The 17th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival August 28-30
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.
Just out of jail, Sin-Dee Rella, discovers that her pimp boyfriend has been cheating on her. Sin-Dee and her BFF, Alexandra, set out on a hilarious, wildly chaotic trek through West Hollywood to confront the involved parties. Tangerine’s stylish energy, combined with a unique (and borderline surreal) ambience, are just a couple of reasons for the intense amount of attention the film received at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and since. Not just entertaining and fun, surprisingly, Tangerine is, at its heart, a kind and endearing tale of friendship.
Welcome to the oh-so-swanky South! Festival filmmakers and VIPs are greeted with high quality hospitality at the Historic Rucker Place for an evening garden party that would impress Southern Living. Sponsored by Historic Rucker Place, Savoie Catering, and SAGIndie. Complimentary beer and wine sponsored by Back Forty Beer Company.
Vintage Video Game Night service offers over 35 vintage game systems from the 70s to present with thousands of games, plus a large projection screen. We're breaking out the Intellivision, the SNES, the Sega Master System, the Colecovision, the N64 and more for some super-future fun. Sponsored by Saturn Birmingham.
Thursday August 27, 2015 9:00pm - Friday August 28, 2015 12:00am CDT
Saturn Birmingham200 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Sponsored by Red Mountain Park. Our current attractions include 14 miles of trails including two city overlooks, three tree houses, a 6-acre scenic dog park, and adventures like the Red Ore Zip and Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Tower. But this is only the beginning. As Red Mountain Park continues to grow, visitors and supporters like you make it possible for us to build an innovative park in a city that’s in the midst of a civic renaissance. We’ve got no small plans. We’re trail blazers for urban greenspace. Find out how you can Blaze Trails with us by supporting RMP. See tickets@sidewalkfest.com for reservations.
The rooftop of the gorgeous art deco Kress Building will play host to this year's donors, offering catering from James Beard award-winning chef, Chris Hastings of Hot & Hot Fish Club, cocktails, bocce, and a bird's-eye view of the Alabama Theatre. Sponsored by Hot & Hot Fish Club and Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher & Goldfarb. Complimentary beer and wine sponsored by Back Forty Beer Company. Entertainment provided by SHOUT BAMALAMA Soul Dance Party. www.facebook.com/shoutbamalamabham
Hear the hottest local music in Birmingham at B-Metro's Annual Magic City Mix, held this year at the Sidewalk Film Festival. Party with B-Metro and Sidewalk on Friday, August 28, on Third Avenue North in front of the Alabama Theatre, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Featured bands will include Mandi Rae, the Steel City Jug Slammers, and Future Elevators. This is a free event open to the public. For the complete Magic City Mix lineup, check out B-Metro's August issue or visit b-metro.com. Food will be available from Joe's Event Concessions, Magic City Sweet Ice, Big Spoon Creamery, Cantina on Wheels, Old Town Pizza, Wind Creek Casino's "Good To Go" Food Truck, and Johnsonville Brats Big Taste Grill.
In 1981 the biggest film in the world was Raiders of the Lost Ark. If you were in junior high in ‘81 you did not miss seeing Raiders in the theater, you might have even made several visits to your local non-stadium seated multiplex to catch Indy fighting the Nazis. The VHS tape from your local movie rental store was worn thin from multiple viewings and you were probably the proud owner of an Indy hat. In 1982, three ambitious Mississippi tween Raiders fans decided that multiple viewings and movie swag wasn’t enough and decided to recreate the beloved film - shot, by shot. Through relationship turmoil, stunts-gone-wrong, parental divorces and all of high school they worked diligently to remake one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. They cast the family dog as a Nazi, completed their own stunts, asked for props for holidays and set lots of stuff on fire. They remade a Spielberg film, all but one scene. 30 years later, they revisit their unforgotten dream and try to finish the movie. Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made is just that... and more; it’s a true love story, one of dedication, hard-won friendship and the heartfelt lengths that folks will go to for the love of filmmaking.
Block parties may be defined as a semi-fun, boozeless, soirée put on by neighborhood parents to provide their high-school age children with a “fun” and “safe” environment. Blah. What does Websters know anyway? This block party will be an ever popping, Indiana Jones themed celebration put on by your neighborhood cooler, older cousins. Complimentary food provided to all attendees, cash bar available for general pass holders, and complimentary beer and wine available for VIP pass holders. Sponsored by Regions Bank, Savoie Catering, Whole Foods, Avia Valet, and Back Forty Beer Company.
Grab a quick bite to eat in our VIP Lounge! Sponsored by Contin ental Bakery Downtown. Continental Bakery will remain open to the general public, and complimentary food will be served for VIP pass holders.
The Greatest Honor reconstructs U.S. Army infantryman, John Amm’s, tale of heroism during World War II. Thanks to the lead of Amm’s son, Roger, along with journalist Kane Farabaugh, The Greatest Honor, recounts how Amm, serving as part of a platoon infiltrating Germany’s Siegfried Line, valiantly risked his own life to recover the body of a fallen compatriot. Through interviews with fellow troops, and even Amm, himself, shortly before he passed away, the documentary respectfully recounts the heroic reasons for Amm’s honored Bronze Star.
Kane Farabaugh is an Emmy® award-winning television and radio news journalist, documentary producer and filmmaker, writer, and digital content provider. He is a proficient "one-man band" videographer, non-linear video editor and producer, and manages multiple projects and products... Read More →
Alabama The Beautiful showcases the impact of six artisan businesses on Alabama. The companies range from Good People Brewing Company in Birmingham, AL to Belle Chevre, a goat cheese store, in Elkmont, AL. Alabama The Beautiful demonstrates the impact of handmade goods on eroding negative stereotypes about the state, and emphasizes how local craftspeople have rejuvenated their communities. R.C. Hagans, an Opelika based aerosol paint artist, Florence’s IDYLLWILDE, Wood Studio based in Arely, and Birmingham’s Freedom Soap Company are also profiled.
Tomgirl Dir: Jeremy Asher Lynch Girls play with dolls and boys love sports, right? This film takes a look at what happens when those stereotypes are called into question. RT 14 min
Actresses Dir: Jeremy Hersh A comedy about constructive criticism. RT 12 min
Adjust-A-Dream Dir: Jonathan Wysocki Trust issues are tested as a gay male couple shop for their first mattress. RT 6 min
A Kiss From Your Lips Dir: Allison Tate A young swing dancer looks for her perfect dance partner. RT 3:30 min
M4M: Seeks Love Dir: Barton Girdwood Bob Metcalf wants to find a boyfriend, but at 70 years old, he’s finding that’s easier said than done. RT 4 min
The Outfit Dir: Yen Tan A congressman is haunted by an outfit that won't go away. RT 12 Min
Abrase Dir: Toshadeva Palani The fading love of two men, remembered. A relationship once vivid, now dissipating into a fog of partial remembrance; the memories of heartbreak and loss that bend and change as the years go by. RT 7:15 min
Bambi Was a Boy Dir: Maria Beddingfield, Shaelyn Smith "Bambi Was a Boy" offers an intimate and immersive investigation into the shaping of Southern identity through one Alabama drag queen's process and experience. RT 11 min
*In Partnership with Birmingham SHOUT and Continental Bakery, reservations required* On both Saturday AND Sunday, our ladies will shake flesh and souls while you brunch (read: drink) between downtown film screenings. See tickets@sidewalkfest.com for reservations, payment required upon arrival.
While these shorts are made by teens, they may not be appropriate for your teen. Viewer discretion is advised. Admission is free for 12 and under.
Little Red Dir: Wynter Rhys RT 4 min. USA A dark interpretation of the original Charles Perrault fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood.
