, oversight of Festival volunteers. Comfort with both computers and people (in person and over the phone) is essential. 
  • Operations Intern (great for someone interested in event planning and management, business operations and logistics)
    • Assist Director of Operations with Festival and Cinema production including note taking, placing orders, making deliveries, supply inventory and organizing, and communicating with festival staff and volunteers. 
  • FILLED FOR 2025: Education/Outreach Intern (great for someone interested in education, non-profit management, or event planning)
    • Assist EDO Director with the planning, marketing, and implementation of Sidewalk’s existing and upcoming educational programs. These programs include Filmmaker Happy Hour, Salon, Tech + Technique, Scramble, Youth Board, Sidewrite, Sidewalk Lab, Filmmaker Grants,  Book + Film Club, Beyond the Screen, and more. The ideal candidate will be looking for experience in the education, nonprofit, or event planning fields. Film Studies and/or Film Production knowledge is preferred. 
  • Marketing/Social Media Intern (great for someone interested in social media marketing or non-profit communications)
    • Assist Marketing Coordinator develop social media strategies, draft content for all social platforms, interact with followers by responding to comments and DMs, data analysis.  Excellent writing/editing skills and understanding of social media platforms is essential. 
  • Development Intern (great for someone interested in fundraising, non-profit management)
      • Assist the Development Director with communication (written, email, phone) to members, donors, sponsors and government officials as needed, assist with fundraising event planning, research, data entry, basic understanding of Airtable and PatronManager/Salesforce a huge plus.

Direct questions regarding internships to [email protected]

TEEN VIDEO CHALLENGE WINNERS FOR 2021

Posted on by Casey Engelbrecht

The pandemic has been tough on us all – even for those who didn’t personally contract COVID-19 or have to care for someone with COVID-19, the disruption of life and this “new normal” have required some adjustment (and readjustment) of all our lives. While many adults lost jobs, had to move and had to supervise their children’s remote learning, teenagers have also been especially hard hit. From the more obvious drawbacks of a lack of social outlets to missing out on milestones they may have looked forward to their whole lives, such as in-person graduation or prom, teenagers have had an especially tough year. 

This is part of the reason we created the Teen Video Challenge – we wanted to give them a voice to share how the pandemic has affected them in a creative way. One year on, we decided to bring back the challenge – Birmingham area high school students were challenged to create a short video (could be any style, we encouraged them to be creative!) about what mattered most to them during the pandemic. The winners of the Challenge would receive a small stipend and have their films showcased at the 2021 Sidewalk Film Festival.

The winners of the 2021 Teen Video Challenge are Chris Chaei, who submitted a documentary-style project about how the pandemic affected his creative work, and Miriam Anderson and Kelan Millican, who took a more lyrical approach with their project, Terra. You can see both of these films at the 2021 Sidewalk Film Festival, August 23-29 in downtown Birmingham. Exact showtimes for these projects will be announced later in July. This is just another reason to make your plans to get your festival passes now. Congratulations to our winners! 

 

2021 Sundance Film Festival – Sidewalk Satellite Lineup

Posted on by Casey Engelbrecht

2021 Sundance Film Festival x Sidewalk Satellite Screen is sponsored by Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center

 

Sidewalk is excited to participate as an official Satellite Screen Partner for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Join us in Downtown Birmingham January 28 – February 3 at our Cinema and our Starlite Pop-Up Drive-In. Tickets go on sale to the public Jan. 8.

