Loading…
This event has ended. Visit the official site or create your own event on Sched.
Sidewalk Film Festival is produced by the Alabama Moving Image Association, a federally recognized 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to inspire, encourage and support filmgoers, the city of Birmingham and the filmmaking community. In addition to hosting the annual film festival, we host monthly networking and educational events, a monthly documentary series, short film and screenwriting competitions, manage a youth board and a variety of other year-round programs. 

Tickets sales to our events cover approximately 1/3 of our annual operating cash budget, so we depend on corporate sponsors, grant-making organizations and individuals like you to survive. if you’d like to know more about supporting Sidewalk, please contact us at sidewalk@sidewalkfest.com.

Using Sched.org as our primary scheduling tool, we are happy to offer four different ways to view this year’s lineup. By hovering your cursor over the "Schedule" tab below, you can take your pick of a Simple, Expanded, Grid, or By Venue view. 

This schedule is subject to change.
Alabama [clear filter]
Saturday, August 26
 

10:15am CDT

Saturday Alabama Shorts
Saturday Alabama Shorts
105 minutes

The Heist
- Luke Harris
- 5 min.
As two slick conmen pitch their heist team to their savvy benefactor, we begin to slowly realize that they may have gone too far.

Rocket City Shakedown
- Benjamin Stark
- 17 min.
Follow Rex, a crusading young eccentric, on a comedic journey into the mind-numbing world of government bureaucracy and corporate rat races in his technology-driven hometown of Huntsville, Alabama.

Double Jump
- Kelsey Harrison, Brett Whitcomb
- 5 min.
One man's eccentricities are put to the test in this Sidewalk 2017 Scramble competition winner.

Since Feeling is First
- Abigail Armstrong
- 18.5 min.
A recent divorcee and an android woman explore the potential for a romantic relationship between human and AI.

Asteria
- Josh Crute
- 10.5 min.
An artist is commissioned by earth to paint the wonders of the universe, but an encounter with a stranded astronaut forces her to face the life she left behind.

Hartley
- Brandon Sparks
- 14.5 min.
A young woman contemplates leaving her Southern hometown when her ex-boyfriend from high school returns home hoping to rekindle their relationship.

Know This
- Leah Hudspeth, Jason O'Brien
- 16.5 min.
An unexpected hiking trip with her girlfriend brings up painful memories for Lauren.

Texas Cotton
- Tyler Russell
- 9.5 min.
A Texas sheriff finds nothing is simple deep in the heart of the Hill Country.

On Time
- Xavier Neal-Burgin
- 8.5 min.
Renee Johnson, a struggling mother, must make a difficult decision when she's late for her job interview.

Saturday, August 26th
10:15 AM
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.
 


Saturday August 26, 2017 10:15am - 12:00pm CDT
ASFA: Dorothy Jemison Day

12:10pm CDT

Alabama Bound sponsored by Planned Parenthood
Alabama Bound
Directed by Lara Embry & Carolyn Sherer
USA, Documentary, 83 minutes
The courageous story of lesbian couples struggling to thrive in Alabama is poignantly portrayed in this moving documentary about the slow, but steady progress of LGBTQ rights. Directors Lara Embry and Carolyn Shere, both Alabama natives, also skillfully spotlight Representative Patricia Todd, the state’s only openly gay legislator. Todd has been on the frontlines, fighting some of the state’s heaviest battles facing LGBTQ Alabamians. Alabama Bound is one of the all-time most riveting and heartfelt documentaries regarding queer life in the South. - J Matthew Cobb

Saturday, August 26th
12:10 PM
Lyric Theatre
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.

Click here to buy festival passes.

Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.




Saturday August 26, 2017 12:10pm - 1:33pm CDT
Lyric Theatre

2:20pm CDT

A Life In Waves sponsored by James F. Carter, Architect
A Life in Waves
Directed by Brett Whitcomb
USA, Documentary, 74 minutes

Who came up with Coca-Cola’s signature popping and fizzing sound? Where did the Atari game system get its futuristic music? Delve into the audio sphere of electronic music pioneer Suzanne Ciani in A Life In Waves and experience the sound of imagination. Ciani’s career has been enormously successful from pop music to advertising to collaborations with synthesizer pioneers such as Don Buchla. Abandoning tradition, Ciani has forged her own way to attempt to “do something that no one else could do." - Charlie Sanders

Saturday, August 26th
2:20 PM
Lyric Theatre
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.