Cut the Tall Trees: The Killing Power of Words Dir: Noah Bennett, Max Cho RT 5 min. USA This teen-produced documentary resulted explores the frightening case of neighbor turned against neighbor during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
A Better World Dir: Jordan Seibel, Marissa Kugler, Rene Servin, Jesse Nadel, Danielle Kaye, Gillian Schumaker, Justin Binder, Lily Zweig RT 2 min. USA Holocaust Survivors and students share their hope and visions for the world.
Astray Dir: Austin Taylor RT 5 min. USA One man learns that there's more than meets the eye.
Griswold the Elf Dir: Austin Lovelace RT 8 min. USA A tale of the dark side of a Christmas tradition.
Gumball Dir: Kris Theorin, Kurtis Theorin RT 7 min. USA GUMBALL explores how a place can mean different things to different people as it follows one night in the life of a rebellious young woman who breaks into a diner after hours.
To Infinity Dir: Emily Yue RT 4 min. USA Two teens chose what paths they will take in this life.
Triforce of Desire Dir: Lauralee Harper, Brad Pickens, Isaac Sage, Zara Schuster RT 6 min. USA Star Wars? Lord of The Rings? These high school nerds are going to win Annabelle Winchester's love even if it takes their last galleon!
Curt Lowens: A Life of Changes Dir: Justin Binder, August Blum, Robert Carlson, Levi Glaser, George Khabbaz, Kayla Mossanen, Tammy Shine RT 6 min. USA The story of Holocaust Survivor Curt Lowens' story of escape and resistance during World War II.
Friends? Dir: Elijah Seneker RT 3 min. USA A middle age man is confronted by a disturbed young girl with wild accusations about their friendship.
Missing People Dir: Morgan Evans RT 10 min. USA When Morgan notices that a new neighbor has moved into the vacant house next door, she realizes that the first girl to be abducted was 6-months ago on the day after this new neighbor moved in.
Black Widow Dir: Jennifer Smart RT 9 min. USA It is Annie's first time seeing a psychiatrist for her obsessive compulsive behaviors. As the appointment progresses, the psychiatrist begins to uncover a darker side of Annie's apparent immaculacy.
Blindside Dir: John Cheung, Aim Wonghirundacha RT 11 min. United Kingdom A character-driven psychological thriller about an isolated teenager living in a seemingly empty boarding school who must confront his horrible past when it starts catching up with him.
Adult-ish Dir: Alec Martin RT 5 min. USA It's a long road to independence.
Miss Identification Dir: Adriane Tharp RT 7 min. USA Eyewitness testimony does its worst for Kurt and Val after a fateful afternoon together.
Brewing Dir: A.D. Schmidt RT 15 min. USA. Drama In the midst of renovating an antebellum mansion, a young woman in a struggling relationship finds herself trapped by the past as reality unravels around her.
Cold Choices Dir: Nick Jones, Jr. RT 15 min. USA. A black ops command officer juggles family, friends, mission success, and fallen comrades.
Nathaniel Dir: Benjamin Jones RT 2 min. USA One man's germaphobia is pushed to its limits.
Dead Saturday Dir: Benjamin Stark RT 9 min. USA One man explores the "in-between" period of Good Friday and Easter Sunday -- Dead Saturday. When Jimmy confronts the man who unknowingly inspired the idea, the conversation gets heated.
Shitbird Dir: Bo McGuire RT 17 min. USA Sass and spark light up small town Alabama when local hairstylist, Lurleen Blanton, is forced to reunite with her half-sister, Haylee, an up-and-coming country music singer.
The Strays Dir: Logan J. Freeman RT 10 min. USA The emotional violence between two women causes a terrifying entity to follow them home.
Smoking Kills Dir: Douglas Coghlan RT 3 min. USA Yes, smoking kills... but is it a silent killer?
The Ending Dir: R. Todd Campbell, Adam Schwartz, Robert Clay RT 8 min. USA A sci-fi novelist battles with his own fictional main character to determine the perfect ending for his latest book.
The Other Side of Laughter Dir: Jason O'Brien, Janet Robinson RT 16 min. USA In this short film adaptation from the novel of the same name, a group of Southern women discover friendship, support, and a new definition of family with each other.
A Companion for All Occasions Dir: Liv von Oelreich, Chris Hayes RT 11 min. USA No job is too strange for a young man who makes his money flitting about the unusual lives of his Los Angeles clients.
Dolly Dir: Karen Marie Black RT 7 min. USA A man, tired of living in loneliness, builds himself a companion.
Princess Dir: Ross Marks RT 8 min. USA The touching story of a father and a daughter, from childhood through adulthood.
Contact Dir: Alexander Jeffery RT 9 min. USA After losing the love of his life to his former best friend in high school, Dr. Jake Clearwater, O.D., has the opportunity to seek his revenge using contact lenses.
+/- Dir: Andy Irvine, Mark Snoot RT 9 min. USA A young couple examines their relationship as they await the result of a pregnancy test.
Enfilade Dir: David Coyle RT 10 min. Australia A man awakens in a white room with two doors. Each door loops into the other. The only objects within the room are a red ball and a revolver containing a single bullet. How do you escape a loop?
Hotwire Dir: Erin Brown RT 13 min. USA When the love of his life threatens to go overseas, Stan, a shy daydreamer, must become the hero of his action movie fantasies to win her heart.
Campbell's Dir: Will Cherry RT 10 min. USA Holly Weathers, a top chef in a prestigious restaurant, is tasked with serving a death row inmate's vital last meal. When an inmate refuses the meal, Holly's curiosity leads her to confront him, where she discovers that the most important things we cherish are not what she thought.
Woman of the World Dir: Allison Cook RT 11 min. USA On a visit to Los Angeles, Rachel has an encounter with a celebrity that reminds her she is right where she belongs.
Leftovers Dir: Matthew Colin Ross RT: 9 min. USA An aging writer struggles to find art in the stale scraps of his life, drawing on limited talents he cannot trust but dares not waste. He clings to a relationship gone cold, afraid that leaving her would be one too many failures.
Lines Dir: Amy Jo Johnson RT 10 min. Canada An aging beauty discovers self-worth after an appointment with a youth obsessed dermatologist.
Simon Says Dir: Jamie Sterba RT 20 min. USA Plagued by the disconcerting thoughts inside his head, a self-doubting entrepreneur begins to suspect that the thoughts may not be his own.
One Night in Aberdeen Dir: Brett Ferster RT: 24 min. Canada Over the course of a blurry night, a solitary townie and a career traveler meet and slowly learn each others' secrets. But as the clock ticks towards morning, will this pair of career loners find in each other a kindred spirit, or will this just be another fleeting night at the Super 8?
For the 3rd year in a row Sidewalk Programmers have compiled an awesome selection of 1980's and 90's cartoons and vintage Saturday morning commercials for the start of your Sidewalk weekend. To accompany the fun-packed screening there will be a free cereal bar and surprise treats, along with juice and coffee, all brought to you by Whole Foods. So launch into your Sidewalk 2015 weekend the right way, by loading up on carbs, crazy cartoon antics and good company. Fun for all ages!
Nearly 50 years before cries of “Black Lives Matter” filled the streets and your social media feed, the Black Panther Party catalyzed the Black Power movement by combining armed resistance to police brutality with social programs like free breakfast for children and community health clinics. Who were the Black Panthers? What led to their rapid ascent – and then their quick decline? The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution uses archival footage and present-day interviews with party members to give the audience an insider’s perspective.
Stanley Nelson received the 2013 National Medal in the Humanities from President Barack Obama this past July, and is also a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. Nelson’s latest film, Freedom Summer, premiered at Sundance in 2014 and was broadcast to rave reviews in June, 2014, the 50th... Read More →
Saturday August 29, 2015 10:40am - 12:35pm CDT
Alabama Theatre1817 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
In the 2012 Olympics, women’s boxing was included for the first time. Representing the U.S. was Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a contender for gold and the youngest competitor at just 17. Raised on the tough streets of Flint, Michigan, Claressa is undefeated, with a fierceness that extends beyond the ring. The only stable force in her life is her coach, Jason Crutchfield, who has trained her since she was 11 years old. Claressa dreams of taking her family to a safer place and winning a gold medal may be her only chance.
