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The 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank is more than just a selection of films! Here are a few FREE options to enjoy during the Festival if you need a break from the screenings, want some education, or just don’t want to break the bank!

TVs Of Terror Presents: SLEEPAWAY CAMP

August 22 at 9:30pm – Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema 

TVs Of Terror are coming to the Sidewalk Cinema for a special screening of the perfect late summer horror classic Sleepaway Camp (1983).

TechTuesday – NFTs & Films

August 23 at 11:30am – Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema

We are partnering with TechBirmingham to have a special session of their monthly TechTuesday event to offer a lunch and learn program focused on NFTs, film, and the intersection of tech and film. Lunch is included. This event is free but registration is required. Doors at 11:30, Panel at noon.

Sidewalk’s Movie Trivia: SHOUT Edition

August 24 at 9:00pm – Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema

Sidewalk’s Movie Trivia returns for a special SHOUT Edition following our SHOUT Spotlight Night.

Sidewalk’s Movie Trivia: Black Lens Edition

August 25 at 9:00pm – Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema

Sidewalk’s Movie Trivia returns for a special Black Lens Edition following our Black Lens Spotlight Night.

Opening Night Pre-Party presented by Cooper’s Craft Kentucky Bourbon

August 26 at 5:00pm – 1800 Block of Third Ave N.

Don’t rush home after work, join us for some fun on 3rd Avenue before the film! We’ll have food trucks, cash and VIP bar and more for our Opening Night Pre-Party.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

August 27 at 10:15am – Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema A & B

For the 10th year in a row Sidewalk programmers have compiled an awesome selection of 1980’s and 90’s cartoons and vintage commercials for the start of your Sidewalk weekend. To accompany the fun-packed screening there will be a free cereal bar. So launch into your 2021 Festival weekend the right way, by loading up on carbs, crazy cartoon antics and good company. Fun for all ages!

Sidewalk Storytime at the Lyric

August 27 at 10:15am – Lyric Theatre

Inspired by the opening night film, Butterfly in the Sky, join us for storytelling at the Lyric Theatre on Sidewalk Saturday morning. All ages!

Sidewrite Table Reads

August 27 at 10:30am – ASFA Lecture Hall

Hear from the winning scripts of the 2022 Sidewrite screenplay competition.

Public Media: Reading Rainbow to Reel South

August 27 at 1:00pm – ASFA Lecture Hall

Learn about the wide-range of Public Media initiatives from pioneering educational programming since the 1970s to a new docuseries featuring southern filmmakers telling the stories of the American South. PBS is committed to delivering a diverse array of content through broadcast and digital platforms and provides funding opportunities for non-fiction filmmakers. Presented by Alabama Public Television.

Speakers: Rachel Raney (Executive Producer of Reel South), Heather Daniels-Whitson (Director of Digital & Education Media at Alabama Public Television),  Cecily Truett Lancit (Co-creator and Supervising Producer of Reading Rainbow), Larry Lancit (Co-creator and Supervising Producer of Reading Rainbow), Bradford Thomason (Co-Director of Butterfly in the Sky).

Moderator: T. Marie King (Black Lens & Lead Shorts Programmer)

Sidetalks Podcast Live

August 27 at 1:00pm – Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema A

Join us for a special live recording of SideTalks, the official podcast of the Sidewalk Film Festival featuring Sidewalk creative director Rachel Morgan and lead programmer Corey Craft. They fight, a lot.

The Craft of Horror

August 27 at 3:00pm – ASFA Lecture Hall

Learn from creators in and lovers of the horror genre about the influence and thought processes behind their work.

Speakers: Nick Adrian (Director, Co-Founder of Coffee Whale Films), Jay Burleson (Filmmaker at Sleep Creature LLC), Kansas Bowling (Actress/Filmmaker), Chance Shirley (Filmmaker), Tyler Russell (Writer/Director)

Moderator: Kyle McKinnon (Former Sidewalk Programmer, Film Composer)

Telling Our Stories: Adversity and Diversity in Filmmaking and the Performing Arts

August 27 at 5:00pm – ASFA Lecture Hall

Hear from filmmakers, performers, and advocates about the work behind creating projects while putting a spotlight on their lived experiences.

Speakers: Verton R. Banks (Actor/Writer/Producer), Sean Charles Jr. (Development & Programming Manager at ALLBLK), Wally Chung (Animator), Ashley P. Causey (Writer/Director)

Moderator: Alie B. Gorrie (Community Engagement Manager – Red Mountain Theatre)

Auditioning 101

August 28 at 11:00am – ASFA Lecture Hall

Learn from local casting director Meg Deusner about best practices for auditioning, how to make good self tapes, and tips from the casting director’s desk. Meg owns Acting Out Academy, a premiere on-camera acting academy that has been training and developing actors of all ages for over a decade.

Building a DIY Film Community

August 28 at 1:00pm – ASFA Lecture Hall

Hear from our panel of filmmakers and organizers on how they are building a community around film in Alabama and across the South.