 

Latest additions:

Judas and the Black Messiah / Narrative (Directed by Shaka King) — Fred Hampton’s cathartic words “I am a revolutionary” became a rallying call in 1969. As chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, Hampton demanded all power to the people and inspired a growing movement of solidarity, prompting the FBI to consider him a threat and to plant informant William O’Neal to infiltrate the party. Judas and the Black Messiah not only recounts Hampton’s legacy and the FBI’s conspiring but also gives equal footing to the man who became infamous for his betrayal—highlighting the systems of inequality and oppression that fed both of their roles.
Get Tickets

 

Son of Monarchs / Narrative (Directed by Alexis Gambis) — Enchanted by the monarch butterflies of Michoacán, Mexico, since he was a child, Mendel dedicates his career as a scientist in New York to mapping out the monarch’s genetics. But he is haunted by flashbacks of being orphaned alongside his older brother, Simon, when their parents died in a flood. When Mendel travels home to attend the funeral of his grandmother, it’s clear Simon harbors deep resentment toward him for having left. Migrating back and forth between Mexico and New York, Mendel starts to neglect his new girlfriend and grows spiritually restless as he obsesses over the iconic butterfly. Then he confronts his brother about what really happened the night their parents died.
Get Tickets

 

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) / Narrative (Directed by Benh Zeitlin) — Highlighting one of the most successful films to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Sidewalk presents a special drive-in screening of the 2012 film BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD directed by Sidewalk alum Benh Zeitlin. Nearing its 10 year anniversary, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD was shot in Terrebonne Parish, Montegut and New Orleans Louisiana

Synopsis: Faced with both her hot-tempered father’s fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.
Get Tickets

 

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) Live Score Drive-In Party / An alternate soundtrack to the 1993 film MRS. DOUBTFIRE will be performed live at the drive-in by DJ Hollywood. The film will be captioned along with the live score which will be broadcast via your car radio. This event is free, but registration is required.

Click here to register

 

 

Censor / United Kingdom (Director: Prano Bailey-Bond, Screenwriters: Prano Bailey-Bond, Anthony Fletcher, Producer: Helen Jones) — When film censor Enid discovers an eerie horror that speaks directly to her sister’s mysterious disappearance, she resolves to unravel the puzzle behind the film and its enigmatic director – a quest blurring the lines between fiction and reality in terrifying ways. Cast: Niamh Algar, Nicholas Burns, Vincent Franklin, Sophia La Porta, Adrian Schiller, Michael Smiley. World Premiere.

 

The Most Beautiful Boy in the World / Sweden (Directors: Kristina Lindström, Kristian Petri, Producer: Stina Gardell) — Swedish actor/musician Björn Andresen’s life was forever changed at the age of 15, when he played Tadzio, the object of Dirk Bogarde’s obsession in Death in Venice – a role which led Italian maestro Luchino Visconti to dub him “the world’s most beautiful boy.” World Premiere

 

Cryptozoo / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Dash Shaw, Producers: Kyle Martin, Jane Samborski, Bill Way, Tyler Davidson) — As cryptozookeepers struggle to capture a Baku (a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature) they begin to wonder if they should display these rare beasts in the confines of a cryptozoo, or if these mythical creatures should remain hidden and unknown. Cast: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Angeliki Papoulia, Zoe Kazan, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie. World Premiere

 

In The Earth / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Ben Wheatley, Producer: Andy Starke) — As a disastrous virus grips the planet, a scientist and a park scout venture deep into the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness as the forest comes to life around them. Cast: Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires, Reece Shearsmith. World Premiere, Narrative

 

R#J / U.S.A. (Director: Carey Williams, Screenwriters: Carey Williams, Rickie Castaneda, Alex Sobolev, Producers: Timur Bekmambetov, Igor Tsay, John J. Kelly, Alex Sobolev, Anna Soboleva) — A re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet, taking place through their cell phones, in a mash-up of Shakespearean dialogue with current social media communication. Cast: Camaron Engels, Francesca Noel, David Zayas, Diego Tinoco, Siddiq Saunderson, Russell Hornsby. World Premiere

 

Passing / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Rebecca Hall, Producers: Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Margot Hand, Rebecca Hall) — Two African-American women who can “pass” as white choose to live on opposite sides of the color line in 1929 New York in an exploration of racial and gender identity, performance, obsession and repression. Based on the novella by Nella Larsen. Cast: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Bill Camp. World Premiere

 

Misha and the Wolves / United Kingdom, Belgium (Director and Screenwriter: Sam Hobkinson, Producers: Poppy Dixon, Al Morrow, Matthew Wells, Gregory Zalcman, Jürgen Buedts) — A woman’s Holocaust memoir takes the world by storm, but a fallout with her publisher-turned-detective reveals her story as an audacious deception created to hide a darker truth. World Premiere

 

Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani. World Premiere.