Ask veterans of the entertainment industry and they will tell you that, while talent is important, it’s who you know that makes the difference. Networking, schmoozing, or socializing – however reviled the concept might be in some peoples’ minds – is imperative. Learn how to make networking work for your film with Torry Martin, an actor, author, story-teller and standup comedian with an infectious personality.
An August night in 2006, a fight broke out between 7 African-American lesbians and a 28-year-old man in New York City, which ended in the man being stabbed. While the local papers were quick to label the women as a “seething, Sapphic septet”, Out in the Night tells a different story involving self-defense in the face of violent harassment. While the film subtly reflects on the racism, homophobia, and sexism in the American judicial system, there is an intense focus on the personal experience of queer women moving through a flawed system.
Gene is a door-to-door canvasser crusading against childhood obesity. By chance, he knocks on the door of Titty, a teenage heir to a substantial fortune who has essentially been abandoned and is living alone. Titty enlists Gene to help him win the heart of Ginger, a camgirl and animal activist repulsed by human touch. These three damaged souls get caught up in the attempt to liberate a farm with amusing results in this moving comedy-drama from writer-director Alison Bagnall (The Dish and the Spoon).
Deli Man entertainingly traces the origin of what is known as the Jewish delicatessen, a uniquely American creation that was forged by the melding of ethnic food traditions that Jewish immigrants brought from Germany and Eastern Europe. Once a prolific institution that boasted over 1500 kosher delis in NYC alone, there are now only approximately 150 eateries left in the entire country. This documentary simultaneously explores the struggle for the preservation of this dwindling food culture while celebrating the culinary tradition and community that has always surrounded the deli, all while profiling the charismatic Ziggy Gruber.
Erik Greenberg Anjou is a graduate of Middlebury College (B.A. American Literature), Northwestern University (M.A. Film) and the American Film Institute’s Center for Advanced Film Studies (Directing Fellow). He has written, directed and produced in both the narrative and documentary... Read More →
*In Partnership with Birmingham SHOUT and Continental Bakery, reservations required* On both Saturday AND Sunday, our ladies will shake flesh and souls while you brunch (read: drink) between downtown film screenings. See tickets@sidewalkfest.com for reservations, payment required upon arrival.
Foster Dog Dir: Lisa Alonso Vear RT 14 min. USA A young, disabled dog in foster care gets a new leash on life with the help of an older, wiser friend, in order to become adoptable and find his fur-ever home.
Victor Dir: Chad Thompson RT 7 min. USA This whimsical journey follows Victor, a peculiar man who has some interesting ideas about how to make friends. With an optimistic plan and a few technological tricks, Victor shows that sometimes all you need is a little help to notice what’s been right in front of you all along.
Frogs Dir: Amy Neswald RT 5 min. USA Dot goes on an adventure of fantastical proportions and meets a lot of frogs.
Nothing is Impossible Dir: Meg Deusner, Ashley Reiners RT 11 min. USA A group of down and out kids gamble everything on winning the elusive community trivia championship. After getting a visit from their mascot (a magical story book character), they learn that nothing is impossible if you believe that anything can happen.
Hello Debra Dir: Keith Silva RT 3 min. USA In the future, "dressing up" takes on a whole new meaning.
School for Heroes Dir: Meg Deusner, Margaret Anne Townes RT 16 min. USA A group of kids with super powers receive a magical invitation to super hero school.
Rip It Up & Start Again Dir: Stephen Ryan RT 6 min. Ireland. With pen and paper, a quiet, retiring man reaches out to his one true love. But writing the perfect love letter is only half the battle.
Hey there 👋, I’m a filmmaker, animation studio owner and music maker. I’ve written and directed quite a few short films, won some awards, gotten some staff picks and been screened here and there. Mostly though I do projects for brands to earn a living.At the risk of sounding... Read More →
I like movies (watching them and making them), traveling (domestically & internationally), animals (this extends beyond cat videos), music (my taste varies to a weird degree but it's all subjective, right?) and discussing varied current media topics. I hate prejudiced opinions based... Read More →
Breaking A Monster tells the much-too-frequent tale of a young, naïve music group who sign to a major record label with dreams of fame and success. Making this band’s story stand out, Unlocking The Truth is made up of three middle school-aged African American boys who play heavy metal music. The band mates are not only misunderstood by their peers in Brooklyn, but also by the managers, record executives, and agents who want to market them as a boy band or novelty act. The boys quickly learn that it is usually about the money and not the art.
At this panel, you will understand how important casting the right actor is to producing a quality product, learn how to find the right actor for the role, learn how to get past the lights and camera to focus on the action, understand the skills actors have that can help you, and learn how to direct actors to get the best performances. Bill and Ayoka brought years of acting and directing experience in Los Angeles to Bill Billions Studios at Hollywood Huntsville and Ayoka Billions Casting, also in Huntsville.
The name Marco Collins may not be a household one, but the music Collins helped make famous as a DJ in early 90’s Seattle had profound and widespread influence on greater music culture. Kickstarting the careers of Nirvana, Weezer, Garbage, and Death Cab for Cutie made Collins a rising star in radio, but personal demons halted his influential career before it truly took off. Featuring interviews with Shirley Manson, Carrie Brownstein and Macklemore, just to name a few, Marq Evans's The Glamour & The Squalor presents an engaging biographical profile and a distinct coming out story.
The romance novel, often casually spotted in the hands of a woman on the subway or on a grandmother’s shelf amongst hundreds of titles, is an easily dismissed genre. However, to many, it’s more than a paltry fictional category, it’s a lifestyle... one that yields a reading speed of 3 to 5 books a week. This rapidly consumed genre is largely responsible for keeping the book industry alive. Love Between the Covers uncovers the camaraderie behind the romance novel’s authors and readers and the fight for deserved respect in the world of the book snobs.
7 Chinese Brothers is as hilarious as it is touching. Jason Schwartzman plays Larry, an all-around loser who seems to care far more about his admittedly adorable dog, Arrow, than about any of the humans in his life, except for maybe his ailing grandmother (played by the one and only Olympia Dukakis). After losing his job, Larry struggles to stay financially afloat in a world that seems, at least from his perspective, to be completely against him.
Although Tova claims to not believe in love, such doesn’t stop her from being a successful matchmaker in Israel. She also has muscular dystrophy and takes great care and pleasure in finding matches for people with disabilities. While Do You Believe in Love? spends time following potential couples, the most striking moments are the tense and tender dynamics within Tova’s household. Love is shown at many stages: passionate and new, strengthening over time, and bending without breaking. The documentary balances a reality television feel with genuine moments of happiness and heartache between Tova and those around her.
Stella Walsh Dir: Rob Lucas RT 14 min. USA Stella Walsh was one of the most celebrated female athletes on the planet. Her popularity continued for decades after winning a gold medal in the 1932 Olympics, until she was killed in a robbery and it was discovered that she was of ambiguous gender.
The House is Innocent Dir: Nicholas Coles RT: 13 min. USA Tom and Barbara's new home has a notorious past and it's going to take more than a fresh coat of paint to whitewash its macabre history.
In the Hollow Dir: Austin Lee Bunn RT 15 min. USA The story of the 1988 shooting of girlfriends Claudia Brenner and Rebecca Wight by a 'mountain man' named Stephen Roy Carr.
Sandorkraut Dir: Ann Husaini, Emily Lobsenz RT: 12 min. USA An intimate portrait of Sandor Katz, a famous food author and fermentation guru who became obsessed with fermentation when a health crisis led him to move to an off-the-grid commune.
