The 27th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank will take place August 18th – 24th, 2025 in Downtown Birmingham’s Historic Theatre District.
The Central Box Office will be located in The Gallery at The Pizitz Building, on the corner of 2nd Ave. N. and 19th St. N. (enter from the 19th St. side of the building)
VIP passes are available for pick-up at the Central Box Office only.
Festival-goers can pick up will-call tickets or make ticket purchases at the Central Box Office throughout Festival week or at any of our satellite box offices Saturday and Sunday.
Central Box Office Hours
11am – 7pm (M – Th)
11am – 9pm (Fri)
9am – 9pm (Sat-Sun)
Satellite Box Office Locations
Alabama School of Fine Arts
- 1800 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.
Alabama Theatre
- 1817 3rd Ave. N.
Carver Theatre
- 1631 4th Ave. N.
Contact the Box Office
- [email protected]
- 205-324-0888
- All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges will be issued, except in rare cases of program cancellations.
- Lost or misplaced items (such as lanyards or wristbands) will not be replaced. If an item is damaged, bring the physical item to the Central Box Office to exchange it.
- Accessibility: If you require mobility-related accommodations during the Festival, please visit the Central Box Office to request an accessibility wristband from a staff member or volunteer. This wristband grants early access to screening venues and access to our ADA shuttle service.
- VIP lanyards are non-transferable.
- Venue entry order is as follows:
- Premium Single Tickets and Accessibility Wristbands
- Lanyard Holders
- Weekend & Day Passes
- General Admission ticket holders
- Premium Single Tickets are the only product that guarantees seating for a specific film, provided the ticket holder is in line at least 15 minutes before the screening. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of the seat.
- All other pass types (General Admission Single Tickets, Day Passes, Weekend Passes, and VIP Lanyards) do not guarantee seating. Early arrival is strongly recommended for high-interest screenings.
- Schedule and filmmaker appearances are subject to change.
- No outside food or drink is permitted in any Sidewalk Film Festival screening venue.
- Recording devices are not allowed without official Sidewalk-issued media credentials.
- Content warning: Most independent films shown at the festival are unrated. Viewer discretion is advised.
- Code of Conduct: Sidewalk Film Festival is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all attendees. Harassment or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
Photography/Recording Notice: Official Sidewalk Photographers will be taking photographs and/or video at any and all venues and events in the Sidewalk Film Festival footprint throughout the duration of the festival. By taking part in this event, you grant Sidewalk Film Festival the right to release, publish, exhibit, or reproduce any photographs or video recordings for advertising, promotional purposes, inclusion on Sidewalk websites or social media, or in any other context intended to promote the Sidewalk Film Festival or Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema. You waive all rights to claims for payment or royalties in connection with the publication of any of these materials and release Sidewalk Film Festival and its officers, employees, and affiliated photographers/videographers from any liability connected with these materials. This consent, waiver, and release extends throughout the universe in perpetuity.
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
Traveling to Sidewalk? Check out our partner hotel – Spring Hill Suites
Book quickly! Only a limited number of rooms are available at a discounted rate. We can’t wait to see you in the Magic City!
Flying to Sidewalk? Here is the link to BHM
Parking
Street Parking is available throughout the Festival footprint and is FREE after 5pm weekdays and all day/evening on Saturday and Sunday.
Surface Lot and Garage Parking is also widely available throughout the Festival footprint but rates and terms vary. Check out this handy resource for detailed information about lot/garage parking in the area.
Shuttles
Help!
We will screen more than 200+ films at this year’s Festival, and since it is impossible to see them all we receive lots of questions about how to make the most of the Festival schedule. We encourage every Festival attendee to use our online schedule to plan their Festival week, which could include films, educational opportunities, and filmmaker Q & A’s. We’ll be adding events to our schedule through August 19 so be sure to visit the schedule often and look for new additions.
We offer a robust, interactive schedule on our website, in app form, and integrated with Google Calendar/Outlook/iCal.
New to Sched?
Here are a few tips and tricks we think will be helpful for planning your festival experience! Special thanks to Sched for providing these tutorials.
View Session Details
View the full schedule and hover over a session title for details or click through to the sessions details.
If you’re looking for a specific session, use the search bar or filter the schedule by color-coded type.
Add and Remove Sessions from Your Schedule
Click the circle next to the session’s name to make a personal schedule of what you’re looking forward to. Click the checkmark again to remove the session from your schedule.
View Personal Schedule
Click your profile picture at any time to get back to your personal schedule.
Mobile Web App
View the Sched site in any mobile browser and you will automatically be served the mobile-optimized version. You can save a shortcut on your home screen.
Every year we receive lots of questions about what to bring or not to bring to the Festival and every year we add a few suggestions to the list. This year is no exception.
- Everyone should bring an open mind and an adventurous spirit.
- We also recommend bringing sunglasses, umbrella/raincoat, and wearing comfortable shoes.
- A debit/credit card (some nearby restaurants/vendors are cashless)
Please don’t bring: Bad attitudes, weapons of any kind, illegal drugs.
Food Trucks
A variety of food trucks will be on-site for this year’s Festival:
Friday, August 23 on the 1800 Block of 3rd Ave. N. for Opening Night Pre-Party and After Party
- Stephen’s Hot Dogs
- Uncle G’s Pizza
Saturday, August 24
- Uncle G’s Pizza (1800 Block 3rd Ave. N.)
Sunday, August 25
- Stephen’s Hot Dogs (ASFA Plaza)
- Uncle G’s Pizza (1800 Block of 3rd Ave. N.
Fast Casual Dining:
Full-Service Restaurants
Grocery and Basics
Publix Super Market at 20 Midtown You can find essentials like basic pharmacy items, as well as groceries, take-away food options, beer and wine.
We are moving our audience ballot process to a digital format. You will have information on the pass you receive upon entering the festival to access the digital ballot for the screening you are attending. Simply submit your vote at the conclusion of your screening/s and then plan to join us for the award show on Sunday, August 25 at 9pm at the Lyric Theatre.
Sidewalk is committed to creating experiences that are accessible to all artists, audiences, staff and volunteers. Please review the information below and let us know of any questions or concerns by messaging us at [email protected]
This is an ongoing effort with many improvements still in process. Your feedback is critical to creating the most inclusive experiences possible.
Read more about accessibility at Sidewalk here.
The Sidewalk Cinema is a KultureCity certified venue. Check in with our Cinema Box Office staff for a KultureCity bag, lap pad, or for other assistance.
We often hear that Sidewalk feels like a family to our volunteers, our filmmakers and even our audiences and we consider that the highest praise.
With family in mind, we want to be sure that parents and caregivers attending the Festival feel welcomed and cared for.
A lactation room/breastfeeding station is available throughout Festival weekend (Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25) at the Alabama School of Fine Arts just off the main school lobby.