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Jockey / U.S.A. (Director: Clint Bentley, Screenwriters: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Nancy Schafer) — An aging jockey is determined to win one last championship, but his dream is complicated when a young rookie shows up claiming to be his son. Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, Moises Arias. World Premiere

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Mother Schmuckers / Belgium (Directors and Screenwriters: Lenny Guit, Harpo Guit, Producers: David Borgeaud, Erika Meda) — Issachar & Zabulon, two brothers in their twenties, are supremely stupid and never bored, as madness is part of their daily lives. When they lose their mother’s beloved dog, they have 24 hours to find it – or she will kick them out. Cast: Harpo Guit, Maxi Delmelle, Claire Bodson, Mathieu Amalric, Habib Ben Tanfous. World Premiere

 

Coming Home in the Dark / New Zealand (Director: James Ashcroft, Screenwriters: Eli Kent, James Ashcroft, Producers: Mike Minogue, Catherine Fitzgerald, Desray Armstrong) — A family’s outing descends into terror when teacher Alan Hoaganraad, his wife Jill and stepsons Maika and Jordon explore an isolated coastline. An unexpected meeting with a pair of drifters, the enigmatic psychopath Mandrake and his accomplice Tubs, thrusts the family into a nightmare when they find themselves captured. Cast: Daniel Gillies, Erik Thomson, Miriama McDowell, Matthias Luafutu. World Premiere

 

Life in a Day 2020 / United Kingdom, U.S.A. (Director: Kevin Macdonald, Producers: Jack Arbuthnott, Tim Partridge) — An extraordinary, intimate, global portrait of life on our planet, filmed by thousands of people across the world, on a single day: 25th July 2020. World Premiere

 

Philly D.A. / U.S.A. (Created By: Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicole Salazar, Producers: Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicole Salazar, Josh Penn, Michael Gottwald) — A groundbreaking inside look at the long shot election and tumultuous first term of Larry Krasner, Philadelphia’s unapologetic District Attorney, and his experiment to upend the criminal justice system from the inside out. World Premiere, Episodic Documentary

 

Night of the Kings / France, Ivory Coast, Canada, Senegal (Director and Screenwriter: Philippe Lacôte, Producers: Delphine Jaquet, Yanick Létourneau, Ernest Konan, Yoro Mbaye) — A young man is sent to La Maca, a prison on the Ivory Coast in the middle of the forest ruled by its prisoners. With the red moon rising, he is designated by the Boss to be the new “Roman” and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Cast: Koné Bakary, Steve Tientcheu, Digbeu Jean Cyrille, Rasmané Ouédraogo, Issaka Sawadogo, Denis Lavant.

 

2021 Sundance Film Festival Will Meet Audiences Where They Are… including Sidewalk Film!

Posted on by Chloe Cook

2021 Sundance Film Festival Will Meet Audiences Where They Are

Festival Offers Robust Online Platform and Announces Screening Partnerships with Independent Cinemas and Cultural Organizations

 

PARK CITY, UTAH — The nonprofit Sundance Institute today unveiled plans for the seven-day 2021 Sundance Film Festival, offered digitally via a custom-designed online platform (festival.sundance.org) alongside drive-ins, independent arthouses, and a network of local community partnerships. The online expression of the Sundance Film Festival will provide global access for storytellers and audiences alike to come together, experience artists new work, connect with one another, and participate in conversation. All films in the program will be available online in the United States, with certain films opting for global availability. The full talks and events program, as well as the New Frontier section for XR and emerging media, will be available globally. The Festival runs January 28 through February 3, 2021. 