Trash, Manufactured Dir: Christopher Jones RT: 15 min. USA Marine scientist Dr. Marcus Eriksen uses artwork to raise awareness about the detrimental impacts of plastics on aquatic ecosystems.
Shirley's Kids Dir: Michael Paulucci RT: 10 min. USA Shirley Chambers lost her four children to gun violence in America's most dangerous city, Chicago. A microcosm for Chicago gun violence and the national gun debate, this film celebrates the lives of and relives the deaths of Carlos, LaToya, Jerome, and Ronnie through the eyes of the person who loved them more than anything in the world.
Down the Drain Dir: Carlos Estrada RT 11 min. USA After a failed sewage project left Jefferson County in debt and eventually bankruptcy, sewage infrastructure continues to be a statewide issue in Alabama. The reasons behind these failed systems are complex, often resulting from corruption or bad investments, and there is no easy solution.
This Is Not the End Dir: Hilary Campbell RT 6 min. USA A look into the life of the Campbell family as they are now.
The Little Deputy Dir: Trevor Anderson RT: 9 min. Canada Trevor tries to have his photo taken with his father.
On the heels of a break-up journalist David Thorpe makes his way through the typical post-relationship self-deprecation list. Most notably he discovers that he intensely dislikes the stereotypical "gay voice” and confronts the fact that he, himself, “sounds gay”. Margaret Cho, David Sedaris, George Takei, Dan Savage and numerous others help him question what it means to posses a stereotypical "gay voice”? And why does it exist in the first place? All while Thorpe works to repair his own vocal inclination. Do I Sound Gay? is an excessively watchable, incredibly entertaining, surprisingly intriguing documentary.
Contact Dir: Alexander Jeffery RT 9 min. USA After losing the love of his life to his former best friend in high school, Dr. Jake Clearwater, O.D., has the opportunity to seek his revenge using contact lenses.
+/- Dir: Andy Irvine, Mark Snoot RT 9 min. USA A young couple examines their relationship as they await the result of a pregnancy test.
Enfilade Dir: David Coyle RT 10 min. Australia A man awakens in a white room with two doors. Each door loops into the other. The only objects within the room are a red ball and a revolver containing a single bullet. How do you escape a loop?
Hotwire Dir: Erin Brown RT 13 min. USA When the love of his life threatens to go overseas, Stan, a shy daydreamer, must become the hero of his action movie fantasies to win her heart.
Campbell's Dir: Will Cherry RT 10 min. USA Holly Weathers, a top chef in a prestigious restaurant, is tasked with serving a death row inmate's vital last meal. When an inmate refuses the meal, Holly's curiosity leads her to confront him, where she discovers that the most important things we cherish are not what she thought.
Woman of the World Dir: Allison Cook RT 11 min. USA On a visit to Los Angeles, Rachel has an encounter with a celebrity that reminds her she is right where she belongs.
Leftovers Dir: Matthew Colin Ross RT: 9 min. USA An aging writer struggles to find art in the stale scraps of his life, drawing on limited talents he cannot trust but dares not waste. He clings to a relationship gone cold, afraid that leaving her would be one too many failures.
Lines Dir: Amy Jo Johnson RT 10 min. Canada An aging beauty discovers self-worth after an appointment with a youth obsessed dermatologist.
Simon Says Dir: Jamie Sterba RT 20 min. USA Plagued by the disconcerting thoughts inside his head, a self-doubting entrepreneur begins to suspect that the thoughts may not be his own.
One Night in Aberdeen Dir: Brett Ferster RT: 24 min. Canada Over the course of a blurry night, a solitary townie and a career traveler meet and slowly learn each others' secrets. But as the clock ticks towards morning, will this pair of career loners find in each other a kindred spirit, or will this just be another fleeting night at the Super 8?Short
Theodora Dir: Henry Chaisson, Travis Bogosian RT 6 min. USA A resourceful young girl prepares dinner for a friend.
Wisdom Tooth Dir: David Seale RT 8 min. USA A short film about the cavity within. A woman's fears about an impending meeting with the dentist are assuaged by a precocious girl in the waiting room.
Southern Roots Dir: Elizabeth Serral RT 9 min. USA Macayla, new to the North, struggles to keep her Tennessee upbringing under wraps, before realizing she and her sassy Southern mother are truly unique.
White Out Dir: Cable Hardin RT 6 min. USA A lone pilot is faced with isolation on a cold, dark world. Music by Domenico Cimarosa and performed by Nathan Jorgensen and Mary Ermel Walker.
Bumblebees Dir: Jenna Kanell RT 4 min. USA Despite being told as a child he would never speak or walk, Vance accomplished what doctors thought was impossible. But now he has a new challenge: dating.
How I Got Made Dir: Tracy S. Facelli RT 25 min. USA Set in 1981, Gaby, a nine year old girl, comes up with a unique way to help her little brother defeat the school bully after she watches 'The Godfather' with her Dad.
Story for Mindy Dir: Neil Ira Needleman RT 4 min. USA A children's book author uses the characters from his books to teach his own young daughter important lessons about love, courage, and the power of storytelling. The beautiful illustrations in this video were created by Christopher Partellow.
Watch the Birmingham Film Actors’ Lab read the best of the best from Alabama screenwriters. The following scripts are our top three finalists from the Alabama category of our annual short screenplay competition, Sidewrite. Alabama Screenplays Our Dirty Laundry by Kimberly Tompkins Sabrina by Ann Kathleen Williams Welcome Back by Elizabeth Hagale
Welcome To Leith is the shocking-but-true story of a 24-person ghost town in North Dakota struggling against one man's extremist vision. Shot over an 8-month period, the film documents white separatist Craig Cobb’s arrest for terrorizing the citizens of Leith on an armed patrol and his release from jail six months later. Set against the stark, desolate beauty of this almost abandoned state, Welcome To Leith asks who will be allowed to shape the future of one small town, and subtly questions what exactly might be at stake for all Americans.
Accidental Environmentalist Dir: Kristine Stolakis RT 12 min. USA. John Wathen was just an average guy until coming into contact with toxic chemicals, stumbling upon a video camera, and discovering his passion for protecting the world's waters. Watch this Alabama native's transformation into an internationally recognized environmentalist.
Bottomless Dir: Véronique Vanblaere RT 2 min. USA A Belgian woman seeks citizenship in the United States, and finds that her experiences are bottomless.
N.T. 11 11 31 Dir: Summer Upchurch, Katharine Buckley RT 11 min. USA In 2007, three local Montgomery boys vandalized the Confederate Memorial on the state capitol grounds by spray-painting the faces and hands of soldiers black. The act of vandalism reveals underlying issues of racial inequality, a questionable portrayal of southern history, and the difficulty people find in sustaining a dialogue about race in the South.
Collinsville Trade Day, 1988 Dir: Jason Keener, Charles Keener RT 7 min. USA A vintage 1988 home video of the popular outdoor market in Collinsville, used to create a personal view of a small town's culture.
Frank and Bowie Dir: Tamara Varner RT 5 min. USA An exploration of a young man's relationship with his vehicle.
Futureman Dir: Patrick Sheehan RT 16 min. USA A film following Roy 'Futureman' Wooten (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) as he discusses and works with his various musical inventions, including a piano based on the periodic table and the newest piano he used to compose the soundtrack he has composed for his upcoming feature film about the Black Mozart.
Seizing the Unrecorded Dir: Ingrid Pfau RT 29 min. USA A film exploring the connection between the filmmaker's career and her battle with epilepsy.
Feral Dir: Matt Henton, Lane McCaig RT 10 min. USA Recent research reveals the devastating impact of feral and outdoor cats on wild songbird populations, but what is the answer to cat over-population?