 



Saturday August 26, 2017 2:20pm - 3:34pm CDT
Lyric Theatre

2:45pm CDT

Alabama Documentary Shorts sponsored by RealtySouth
Alabama Documentary Shorts
102 minutes

Johnny's Greek and Three
- Ava Lowrey
- USA
- 8 min
Profile of Timothy Hontzas, owner of Johnny's - one of the top meat and three lunch spots in Birmingham and recently nominated for a James Beard Award.

Bullet Hands
- Alex R. Bauer, Mary Figuers Stallings
- USA
- 10 min
A portrait of Kenneth McNeil, a young boxer living in the Pratt City community of Birmingham, Alabama.

Community of the Cards
- David Love, Ben Johnson
- USA
- 5 min
In the heart of Alabama a large group of avid card players have formed a tight-knit community around a small shop called Card Addicts.

Rolling through the Hoops
- Ingrid Pfau
- USA
- 8 min
Meet Christina Schwab, a paralympic athlete and wheelchair basketball coach.

Firehouse
- Betserai Ashanti, Terry Gentry, Zachary Rogers
- USA
- 10 min
Peek in to the DIY music scene in Birmingham.

Visionland
- Faulkner Hereford, Randolph Malone
- USA
- 12 min
A family brings three generations of theme park experience to Bessemer, Alabama.

Gardens of Red Dust
- Corey Carpenter, Maggie Patterson
- USA
- 13 min
A chorus of Alabamian voices seeks to lift the shroud surrounding death and burial.

52%
- Miranda Donato, Shelby Anderson
- USA
- 11 min
A look at the disproportionate representation of women in Alabama politics.

Okra Fest
- Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley, Judy Lessler
- USA
- 8 min
A visit to the Okra Festival in Burkville, Alabama.

Wrastlin
- Josh Snead
- USA
- 10
- A ringside seat at a night of wrestling at the 431 Sports Arena in Boaz, Alabama.

Gifts from the Good Land
- Ava Lowrey
- USA
- 6.5
Randle Farms, located just outside of Auburn, Alabama, has provided lamb to the southeastern Muslim community for over 30 years.

Saturday, August 26th
2:45 PM
ASFA Lecture Hall
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.


Saturday August 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:26pm CDT
ASFA: Lecture Hall

9:50pm CDT

The Weight
The Weight
Directed by Thomas Rennier
USA, Narrative, 80 minutes

Thad is a blue-collar worker from a small town in Missouri. His life becomes entangled with burdens and regret when his boss involves him in murder. A domino effect sets turmoil in motion when a farmer’s dog finds the bodies buried in the woods. Thad’s ex-wife Julie, a private investigator, and the local sheriff search for answers as things go from bad to worse. Featuring Alabamian Clayne Crawford, The Weight is a heavy tale involving love and loss.
- Michael Shelton

Saturday, August 26th
9:50 PM
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.



Saturday August 26, 2017 9:50pm - 11:10pm CDT
ASFA: Dorothy Jemison Day

10:20pm CDT

The Atoning
The Atoning
Directed by Michael Williams
USA, Narrative, 89 minutes

Questionable occurrences rattle the home of a seemingly normal family. Despite the efforts to protect their son, it becomes eerily clear that the family's past haunts them more deeply than any ghost ever could. Everything that has happened to this family will affect everything that is to come. Featuring Birmingham-native Virginia Newcomb and written and directed by Mississippi-native Michael Williams, The Atoning presents a modern southern ghost story.
- Christy Turnipseed

Saturday, August 26th
10:15 PM
ASFA Lecture Hall
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.