 

“Even under these impossible circumstances artists are still finding paths to make bold and vital work in whatever ways they can,” says Tabitha Jackson, in her first year as Festival Director. “So Sundance, as a festival of discovery, will bring that work to its first audiences in whatever ways we can. The core of our Festival in the form of an online platform and socially distanced cinematic experiences is responsive to the pandemic and gives us the opportunity to reach new audiences, safely, where they are. And thanks to a constellation of independent cinema communities across the U.S. we are not putting on our Festival alone. At the heart of all this is a belief in the power of coming together, and the desire to preserve what makes a festival unique — a collaborative spirit, a collective energy, and a celebration of the art, artists, and ideas that leave us changed.”   

 

“Our Festival footprint has changed this year, but we are excited to bring an incredible community together in new ways to engage with new artists and new stories — whether they’re joining us for the first year or have been for decades,” said Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam. “Our ambition is for everyone to come together, safely, wherever they may be, and participate in screenings on our platform at the same time. The Sundance team has consulted with artists, worked with incredible partners, and built a plan to welcome new audiences and capture a true Festival spirit.”

 

FEATURE FILMS

As at past Sundance Film Festivals, films will premiere throughout the day, with Day One films set to debut Thursday, January 28, at 6 p.m. U.S. Mountain Time. During the 2021 Festival, each of the 70+ feature films will premiere online in a dedicated time slot, followed by a live Q&A. Multiple films will premiere simultaneously roughly every three hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. U.S. Mountain Time. This rollout is designed to preserve the energy of a Festival, with an abundance of choices and collective experiences, as audiences can begin the film simultaneously, and participate in the live Q&A which follows (viewers can also begin films any time within three hours of their premiere’s start). All films will return to the platform two days after their premiere for a “second screening,” offered on demand for 24 hours. The platform’s movie player is powered by Shift72 and developed with best-in-industry security and access practices. In a Festival first, the entire 70+-feature lineup on the platform will be closed-captioned on demand, and Q&As will be live-captioned.

 

SHORT FILM, INDIE SERIES PROGRAMS

The Short Film and Indie Series (formerly Indie Episodic) programs, focused on creative storytelling outside the feature format, will include 50 short films and world premieres of four episodic works. These will be available on demand on the Festival platform for the full length of the Festival. 

 

NEW FRONTIER

Since its launch, the Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier has served as a showcase for dynamic, innovative work at the crossroads of film, art, and technology — and 2021 is no exception, with 14 works in the program. For the first time ever, adventurous audiences around the world will be given the chance to engage with the works, the artists, and each other via a bespoke virtual platform, accessible via computer and VR headsets. The New Frontier Gallery hosts the complete slate of live performances, AR, VR, and other emerging media works. Cinema House is the Festival’s fully immersive, big-screen theater, and Film Party is an interactive social space where the entire community of accredited Festivalgoers can safely gather together again. The environment also features interactive tools such as proximity audio and video chat. 

 

SATELLITE SCREENS

Expanding beyond its Utah home, the Festival has created a network of partnerships to bring feature films and customized local programming — talks, events, artist meet-ups — to communities across the country. In addition to these Satellite Screen partnerships, the Institute will program screenings at The Ray in Park City and the Rose Bowl and Mission Tiki Drive-Ins in Los Angeles, health and safety guidelines permitting. Each Satellite Screen will create and host their own events, sharing local cultural conversations with broader Festival audiences, with most also screening selections from the 2021 program.

 

“These partners are the backbone of independent artistic communities across the country, where filmmakers are born and cinephiles are developed,” said Jackson. “We’re entering these partnerships because a healthy ecosystem for artists and audiences requires that independent cinemas across the country survive and thrive.”