Pursuit of Hippo-ness Dir: Alan E. Franks RT 26 min. USA A film about hippos and the people who love them.
Krisha is one of the most startling narratives to come our way this year. Told with a dizzying energy, the film spins off from being a family comedy to an unsettling fever dream. A likeable woman with a past of mental illness and substance abuse, braves a second chance to spend a holiday with her estranged relatives. Being amongst a high-trafficked house full of kids, annoying dogs, and old baggage, she starts to crack. A perfect marriage of experimental tone and cinematic craftsmanship, few films come away feeling so alive.
For 14 years, the Angulo family's 7 children were rarely allowed to leave their tiny, cluttered apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Their father possessed the only key to the locked front door. In one year they didn’t leave at all. Home-schooled, but allowed to watch movies when not in class, the 6 brothers did so... endlessly. In April of 2010, led by 15-year-old Mukunda, against their father's orders, the siblings began exploring the outside world. And everything changed. The Wolfpack tells the extraordinary life-is-stranger-than-fiction tale of the Angulo brothers.
Set in New Jersey in 1990, Stinking Heaven depicts life in a sober living environment. Through constant role-play, the members’ stories are told, and through communication and togetherness, they seem to be on the path to betterment. Everything changes when a new member moves in and the lives of the inhabitants begin to unravel. Through voyeuristic vignettes that stitch together the relationships that exist between each of the group’s members, Stinking Heaven brilliantly shows how self-destructive behavior and manipulation can send ripples through lives interconnected through a shared experience of addiction.
Whether you’re a writer, producer, or director, it’s critical to make sure that the story you’re setting out to make is the absolute best it can be. Is your project generating buzz and attracting money and talent? Do people get excited when you share your idea (or better yet, when they actually read your script)? In this seminar, Steve will share how to address 5 of the biggest screenplay problems that keep financiers, producers and industry insiders from investing in your project — and, even more importantly, that keep audiences from connecting with your story. A USC School of Cinema-Television graduate, Steve is a screenwriter and veteran story consultant who collaborates with other writers and producers working across the television and feature landscape, including CBS, SyFy, Showtime, Lionsgate, Fox Searchlight, Warner Brothers, and others.
Best friends Haden, Danny, and Sharkee plan to spend the summer pulling pranks and taking it to the titular streets on their rollerblades, only to find themselves caught up in a turf war with the Hawks, a gang of ragamuffins who claim ownership of said streets and are willing to be total jerks to prove it. Wild In The Streets may have been shot on a shoestring budget, but it took no small amount of effort (or rollerblading ability) to bring it to life. Part of our Family section, the film is rated PG-13 for language and brief (and silly) nudity.
Scott and Matt Hamilton have been making films and short videos since early high school (or if you want to be technical, since the age of 5 with their Dad and a VHS camera). Originally from Wichita Falls, the brothers recruited anyone they could get to be a part of their filmmaking... Read More →
Saturday August 29, 2015 4:15pm - 5:45pm CDT
McWane Science Center200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Alabamians know their barbecue. They might not always agree on what’s the best, but they know great BBQ when they taste it. Q. Alabama BBQ Legends travels the state to interview legendary cookers from restaurants like Bob Gibson’s, Dreamland, Bob Sykes and many more to get their take on the subject. Whether it’s ribs or pulled pork, everyone has their own style and flavor. Q. slickly presents personal stories, interwoven with the history of barbecue in Alabama, direct from the people who live, breathe and serve it up.
Crocodile Gennadiy is an uncompromising look at Gennadiy Mokhnenko, a Ukrainian pastor who has gained fame for his unorthodox approach to saving street children. In his own, personal war on drugs, Mokhnenko forcibly removes kids from the streets by "kidnapping" them and enrolling them in his rescue program. Often accused of vigilante justice, Gennadiy walks the narrow line between legality and morality to follow the obligations of human dignity. In an era of Hollywood superheroes, Crocodile Gennadiy tells the powerful story of a real-life hero that you won’t want to miss.
Accidental Environmentalist Dir: Kristine Stolakis RT 12 min. USA. John Wathen was just an average guy until coming into contact with toxic chemicals, stumbling upon a video camera, and discovering his passion for protecting the world's waters. Watch this Alabama native's transformation into an internationally recognized environmentalist.
Bottomless Dir: Véronique Vanblaere RT 2 min. USA A Belgian woman seeks citizenship in the United States, and finds that her experiences are bottomless.
N.T. 11 11 31 Dir: Summer Upchurch, Katharine Buckley RT 11 min. USA In 2007, three local Montgomery boys vandalized the Confederate Memorial on the state capitol grounds by spray-painting the faces and hands of soldiers black. The act of vandalism reveals underlying issues of racial inequality, a questionable portrayal of southern history, and the difficulty people find in sustaining a dialogue about race in the South.
Collinsville Trade Day, 1988 Dir: Jason Keener, Charles Keener RT 7 min. USA A vintage 1988 home video of the popular outdoor market in Collinsville, used to create a personal view of a small town's culture.
Frank and Bowie Dir: Tamara Varner RT 5 min. USA An exploration of a young man's relationship with his vehicle.
Futureman Dir: Patrick Sheehan RT 16 min. USA A film following Roy 'Futureman' Wooten (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) as he discusses and works with his various musical inventions, including a piano based on the periodic table and the newest piano he used to compose the soundtrack he has composed for his upcoming feature film about the Black Mozart.
Seizing the Unrecorded Dir: Ingrid Pfau RT 29 min. USA A film exploring the connection between the filmmaker's career and her battle with epilepsy.
Feral Dir: Matt Henton, Lane McCaig RT 10 min. USA Recent research reveals the devastating impact of feral and outdoor cats on wild songbird populations, but what is the answer to cat over-population?
Pursuit of Hippo-ness Dir: Alan E. Franks RT 26 min. USA A film about hippos and the people who love them.
You’re Killing Me is the gay horror comedy no one knew they needed. Joe is coming out of the closet as a serial killer to his oblivious new boyfriend, George, who is more focused on achieving fame through his YouTube channel than worrying about his new bf’s pastimes. As George’s friends begin to disappear, he begins to realize he may not get out of this relationship alive. Equal parts gratuitous gore and irreverent humor and seemingly John Waters inspired, You’re Killing Me examines life (and death) while dating in an age of incessant snark and chatter.
Jim Hansen has created several web series including the Chloe parody series, My Drunk Aunts, The Eirik Videos and the newly releasedParagon School for Girls. He is currently in post production on You’re Killing Me, a comedy/horror movie he directed and co-wrote. Jim has... Read More →
Sal has left modern society, his past and his girlfriend to live off the land in remote Appalachia as a caretaker and gardener. But is this remote living freedom or its own kind of prison? Sal struggles with the isolation of his new job, with the death of a neighbor and a long-distance relationship, and with the discovery of an abandoned child as he wonders where, if anywhere, he truly belongs. Beautifully shot and performed, Some Beasts tells its story of loneliness and self-reliance with an uncommon grace.
In 2007 at a North Carolina storage locker auction, Shannon Whisnant bought a used grill. When he returned home with the purchase he discovered that a smoker wasn’t the only thing he acquired... inside the grill was a human foot. Meanwhile, amputee John Wood, discovering that it was his foot that was missing, demanded its return. Shannon, caught up in a media frenzy and using the foot as a for-profit sideshow, refused. It’s going to take Judge Mathis to figure out whose in the right. Just in case you didn’t notice above, Finders Keepers is a documentary.
Deadly Dir: Aidan McAteer RT 9 min. Ireland Deadly tells the story of Boney, a working stiff in a dead-end job. That is, until he has a run-in with a spirited old lady named Bridie ...
I Was a Teenage Girl, Apparently Dir: Lyn Elliot, Nina Frenkel RT 6 min. USA A woman finds the diary she kept as a teenager and goes back in time to try to talk some sense into her teenage self.
