Sidewalk is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging filmmaking in Alabama and building audiences for independent film.
We produce the nationally recognized Sidewalk Film Festival, the SHOUT LGBTQ Film Festival; organize a wide variety of educational programs for filmmakers and hold other events that create interest in and enthusiasm for independent film. To expand on this work and better serve our mission we have opened the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, a two-screen independent movie theater in the heart of Birmingham’s historic theatre district.
For two decades our organization’s premier event has been the Sidewalk Film Festival, which showcases the work of more than 250 filmmakers and welcomes 15,000 film lovers to Birmingham annually. Since its debut in 1998, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema. The Festival continues to thrive with increased submissions, ticket sales, and press coverage.
Sidewalk celebrates inclusion and diversity for the benefit of the community and our employees. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
This Christmas, Give the Gift of Sidewalk! Looking for a few last-minute stocking stuffers for the cinephile in your life? Sidewalk's got you covered! Our Early Bird VIP Pass Sale is the cheapest you can get Passes for the 27th Annual Sidewalk…
Read More »Our partners at Stowe Story Labs' extended their deadline for their $50,000 Short Film Production Grant and it is approaching on August 13. Apply now on either FilmFreeway or Coverfly! Use code SSLSIDEWALK24 for 20% off the fee to submit. Stowe…
Read More »We are thrilled to announce this year's Sidewalk Film Festival Black Lens Spotlight Night title, The South Got Something to Say, as well as five additional new Black Lens titles! We’ve already announced a few films on the lineup for The 26th…
Read More »We are extremely excited to bring you our first six titles for the 26th Sidewalk Film Festival (August 19 - 25)! All are female-directed, female-led and female focused! Every year, we screen thousands of movies to bring the best in independent…
Read More »We're incredibly honored to be included in MovieMaker Magazine's prestigious list this year! Read about us and the other great fests here. Entries for the 26th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival (August 19 - 25) close on May 31. Submit your film Now…
Read More »Sidewalk's Membership Drive - All Month Long! Dear [First Name], Thank you for being a friend of Sidewalk! I’m reaching out to you today to ask you to consider becoming a Sidewalk member. Our membership levels are listed here and…
Read More »The Iron Claw Dir. Sean Durkin Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through…
Read More »Our Lowest Festival VIP Passes of the Year! Our Early Bird VIP Pass Sale ends Sunday (12/31) at MIDNIGHT! This is the cheapest price you'll be able to get VIP Passes for the 26th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival, so you won't want to miss out! Get…
Read More »Click here to View the Information About "Sidewalk's Holiday Gift Guide"
Read More »Holiday Scramble Screening 12/13 - 7:00pm Join us to watch the films created by local filmmakers during the Holiday Scramble, a 48 hour film competition! Don't forget, the audience will select the audience choice winner! More Info + Tickets …
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including the start of our Holiday Series! Holidays at Sidewalk: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) Dir. Brian Henson Starring Michael Caine,…
Read More »The 14th Annual $10k Party At Events at Haven (link) This high-stakes soirée offers lots of chances to win—including the $10,000 grand prize! Grab yourself a ticket for $100 and get one entry for the $10,000 drawing (1 in 305 odds).…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! P.S. Don't miss our Black Friday sale! In-person at the Cinema November 24 - 26 Online/Cyber Monday November 27 Noirvember: The Maltese…
Read More »Jewish Film Week is November 12 - 18! Sidewalk's Jewish Film Week is a cinematic exploration of Jewish culture, history, art, and life in Israel. The 2023 JFW will showcase 11 feature films (listed below) across the 7 day event, with most films…
Read More »Announcing our Jewish Film Week Titles! Sidewalk Jewish Film Week is a cinematic exploration of Jewish culture, history, art, and life in Israel. The 2023 JFW will showcase 11 feature films (listed below) across the 7 day event, with most films…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including the kickoff to our The House is Haunted Halloween Series! Stop Making Sense Dir. Jonathan Demme Starring Talking Heads Newly…
Read More »Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including Festival de Cine! Free Festival de Cine at Sidewalk Cinema tickets generously provided by ¡HICA! Boletos gratis para el Festival de Cine en Sidewalk Cinema…
Read More »Improv! At the Cinema Join us for Improv! At the Cinema, a short-form improv comedy show where the audience is part of the fun. This fast-paced improv show incorporates audience suggestions in every game–even getting audience members on…
Read More »Southern Circuit: Pints Before Pictures - Building Relationships in Documentary Filmmaking - FREE! Join One Pint at a Time's director Aaron Hosé and producer Brigitte Hosé in the is FREE discussion on how they developed trust with…
Read More »Karate Kid Fest: The Karate Kid (1984) Dir. John G. Avildsen Starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita A martial arts master agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager. 9/7 - 2:00pm (Early Bird Special) 9/8 - 2:00pm 9/10 - 7:30pm More Info + Tickets …
Read More »Wondering Where You Can Volunteer for the 25th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions? We've got a wide selections of some of the coolest venues in Birmingham for you to volunteer in! ASFA SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY BOX OFFICE BMA BJCC BOX…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Barbie Dir. Greta Gerwig Starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly…
Read More »Click here to View the Information About "Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema Week - August 7, 2023"
Read More »Click here to View the Information About "Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema Week - July 31, 2023"