 

Programming details for films at these screens will be available when the program is announced later this month, and these plans will evolve in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic health and safety guidelines. Participating U.S. partner organizations and locations include: 

 

Alabama: Birmingham with Sidewalk Film Festival

Sidewalk Film Center, Sidewalk Drive-In

Arizona: Tucson with The Loft Cinema

The Loft Open Air Cinema 

 

California: 

Montclair with American Cinematheque

Mission Tiki Drive-In

Pasadena with the Rose Bowl

Rose Bowl Drive-In

San Francisco with The Roxie Theater

Roxie Theater, Fort Mason Drive-In

 

Colorado: Denver with Denver Film

Sie FilmCenter

 

Florida:

Key West with Tropic Cinema

Tropic Cinema, The Key West Lighthouse, The Truman Little White House, The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum

Miami with Third Horizon and O Cinema

   New World Symphony SoundScape Park and South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center

 

Georgia: 

Atlanta with Atlanta Film Society

The Plaza Theater, Plaza Drive-In, Dad’s Garage Drive-In

Macon with Macon Film Festival

Douglass Theatre

 

Hawaii: Honolulu with Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA)

 

Iowa: Iowa City with FilmScene

FilmScene at The Chauncey

 

Kansas: Wichita with mama.film

mama.film microcinema, Wichita Art Museum, Groover Labs

 

Kentucky: Louisville with The Speed Art Museum

Speed Art Museum

 

Louisiana: New Orleans with New Orleans Film Society

The Broad Theater

 

Maryland: Baltimore with Maryland Film Festival

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway Theater

 

Massachusetts: Brookline with Coolidge Corner Theatre  

Coolidge Corner Theatre

 

Michigan: Detroit with Cinema Detroit

 

Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul with FilmNorth

Riverview Theater

 

New York: Pleasantville with Jacob Burns Film Center 

Jacob Burns Film Center & Media Arts Lab

 

Ohio: Columbus with Gateway Film Center

Gateway Film Center

 

Oklahoma: Tulsa with Circle Cinema

Circle Cinema, Circle Cinema Drive-In, Admiral Twin Drive-In, Philbrook Museum, OSU-Tulsa, Tulsa University, Gilcrease Museum

 

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia with BlackStar Film Festival

 

Puerto Rico: San Juan with Asociación de Documentalistas de Puerto Rico (AdocPR)

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (MAPR)

 

South Carolina: Columbia with The Luminal Theater

Spotlight Cinemas Capitol 8

 

Tennessee:      

Memphis with Indie Memphis

Malco Summer Drive-In

Nashville with Belcourt Theatre  

Belcourt Theatre

 

Texas: 

Austin with Austin Film Society

AFS Cinema

Dallas with Aviation Cinemas

Texas Theatre

Houston with Houston Cinema Arts Society

MoonStruck Drive-In, DeLUXE Theater

 

Utah: 

Park City

The Ray

Salt Lake City with Salt Lake Film Society

 

Washington: 

 

Seattle with Northwest Film Forum

 

THE PLATFORM:

One of the fundamental values of the Festival is gathering: it’s a place where a global community of independent artists can convene for a generative and open exchange of ideas. This year, that will take place on the platform’s Festival Village, a free-to-all space where Satellite Screens, partners, and Festival sponsors will host a wide range of events, programming, and offerings to complement and enrich the official program. The platform’s Main Street will act as both an homage to the iconic Park City thoroughfare and as an extension of the Festival’s core programming, featuring digital partner spaces hosting conversations, musical performances, and more. The Artist Lounge will feature a space for creators to gather for artist programming, as well as for the Festival’s Class of ’21 to network and celebrate at private events.

 

TICKETING DETAILS

Tickets and passes for those who want to experience the Festival for the full run, a single day, or a single screening will be available to the general public beginning January 7; further details will be available later this month. For more information, sign up at Festival.Sundance.org.