In It to Win It Dir: Marc Havener RT 1 min. USA An overzealous soccer dad attends his daughter's ballet recital.
Simorgh Dir: Meghdad Asadi Lari RT 5 min. USA Persian calligraphic art, music, and ornament designs get together and bring an old mythical Persian story to life.
Sugarless Tea Dir: Sai Selvarajan RT 5 min. USA Fifty-four years of separation tethered together by a red string of fate and ten years of humble restraint represent one man's quest to reunite with his brother.
Sumer Dir: Alvaro Garcia RT 10 min. Spain In a world where all animal and plant species perished decades past, a young boy lives alone in the last remaining human settlement. While observing the desert from the roof of a building, Hermes suddenly sees the possibility of life re-emerging.
T.P. Dir: Bob Blevins, Bradley Werley RT 10 min. USA A naive roll of toilet paper awakens in a disgusting gas station bathroom and is horrified to discover what fate has in store for his kind. Inspired by his traumatized but well intentioned companion, he resolves to escape captivity and determine for himself.
Moons Dir: Liesje Kraai RT 1 min. USA A short music video that pays homage to Laika, the Russian space dog, set to Josh Ritter's song 'Moons.'
Think Ink Dir: Wally Chung RT 7 min. USA Wally Chung An animated film about outcasts and acceptance, a la psychology inkblots.
The Ballad of Holland Island House Dir: Lynn Tomlinson RT 4 min. USA Animated clay paintings tell the true story of the last house on a sinking island in the Chesapeake Bay. In an old-time music ballad, the house sings of its life and the creatures it has sheltered as it contemplates time, environmental change, and the rise of the seas.
The Looking Planet Dir: Eric Law Anderson 17 min. USA During the construction of the universe, a young member of the Cosmos Corps of Engineers decides to break some fundamental laws in the name of self-expression.
Tick Tock Dir: Zeynep Kocak RT 9 min. Turkey With a desire to fill his home with people, an elderly man attempts to rent one of his rooms. In his effort to beautify his home, he finds new purpose and joy in his own life.
Revival: The Sam Bush Story masterfully portrays the life of bluegrass legend Sam Bush. As told by family, friends and musicians alike, we journey across decades to witness how Bush mastered the mandolin all the while reshaping an entire genre into what is now most commonly heralded as newgrass. Told with tons of live archival footage (including a performance from Birmingham’s Workplay) and great stories, Revival finds Bush at a time in his life where he’s contemplating staying relevant, navigating the challenges of working in the Nashville system, and facing mortality.
Blood, Sweat, and Beer explores the booming craft beer industry. The filmmakers visit large, nationally known breweries, but the heart of the film lies in its focus on two start-ups and their struggles. The Brew Gentlemen of Braddock, PA, worked with local government officials to find a home for their brewery and bring life back to a once vibrant steel town. Shorebilly Brewing of Ocean City, MD faced legal troubles that forced them to change their name, putting them in serious debt. If you're one of the millions of fans of craft beer you do not want to miss Blood, Sweat, and Beer at Sidewalk 2015.
At one point during the Selma voting rights movement, there were more African Americans in jail than there were on the voting rolls. Students and teachers, together with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), joined with Dallas County residents to organize the community around voter registration. They used nonviolence to fight violent oppression, and Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot tells the story of how African Americans in the South won the right to fully participate in our democracy from these young activists’ point of view.
Bill Brummel is an award-winning documentary producer/director. He has been recognized with a Peabody Award, and two International Documentary Association awards. He’s received a primetime Emmy nomination, several National News and Documentary Emmy nominations, and been named to... Read More →
Possibly the most terrifying film in the 2015 Sidewalk line-up, Who Took Johnny investigates the spellbinding 30 year-old cold case related to the disappearance of Johnny Gosch. The first missing child to appear on a milk carton, Johnny, disappeared, while on his paper route, in the early morning hours of September 5th 1982. For 3 decades Johnny’s mother, Noreen Gosch, has searched for her son, piecing together clues, weeding through conspiracy theories and uncovering faulty police work. Captivating, shocking, jaw dropping, respectfully made and downright creepy, Who Took Johnny, made John Waters’ ‘10 Best Films’ of 2014 list.
Applesauce examines the chain reaction of distrust, deceit, and severed body parts that ensues when people begin to discuss the worst thing they’ve ever done. A dark, energetic, often indecorous comedy, Applesauce is 90 minutes of the most captivating, well-written bizarreness to hit the screen... well since Director Onur Tukel’s last festival favorite, Summer Of Blood. A skillfully crafted mash up of Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery and Curb Your Enthusiasm meets The Maltese Falcon, Applesauce premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
Onur Tukel is an American actor, painter, and filmmaker. A notable figure in the New York City independent film community, Tukel's films often deal with issues of gender and relationships.
"A Peaceful Man" Dir: Harrison Norris RT 4 min. Australia Beaten within an inch of his life, a peaceful man has a gruesome epiphany through violence.
The Invitation Will and his new girlfriend are guests at a dinner party hosted by his estranged ex-wife. Considering the couples past some unpleasantness is expected, but Will quickly begins to suspect that something more than typical inquietude is afoot. The Invitation captures the essence of the most awkward social gathering imaginable and combines it with the momentum of a runaway train. Creepy and captivating, the thriller does an incredible job keeping its audience guessing. Sharp casting and precise direction lead the list of wonderful things about The Invitation and there’s truly not a wasteful minute in the feature.
Karyn Kusama is an American film director who had her breakthrough with Girlfight, her first feature film. She wrote the screenplay and directed the film at age 27.
Saturday August 29, 2015 7:55pm - 9:34pm CDT
Alabama Theatre1817 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
"Last Christmas" Dir: Nathan Adloff RT 11 min. USA A suicidal young man finds a friend in the unlikeliest of places.
Bridging Ireland and Alabama, The State Of Being Human traces the roots of filmmaker David Merriman’s own admitted homophobia. Featuring conversational interviews with members of the LGBTQ community in both Ireland and Alabama, Merriman, who remains at the center of the film, works to revise his initially narrow viewpoint and to understand the true cost of bigotry. The documentary also features an unforgettable interview with Chief Justice Roy Moore. The 2015 Shout screening of The State Of Being Human marks the film’s world premiere.
“My name is Allie Green. I’m sixteen. And this is my suicide tape.” This begins Allie’s deeply personal video diary, chronicling the next few months of her life leading up to that inevitable day. Anathema Arienette assembles her daily entries and taps into the world of a girl trapped in the clutches of depression. Having lost touch with friends and living a fear-driven relationship with her father, Allie’s camcorder provides the only means of expressing herself. Deeply emotional and effective, Anethema cuts to the core of the pains of adolescence.
Blastmatazz Artist: Shaheed & DJ Supreme Dir: Joey Compton, Jack Serra RT 5 min. USA
chaplin SP Dir: Matias Vellutini RT 2 min. Brazil A remix of various Charlie Chaplin movies turned into stop motion animation and subsequently transformed into stencils cut by hand.
