Movies, Movies, Movies

Dive into Movie Magic: Discover the 2025 Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama, just minutes away from Hamilton Inn Bessemer.

The Sidewalk Film Festival is a vibrant, community-centered celebration of independent film—bringing together artists, audiences, and educators in engaging spaces across Birmingham. Its roots in regional culture, commitment to diversity, and breadth of programming make it both accessible and acclaimed—perfect for discovering great films and connecting with storytellers.

Some History....

• Founded in 1999 as the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival by the Alabama Moving Image Association (AIMA), with founders Kelli McCall Franklin, Wayne Franklin, and Erik Jambor.

  
  

• Initially held in May, and venues ranged from repurposed banks to outdoor screens. Around 4,000 people attended the first festival.

  
  

• It earned early acclaim, being named one of TIME Magazine’s “Top 10 Festivals for the Rest of Us”.

  
  

• Later, it merged with the SHOUT LGBTQ Film Festival to form a more inclusive, broader festival experience.

  
  

• In 2019, it opened its permanent home, the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, in the historic Pizitz Building, featuring two theaters, a classroom, lounges, and a bar.

Fun Facts...

• Showcases over 300 films annually, spanning feature-length narratives, documentaries, shorts, animations, episodic content, music videos, and more.

  
  

• Programming focuses on diverse storytelling with dedicated tracks such as:

  • Life & Liberty (social issues)

  • Black Lens (diversity and Black filmmakers)

  • SHOUT (LGBTQ+ content)

  • Family Festival

  • A spotlight on Alabama and student filmmakers 

    
    

• Features the Sidewrite Screenplay Competition, recognizing feature, short, and Alabama-themed scripts with cash prizes and readings during the festival.

• Encourages audience engagement through jury and audience awards including categories like Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Alabama Film, Best SHOUT Film, and more.

Attending?

• August 18th - August 24th 2025

  
  

• Purchase your passes/tickets here: https://sidewalkfest.com/events/

  
  

• Opening Night at https://alabamatheatre.com

Grab a friend and attend this amazing and fun event!