 

The Sundance Film Festival®

The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Clemency, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Zola, On The Record, Boys State, The Farewell, Honeyland, One Child Nation, The Souvenir, The Infiltrators, Sorry to Bother You, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, Whiplash, Brooklyn, Precious, The Cove, Little Miss Sunshine, An Inconvenient Truth, Napoleon Dynamite, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Reservoir Dogs, and sex, lies, and videotape. The Festival is a program of the non-profit Sundance Institute. 2021 Festival sponsors to date include: Presenting Sponsors – Acura, SundanceTV, Chase Sapphire, Adobe; Leadership Sponsors – Amazon Studios, AT&T,  DoorDash, Dropbox, Netflix, Omnicom Group, Southwest Airlines® , WarnerMedia; Sustaining Sponsors – AMC, Audible, Canada Goose, Canon U.S.A., Inc., Dell Technologies, Documentary Plus, GEICO, IMDbPro, Stella Artois® , Unity Technologies, University of Utah Health, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Zoom; Media Sponsors – The Atlantic, IndieWire, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, NPR, Variety, Vulture, The Wall Street Journal. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations helps offset the Festival’s costs and sustain the Institute’s year-round programs for independent artists. sundance.org/festival

 

 

Sundance Institute

As a champion and curator of independent stories for the stage and screen, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theater, film composing, and digital media to create and thrive. Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute’s signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs which are dedicated to developing new work and take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally, are supported largely through contributed revenue. Sundance Co//ab, a digital community platform, brings artists together to learn from each other and Sundance Advisors and connect in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Clemency, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Zola, On The Record, Boys State, The Farewell, Honeyland, One Child Nation, The Souvenir, The Infiltrators, Sorry to Bother You, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Hereditary, Call Me By Your Name, Get Out, The Big Sick, Mudbound, Fruitvale Station, City So Real, Top of the Lake, Between the World & Me, Wild Goose Dreams and Fun Home. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

 

The Films:

 

Censor / United Kingdom (Director: Prano Bailey-Bond, Screenwriters: Prano Bailey-Bond, Anthony Fletcher, Producer: Helen Jones) — When film censor Enid discovers an eerie horror that speaks directly to her sister’s mysterious disappearance, she resolves to unravel the puzzle behind the film and its enigmatic director – a quest blurring the lines between fiction and reality in terrifying ways. Cast: Niamh Algar, Nicholas Burns, Vincent Franklin, Sophia La Porta, Adrian Schiller, Michael Smiley. World Premiere.

 

The Most Beautiful Boy in the World / Sweden (Directors: Kristina Lindström, Kristian Petri, Producer: Stina Gardell) — Swedish actor/musician Björn Andresen’s life was forever changed at the age of 15, when he played Tadzio, the object of Dirk Bogarde’s obsession in Death in Venice – a role which led Italian maestro Luchino Visconti to dub him “the world’s most beautiful boy.” World Premiere

 

Cryptozoo / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Dash Shaw, Producers: Kyle Martin, Jane Samborski, Bill Way, Tyler Davidson) — As cryptozookeepers struggle to capture a Baku (a legendary dream-eating hybrid creature) they begin to wonder if they should display these rare beasts in the confines of a cryptozoo, or if these mythical creatures should remain hidden and unknown. Cast: Lake Bell, Michael Cera, Angeliki Papoulia, Zoe Kazan, Peter Stormare, Grace Zabriskie. World Premiere

 

In The Earth / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Ben Wheatley, Producer: Andy Starke) — As a disastrous virus grips the planet, a scientist and a park scout venture deep into the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness as the forest comes to life around them. Cast: Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires, Reece Shearsmith. World Premiere, Narrative

 

R#J / U.S.A. (Director: Carey Williams, Screenwriters: Carey Williams, Rickie Castaneda, Alex Sobolev, Producers: Timur Bekmambetov, Igor Tsay, John J. Kelly, Alex Sobolev, Anna Soboleva) — A re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet, taking place through their cell phones, in a mash-up of Shakespearean dialogue with current social media communication. Cast: Camaron Engels, Francesca Noel, David Zayas, Diego Tinoco, Siddiq Saunderson, Russell Hornsby. World Premiere