Speakers: Nick Campbell & Chayse Porter (Hosts at TVs of Terror), Michele Forman (Director of UAB Media Studies Program), Hannah Hearn (Impact Coordinator & Fellowships Lead at Working Films), Anton Jackson (Festival Director at Montgomery Film Festival).

Moderator: Gareth Jones (Film Studies Professor and Radio Host)

Funding Your Film in Alabama

August 28 at 3:30pm – ASFA Lecture Hall

Learn about the many grant opportunities available to fund your next film from local, regional, and national organizations.

Speakers: Chuck Holmes (Executive Director – Alabama Humanities Alliance), Kristy Garcia Breneman (Executive Director – Southern Documentary Fund), Caroline von Kühn (Director – Industry & Catalyst – Sundance Institute), Amy Jenkins (Visual Arts Program Manager – Alabama State Council on the Arts).

Moderator: Stacey Davis (Owner of The Law Firm of Stacey A. Davis LLC)

Deliberate Indifference Podcast Conversation

August 28 at 4:00pm – Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema B

Go behind the scenes of WBHM’s podcast “Deliberate Indifference.” The limited-run series tells the story of how Alabama’s prisons became some of the nation’s most dangerous, culminating in a years-long battle with federal officials. Hear from host Mary Scott Hodgin about the challenges of reporting on the criminal justice system, and what she learned about crafting long-form audio narratives.

How to (Successfully) Podcast

August 28 at 5:00pm – ASFA Lecture Hall

Join experienced podcasters for a discussion regarding successfully developing and producing podcasts.

Classic MTV Music Videos 

August 28 at 5:20pm – Sidewalk Film Center & Cinema – Cinema A

Just like it’s the 80s’ we’ll screen a binge-worthy block of old school music videos along with vintage commercials and MTV bumpers. Part time machine, part recreation – spend an evening in front of the TV… specifically the MTV (before it was M-realityT-V). Fun & Free!

 The 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival Awards Show

August 28 at 9:00pm – Lyric Theatre

Find out what films, filmmakers, volunteers, and more go home with a special award to close out the Festival.

Kids 12 & Under are free at all Family Line-up screenings including THE KARATE KID PART III, BEBE’S KIDS, Family Shorts, ACTING OUT! and CAT DADDIES.

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

Be sure to check out our most recently announced titles, our Spotlight Nights, our Saturday Night party, other recently announced titles, Opening Night + other selections, and our first nine features announced.

Purchase your passes and tickets now at sidewalkfest.com/tix.

To quote Miley Cyrus, “We Can’t Stop”! Announcing 7 additional Official Selections for the 24th annual Sidewalk Film Festival. 

Just when you thought there were more great films in the 2022 Sidewalk line-up than you can possibly stand, surprise! We may even have a couple more tricks up our sleeve before Fest weekend so keep an eye out and grab those tickets if you haven’t already!

RESURRECTION

Directed By Andrew Semans

Narrative

Runtime 103 Mins

USA

A woman’s carefully constructed life gets upended when an unwelcome shadow from her past returns, forcing her to confront the monster she’s evaded for two decades.

QUANTUM COWBOYS

Directed By Geoff Marslett

Narrative

Runtime 99 Mins 

USA

A rotoscoped time travel western. Featuring Frank Mosley, Lily Gladstone, John Doe, David Arquette, Neko Case, Trieste Kelly Dunn and Alex Cox

WARM BLOOD

Directed By Rick Charnoski

Narrative 

Runtime 86 Minutes

USA

Red, a runaway in the 1980s, returns to the outskirts of her NorCal hometown to track down her wayward father and falls in with a young drifter.

MCENROE

Directed By Barney Douglas

Documentary

Runtime 104 Mins

USA/UK

Follows John McEnroe as he finally tells his side of his storied career and performances on the court.

NOTHING COMPARES

Directed By Kathryn Ferguson

Documentary 

Runtime 97 Minutes

UK/Ireland 

The story of Sinéad O’Connor’s rise to worldwide fame, and how her iconoclastic personality resulted in her exile from the pop mainstream. Focusing on prophetic words and deeds across a six-year period (1987-1993), the film reflects on the legacy of this fearless trailblazer, through a contemporary feminist lens.

BOOTYOLOGY

Directed By Joe Eddy

Narrative Feature

Run Time 96 Minutes

USA

When a documentary crew sets out to explore the relationship between artificial intelligence and popular music, their journey takes an unexpected turn when they stumble across a mystery involving the disappearance of the infamous rap duo, The Booty Boys. 

MAKE ME FAMOUS

Directed By Brian Vincent

Documentary

Runtime 90 Minutes

USA

Shout

A madcap romp through the 1980’s NYC art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell-bent on making it. Filmed in NYC, Detroit, San Francisco, Ireland, Berlin and the Cote d’Azur.

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

Be sure to check our Spotlight Nights, our Saturday Night party, our other recently announced titles, Opening Night + other selections, and our first nine features announced.

Purchase your passes now at sidewalkfest.com/tix.

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. 

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.”

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.

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]

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!