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including Free Movie Weekend sponsored by Pluto TV! Sidewalk Salon: Music Licensing for Filmmakers w/ Craig Brandwein (FREE!) In this Salon,…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Asteroid City Dir. Wes Anderson Starring Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer convention is…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Asteroid City Dir. Wes Anderson Starring Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including Middle Earth Fest! Middle Earth Fest - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition) Dir. Peter Jackson…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including SHOUT Week! SHOUT Week: The Gospel According to André (2017) Dir. Kate Novack Starring André Leon Tally, Whoopi…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including Father's Day Western Weekend Slavery by Another Name Screening + Panel w/ Burdock Book Collective (Free!) Dir. Sam Pollard The…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Vinegar Projects Presents: Pasture w/ Director Asa Mendelsohn (FREE!) Dir. Asa Mendelsohn A grassroots movement successfully resists…
Read More »What's Happening in Education and Outreach at Sidewalk Vinegar Projects presents: Pasture + Post Film Discussion June 7 | 7PM | Free Join us for a free screening of Asa Mendelsohn's film, PASTURE, and a post film discussion moderated by Vinegar…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema. Filmmaker Grant Applications Now Open! Calling all Alabama filmmakers! We've got three great filmmaking grants open TODAY that you won't…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including our Mother's Day Series! Celebrate Mother's Day at the Sidewalk Cinema! Does your mom/grandmother/stepmom/best friend's…
Read More »Click here to View the Information About "Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema Week - May 1, 2023"
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Ted Lasso Watch Party (FREE!) 4/24 - 7:00pm More Info + RSVP Beau Is Afraid 4/27 - 2:00pm (Early Bird Special) 4/27 - 3:15pm (Early Bird…
Read More »There's No Place Like Sidewalk! Our 2023 Membership Drive is going on for TEN MORE DAYS! Join or renew your membership in the next ten days to follow us down the yellow brick road and get limited-edition Oz themed perks! Everyone who joins or…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including our inaugural Alabama Film Week! Alabama Film Week: Swiss Army Man 4/20 - 2:00pm (Early Bird Special) 4/20 - 4:50pm More Info…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema. Enys Men 4/11 - 4:45pm 4/13 - 2:00pm (Early Bird Special) 4/13 - 4:30pm (Early Bird Special) 4/13 - 7:00pm More Info + Tickets Only…
Read More »Sidewalk's 2023 Alabama Film Week is April 18 - 23! One of Sidewalk's main goals has always been to celebrate local voices in film, from Birmingham as well as the entire state. Because of this, we're bringing you our inaugural Alabama Film Week…
Read More »Click Here to Read more Inforamtion About "Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema - This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema"
Read More »Our 2023 Membership Drive officially begins Today! Join us in our upcoming membership drive for Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema. As a valued member, you will be an integral part of our mission to bring independent film and film education to the Magic…
Read More »What's Happening in Education and Outreach at Sidewalk Join us TONIGHT for a special Southern Circuit screening! Blurring the Color Line Screening + Post-Film Discussion with director Crystal Kwok March 27 | $15 | 7PM Sidewalk Film Center +…
Read More »This Week at the Sidewalk Cinema Everything we have playing the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema. Cocaine Bear Early Bird Special - $5 Tickets, free coffee, on-screen captions & reduced capacity: 3/23 - 2:30pm Regular price: …
Read More »Sidewalk Alum and Birmingham Natives Win Big at the Oscars Unless you've been living under a rock - even a rock with googly eyes - you've probably already heard the amazing news: Everything Everywhere All At Once won a whopping seven Academy Awards…
Read More »The Late Deadline for the 25th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival is March 15! Just a reminder that the Late Deadline to submit your film to the 25th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival is ONE WEEK AWAY! Get yours submitted before prices go up! The 25th…
Read More »This Week at the Cinema Women In Film Week and everything else we have coming up the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Highlighted Titles from our Guest Programmers Big (1988) Programming Selection by Stacey Davis Why BIG? Because…
Read More »What's Happening in Education and Outreach at Sidewalk Join us for TWO special Southern Circuit screenings in March! Mama Bears Screening + Post-Film Discussion with Parker Cunningham and Tammi Terrell Morris March 15 | $15 | 7PM …
Read More »Sidewalk’s Black Lens Film Week, a week dedicated to celebrating Black voices and stories, starts this coming Monday, February 20th and ends Sunday, February 26th. With titles ranging from engaging narratives, family-friendly films, cult…
Read More »This Week at the Cinema Here's what we have coming up the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema, including the return of our Kiss'Em or Diss'Em Valentine's Spectacular! Southern Circuit - Insights on Documentary Filmmaking Ethics and Impact…
Read More »Sidewrite Screenplay Competetion Seeks Readers! We are seeking readers for the Sidewrite Review Committee! The Sidewrite Review Committee is the first step in our Sidewrite Screenwriting Competition evaluation. Sidewrite Readers provide feedback…
Read More »Holocaust in Film 2023: Au Revoir Les Infants (1987) Tickets are $5, free popcorn is provided for all attendees, and there will be a post-film discussion led by local film director, producer, and historian, Michele Forman. 1/31 - 6:00pm More…
Read More »This Week at the Cinema Here's what we have coming up the next seven days at the Sidewalk Cinema! Holocaust in Film 2023: Above the Drowning Sea (2017) Tickets are $5, free popcorn is provided for all attendees, and there will be a post-film…
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