 

Passing / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Rebecca Hall, Producers: Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Margot Hand, Rebecca Hall) — Two African-American women who can “pass” as white choose to live on opposite sides of the color line in 1929 New York in an exploration of racial and gender identity, performance, obsession and repression. Based on the novella by Nella Larsen. Cast: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Bill Camp. World Premiere

 

Misha and the Wolves / United Kingdom, Belgium (Director and Screenwriter: Sam Hobkinson, Producers: Poppy Dixon, Al Morrow, Matthew Wells, Gregory Zalcman, Jürgen Buedts) — A woman’s Holocaust memoir takes the world by storm, but a fallout with her publisher-turned-detective reveals her story as an audacious deception created to hide a darker truth. World Premiere

 

Hive / Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania (Director and Screenwriter: Blerta Basholli, Producers: Yll Uka, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka) — Fahrije’s husband has been missing since the war in Kosovo. She sets up her own small business to provide for her kids, but as she fights against a patriarchal society that does not support her, she faces a crucial decision: to wait for his return, or to continue to persevere. Cast: Yllka Gashi, Çun Lajçi, Aurita Agushi, Kumrije Hoxha, Adriana Matoshi, Kaona Sylejmani. World Premiere.

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Jockey / U.S.A. (Director: Clint Bentley, Screenwriters: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Nancy Schafer) — An aging jockey is determined to win one last championship, but his dream is complicated when a young rookie shows up claiming to be his son. Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, Moises Arias. World Premiere

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Mother Schmuckers / Belgium (Directors and Screenwriters: Lenny Guit, Harpo Guit, Producers: David Borgeaud, Erika Meda) — Issachar & Zabulon, two brothers in their twenties, are supremely stupid and never bored, as madness is part of their daily lives. When they lose their mother’s beloved dog, they have 24 hours to find it – or she will kick them out. Cast: Harpo Guit, Maxi Delmelle, Claire Bodson, Mathieu Amalric, Habib Ben Tanfous. World Premiere

 

Coming Home in the Dark / New Zealand (Director: James Ashcroft, Screenwriters: Eli Kent, James Ashcroft, Producers: Mike Minogue, Catherine Fitzgerald, Desray Armstrong) — A family’s outing descends into terror when teacher Alan Hoaganraad, his wife Jill and stepsons Maika and Jordon explore an isolated coastline. An unexpected meeting with a pair of drifters, the enigmatic psychopath Mandrake and his accomplice Tubs, thrusts the family into a nightmare when they find themselves captured. Cast: Daniel Gillies, Erik Thomson, Miriama McDowell, Matthias Luafutu. World Premiere

 

Life in a Day 2020 / United Kingdom, U.S.A. (Director: Kevin Macdonald, Producers: Jack Arbuthnott, Tim Partridge) — An extraordinary, intimate, global portrait of life on our planet, filmed by thousands of people across the world, on a single day: 25th July 2020. World Premiere

 

Philly D.A. / U.S.A. (Created By: Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicole Salazar, Producers: Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicole Salazar, Josh Penn, Michael Gottwald) — A groundbreaking inside look at the long shot election and tumultuous first term of Larry Krasner, Philadelphia’s unapologetic District Attorney, and his experiment to upend the criminal justice system from the inside out. World Premiere, Episodic Documentary

 

Night of the Kings / France, Ivory Coast, Canada, Senegal (Director and Screenwriter: Philippe Lacôte, Producers: Delphine Jaquet, Yanick Létourneau, Ernest Konan, Yoro Mbaye) — A young man is sent to La Maca, a prison on the Ivory Coast in the middle of the forest ruled by its prisoners. With the red moon rising, he is designated by the Boss to be the new “Roman” and must tell a story to the other prisoners. Cast: Koné Bakary, Steve Tientcheu, Digbeu Jean Cyrille, Rasmané Ouédraogo, Issaka Sawadogo, Denis Lavant.