Heavy Dreams Artist: GT Dir: Paul Hart RT 5 min. USA
High Artist: Rebekka Garden Dir: Guro Ekornholmen RT 5 min. Norway
Killer Artist: Raquel Lilly Dir: Fred Mohns RT 3 min. USA
Magenta Artist: Deqn Sue Dir: Elizabeth Hagale RT 4 min. USA
"Magic" feat. Brandy and Nile Rodgers Artist: Mystery Skulls Dir: Double Ninja RT 5 min. France
Drum & Fife Artist: Smashing Pumpkins Dir: Jimmy Ahlander RT 4 min. USA
Preservation Artist: Green Seed Dir: C. Chapman RT 4 min. USA
Without You Artist: Raquel Lilly Dir: Caleb Young RT 5 min. USA
Chandelier Artist: Sia Dir: Sia and Daniel Askill RT 4 min. USA
Youth Goin Bad Artist: Sammie Zonana Dir: Ya'Ke RT 4 min. USA
It's Alright Artist: Fractures Dir: Matthew Chuang RT 5 min. Australia
A Long Journey Artist: Leo 'Bud' Welch Dir: Shannon Cohn RT 3 min. USA
C.T.R.L. Dir: Mariana Conde RT 3 min. United Kingdom
Something's Wrong with My Mind Artist: GT Dir: Dillon Hayes RT 3 min. USA
We All Go to the Same Artist: Radical Face Dir: Morgana McKenzie RT 4 min. Canada
Queen Artist: Perfume Genius Dir: SSION RT 4 min. USA
Twin Sister Artist: Velouria Dir: Gregory Jenkins RT 4 min. USA
All I Gave Her Artist: Julia Weldon Dir: Diane Russo RT: 4 min. USA
Possibly the year’s most revolutionary and controversial movie, The Tribe explores the ruthless inner workings of a Ukrainian boarding school for the deaf. Told entirely through Russian sign language and bold physicality, the film follows a new student as he navigates through the corrupt hierarchy of students and faculty. Swiftly, he marks his place within the student-run crime and prostitution ring, yet things take a turn when he falls for a girl. Desperate to hold onto her, our story spirals into a stunning climax of brutality.
- Kyle McKinnon
Reminder: Though this film is sponsored by Carmike Cinemas, it is showing at the Carver Theatre.
Over the years we’ve come across several films examining the tribal attributes of campus Greek life, but none have reached the level of bro-tastic (and even sis-tastic) insanity as Haze. The story follows Nick, a freshman and leader of his fraternity pledge class. His peers look up to him as they endure humiliating levels of hazing, but it is revealed that his own brother is covertly trying to shut down the entire system, his loyalty is tested to the worst degree. Warning, not for those squeamish when it comes to vomit.
Barbecue, beer, mini golf, mechanical pigs--what more could you want? Open to VIP pass holders and Saturday party pass holders. Spnsored by Alabama Tourism Department, Wind Creek Casino and Hotel, and Back Forty Beer Company.
Welcome To Leith is the shocking-but-true story of a 24-person ghost town in North Dakota struggling against one man's extremist vision. Shot over an 8-month period, the film documents white separatist Craig Cobb’s arrest for terrorizing the citizens of Leith on an armed patrol and his release from jail six months later. Set against the stark, desolate beauty of this almost abandoned state, Welcome To Leith asks who will be allowed to shape the future of one small town, and subtly questions what exactly might be at stake for all Americans.
In the Basement weaves a tunnel through the underground sanctuaries where everyday people conceal their obsessions. A teen drummer. The owner of a tiny swimming pool. A women with a fake baby. A taxidermy enthusiast. A Nazi memorabilia collector and his brass band. An African big game hunter. An S&M mistress and her love slave. A masochist. A fetishist. An opera singer with a shooting range. Just as revealing as the dives into their basements are the brief insights into the subjects’ lives above ground.
"Muck" Dir: Bruce Smolanoff RT 15 min. USA Mel, a 20-year old female open mic comedian, lives with her tabloid-obsessed mother in Queens. Abandoned by her father and born into a family of unfulfilled hopes and dreams, Mel is a bottled fight waiting to erupt.
A Wonderful Cloud Can exes ever really stay friends after a break-up? Or are they destined to remain mortal enemies until the end of time? A Wonderful Cloud answers “maybe” to both of these questions in its telling of the story of two ex-lovers (and business partners) who find themselves reunited for a weekend as they shift back and forth between love and hate in nearly every scene. It’s funny, it’s dark, it’s daring, and it’s true. A Wonderful Cloud premiered earlier this year at the South By Southwest Film Festival.
Molly, a lonely, suffocated young mother, decides to take a weekend away from her husband and infant son. Her aim is to reconnect with a group of male friends from high school at a cabin in the Rocky Mountains. There, the group drinks, takes psychedelic drugs and wanders through the forest as Molly tries to reconnect with the carefree person she used to be. Visually vivid and emotionally raw, Come Down Molly is a story of coming to terms with aging and new stations in life.
Gregory Kohn - Writer/Director
Gregory’s first feature, Northeast, a “vividly natural portrayal” of an aimless playboy, was part of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and later distributed by Tribeca Film. After Northeast, Gregory directed numerous music videos, most notably... Read More →
Saturday August 29, 2015 10:20pm - 11:40pm CDT
ASFA Lecture Hall1800 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203
Bored with small town life, Sarah is thunderstruck by the entrance of outgoing, exciting troublemaker, Pepper. What begins as an intoxicating collision of two very different lives quickly begins to evolve into something more substantial. But, like any collision, there is fallout. Natalia Leite’s feature directorial debut magnificently captures the excitement of insoluble crushing and places it against the backdrop of the wondrously neon-highlighted desert. Featuring Paz de la Huerta and Dianna Agron (best known for Glee) in her first feature film lead role, Bare premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
CROW HAND!!! Dir: Brian Lonano RT 3 min. USA A husband gets more than he bargains for when he discovers a mysterious totem on the ground, much to his wife's chagrin.
Playback Dir: Nathan Crooker RT 4 min. USA What happens when an unsuspecting man gets in the way of another's fate?
Son Dir: Judd Myers RT 14 min. USA A sheltered kid cons his way into a sick day. Left alone for the first time, he stumbles upon a sinister family secret.
Meridians Dir: Blake Rice RT 9 min. USA An acupuncturist forms a primal bond with her female patient after years of treatment.
Old Friends Dir: Bruce Bundy RT 12 min. Four friends reunite for a dinner of memories
Open 24 Hours Dir: Mike Makowsky RT 7 min. USA A contract killer gets more than he bargained for after a pit-stop at the convenience store.
Bite Radius Dir: Spencer Parsons RT 30 min. USA When Peyton wakes up to a woman whom he may or may not have shot in his bathroom, his life spirals into a dizzying array of amoral actions as he attempts to hide the body.
Sidewalk alumn Gorman Bechard (2005’s audience favorite You Are Alone) brings us this harrowing true tale of animal cruelty that results in a landmark Alabama state ruling. In Mobile in the early 90’s, a dog found tortured and set afire is rescued by a retired school teacher. As Gucci rehabilitates and finds a happier life, he becomes a poster dog for change in abuse laws. A Dog Name Gucci brings awareness to the unbelievable number of animal cruelty cases nationwide while also communicating hope as states change their stances on the matter.
Gorman Bechard is the author of six novels, THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD, UNWOUND (under the pseudonym Jonathan Baine), NINTH SQUARE, THE HAZMAT DIARY, GOOD NEIGHBORS, and BALLS.He directed/wrote the indie features FRIENDS (WITH BENEFITS) (2009) and YOU ARE ALONE (2006), the... Read More →
I Want to Beat Up Clark Peters Dir: Joseph Picozzi RT 18 min. USA Breaking up is hard to do, and one man seeks revenge after his hook-up starts hooking up with someone else.
Little Cabbage Dir: Jen West RT 10 min. USA An eccentric composer in the 1950s is given a magical instrument that distorts her relationships.
Coming and Going Dir: Kelsey Harrison RT 4 min. USA An experimental narrative short exploring the tides of relationships and lives.
No Big Deal Dir: Patrick Cox RT 9 min. USA A young man with an unknown ailment is prescribed a new drug that may cause hallucinations. Of course, these hallucinations begin right before a first date. He must to struggle to maintain his cool as the reality around him unravels.
Ruby Dir: Mary Kathryn Phillips RT 7 min. USA An injured aspiring Olympic runner strives to achieve her dream despite the obstacles that face her.