Saturday August 26, 2017 10:20pm - 11:49pm CDT
ASFA: Lecture Hall
 
Sunday, August 27
 

4:20pm CDT

The Nobodies
The Nobodies
Directed by Jay Burleson
USA, Narrative, 86 minutes

The premise: Early 90’s Alabama, amateur filmmaker Warren Werner hosts a local premiere of his film, Pumpkin, shot on VHS for 600 bucks. The town is outraged, accusing Warren and girlfriend, Samantha Dixon, of engaging in satanic rituals. The two commit suicide. A documentary film crew begins investigating, but never complete the film. Pumpkin and the remaining doc footage are seared together to create The Nobodies. This celebratory screening doubles as The Nobodies Troma release party, surprises are expected. Stick around for a screening of Troma classic The Toxic Avenger to follow.
- Rachel Morgan

Sunday, August 27th
4:20 PM
ASFA Recital Hall
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Sunday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.



Sunday August 27, 2017 4:20pm - 5:46pm CDT
ASFA: Recital Hall

5:15pm CDT

Sunday Alabama Shorts
Sunday Alabama Shorts
92 minutes

Olde E

  • Xavier Neal-Burgin
  • USA
  • 15 min

Demarkus Jackson, a young basketball star from South Central, Los Angeles, puts his life at risk when he comes home for revenge against his abusive father.

Haygood Eats

  • Hazart
  • USA
  • 5 min

A commercial shoot becomes a little too real.

Lightning Run

  • McKay C Mohun
  • USA
  • 5 min

During Prohibition, a young man, owing a debt to gangsters, must smuggle a shipment of moonshine.

Turtle

  • Alan Moore
  • USA
  • 8 min

A fishing trip doesn't go as planned for an alcoholic father and his struggling son, but they find inspiration when they least expect it.

IBBUR

  • Ian Hoppe, Dino Sarris
  • USA
  • 8  min

A young woman is hired to settle unfinished business by impersonating her doppelgänger.

Two by 4

  • Ian Bondurant
  • USA
  • 6 min

A young tree attends its first day of public high school.

Arrived

  • Whitney Hamilton
  • USA
  • 4.5 min

A group of kids realize aliens have landed in the local park. A short spoof on Arrival.

Hunted

  • Jack Serra
  • USA
  • 5 min

A man tries to figure out his past while being hunted by an unknown creature.

Alien Invasion USA

  • Chuck Hartsell, Chance Shirley
  • USA
  • 5.5

Chris and Chuck's afternoon of football watching is interrupted by a breaking news story.

Top Shelf

  • Colin Albea
  • USA
  • 13.5 min

A man battling homelessness and addiction breaks his somber routine to try and restore a small part of his happier past.

Beavis

  • Ian J Cunningham, Zac Simon
  • USA
  • 5 min

A slacker helps his cute neighbor search for a cat all over town.

Lex Talionis

  • Jesse Swenson
  • USA
  • 11 min

A meticulous college freshman exacts revenge on his slovenly roommate.


Sunday, August 27th
5:15 PM
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater
Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Saturday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.


Sunday August 27, 2017 5:15pm - 6:45pm CDT
ASFA: Dorothy Jemison Day

7:20pm CDT

Tinker
Tinker
Directed by Sonny Marler
USA, Narrative, 96 minutes

Reclusive farmer, Grady Lee Jr., discovers his late father’s journal containingplans for an electromagnetic generator, based on the lost research of NikolaTesla. With the help of his friend, Boudreaux, Grady begins working on thedevice. Just as progress is underway, Grady gets the unexpected news thathis stepsister has died and custody of her son, Kai, falls to him. New parentalresponsibilities disrupt Grady’s obsession with the machine; however, Kai mightjust be instrumental in finishing the work.

Sunday, August 27th
7:20 PM
Birmingham Museum of Art - Steiner Auditorium

Admission included with VIP, Weekend, and Sunday Day Passes. Premium Single Tickets also available.
Click here to buy festival passes.
Click here to buy premium single tickets for this screening.

Sunday August 27, 2017 7:20pm - 8:56pm CDT
Steiner Auditorium
 
Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.