Hunger Pain Dir: Chase Tinnon RT 9 min. USA A prostitute uncovers the truth about her bloodthirsty john.
The Last Vanish Dir: Bruce Southerland RT 18 min. USA Professional magician Tommy Fina helps a rival with a new illusion with amazing results.
Three Fingers Dir: Paul D. Hart RT 11 min. USA A young female Marine war veteran navigates her disintegrating life until there is nothing left but to make a choice.
Unrelated Dir: Amanda McCann RT 7 min. USA A desperate young woman, expecting a marriage proposal, is sabotaged by her psychotic sister.
Born in Louisville, KY, Paul grew up all throughout the southeast before relocating to California. He studied at the Los Angeles Film School graduating with honors while attaining an editing major and directing minor. Since that time, Hart has contributed to the indie film-making... Read More →
The Babushkas of Chernobyl documents the lives of those who, against government policy and advice, have decided to return to live within the 30km Exclusion Zone around Reactor #4, site of the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen. Around 100 people, the majority elderly women, returned to live off the land and their meager pensions until the end of their lives. Through stories of mutual strength, pride, and stubbornness, the documentary weaves together the lives of these women as they struggle to survive in the irradiated fallout area.
Dear Lucy Dir: Sinead Osburne RT 8m min. Australia Dear Lucy is coming of age short film about a young girl who discovers her courage through the help of an imaginary friend.
Eloïse, little dreamer Dir: Myriam L. Obin RT 4 min. Canada On a day of celebration, a little girl discovers that things are not always what they appear.
Work Mate Dir: Genevieve Clay-Smith RT 16 min. Australia When an introverted office worker is invited by a new colleague with a vision impairment to go cycling, he tries desperately to find a way out of it.
The Wizard of OZcar Dir: Vartanoush Torossian RT 22 min. USA Knicknack, a little boy growing up in a Gypsy camp, learns the 'magic' of living life, embracing the place where you came from, and celebrating the world that surrounds you.
The Letterbox Dir: A.V. Helm RT 14 min. USA Part live-action, part animated, "The Letterbox" is the story of a composer trapped on a desert island struggling to write his magnum opus. A pesky seagull seems intent on disrupting his work as much as it can...or is it really trying to give him the final push he needs to create a masterpiece?
Hans Dir: Harris Cohen RT 9 min. USA Hans Roenau and his family fled the Nazi invasion of Austria only to endure the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, China. As an adult, Hans discovered long-distance running and photography. Now at age 84, he continues to inspire others with his story of survival and endurance.
2015 has been a good year for Director Britni West, she took home the Slamdance Grand Jury Prize and was named one of Filmmaker Magazines “25 New Faces Of Independent Film”. Her first feature, Tired Moonlight, perfectly captures the spirit, majesty and timelessness of summer in small town America. To quote the filmmakers, “Pitting grand landscapes against dinners of fried chicken and the roar of V8 engines on Saturday nights, Tired Moonlight wanders through Solitaire games (always won), secrets lost in cavernous hearts, and the fifty miles of bad road that always gets you home.”
When uptight real estate developer Joanna threatens the existence of his family’s bubble teashop, Jake sets out on a mission to prove to her and her unimaginably-wealthy-yet-still-empty-inside father that a place like Tea Arcadia is worth preserving. Filled with humor and heart, this coming-of-age story follows the two teens as they traverse the rocky, bubble tea-filled path to adulthood and in doing so learn a little bit about love. Part of our Family Film Festival, Love Arcadia is rated PG.
The team behind The Rock-afire Explosion and Sidewalk audience award winner GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, return with an intimate story of rural youth and the 4-H fair. County Fair, Texas spends a year in the lives of four Texas teenagers, each of whom singlehandedly raises livestock with the hopes of winning college tuition at exhibition. A beautifully framed story, the film seemingly embraces nostalgia for another time, all while juxtaposing such with a glimpse of adolescence in the 21st century.
Whatever We Want to Be Dir: Stephanie Williams Pansexual playgirl Dylan is forced to question her free-spirited, poly-amorous lifestyle when enchantingly seductive Sam turns her world on its head. RT: 14:17
The Forgiven Dir: François Chang Henry and Clement are in a relationship for one month in Paris. The last night before Henry goes back to London, where he studies, Clement comes to his hotel to surprise him. But when he arrives at the door, he hears that Henry is with another man in the room... RT: 15 Min
Elder Dir: Genéa Gaudet A documentary chronicling a forbidden love affair between a Mormon missionary and an Italian Communist in Pescara, Italy, 1974. RT: 13 Mins
Picnics Are Gay Dir: Whitney Hamilton A picnic business owner who is a single gay Asian with sociopathic tendencies, living in Alabama, seeks romance.... RT 5:39
Masculins Dir: Stephanie Young A portrait of three people who each have distinct masculine identities and embody transformation in very different ways. Through intimate cinematic approaches, the film identifies and embraces the human element in the deconstruction of gender binaries. RT 12:03
A Last Farewell Dir: Casper Andreas An alternative family drama about life and death. RT: 12:51
What is Perfect? Dir: Dmitry Zhitov "What is Perfect?" follows 6 artists discovering and uncovering beauty in their imperfections. This short documentary explores the hardships and dreams we all face in life. RT: 11:30
hopefulROMANTIC Dir: Benjamin Pollack An original musical film about one man's emotional journey through love, heartbreak, and healing. It's a universal story about loving, letting go, and holding onto faith that there's somebody for everybody. RT: 16:30
YOU. ME. BATHROOM. SEX. NOW Dir: Francisco Lupini Basagoiti A comedy about a man who tries to forget about love in all the wrong places. RT: 17 min
*In Partnership with Birmingham SHOUT and Continental Bakery, reservations required* On both Saturday AND Sunday, our ladies will shake flesh and souls while you brunch (read: drink) between downtown film screenings. See tickets@sidewalkfest.com for reservations, payment required upon arrival.
It's a feature narrative film. And that's really all we can tell you. Come see this super secret film screening at Sidewalk 2015 before it premieres next year at one of the massive super famous film festivals. The filmmakers are scheduled to attend. This is a one and only chance!
It's a feature narrative film. And that's really all we can tell you. Come see this super secret film screening at Sidewalk 2015 before it premieres next year at one of the massive super famous film festivals. The filmmakers are scheduled to attend. This is a one and only chance!
Watch the Birmingham Film Actors’ Lab read the best of the best from screenwriters around the world. The following scripts are our top three finalists from the International category of our annual short screenplay competition, Sidewrite. International Screenplays 1999 by Anthony Fernandez A Good Day's Work by Jess McCallum Migration by Elyse Endick
Deep Web meticulously traces the arrest, prosecution and conviction of former science and engineering grad student, Ross Ulbricht, accused of being the 'Dread Pirate Roberts,' mastermind behind the Internet black market site, the Silk Road. The documentary provides an illuminating examination, not just of Ulbricht, but also of the battle for digital rights and control of the future of technology. The film additionally provides a unique look inside the deep-web and its subset known as the Dark Net. Called “the most unexpected Bill and Ted reunion”, Keanu Reeves narrates Deep Web, Alex Winter’s second directorial feature.
With the sounding of a conch shell, runners start on the Barkley Marathon. Cloaked in secrecy and sadistic eccentricity, the Barkley is a 100-130 mile race through the Tennessee Mountains featuring 120,000 feet of elevation change and a rich quirky history of camaraderie and competition. Those few that even finish join a minuscule group, an honor that has made it an international affair. The Barkley Marathons documents the 2 and a half-day journey of 40 runners as they embark on one of the most grueling trail races in the world.
In celebration of the recent marriage rights victory, join us for a special 5th anniversary screening of An Ordinary Couple, featuring a new happy ending. Profiling Orin Kennedy and Bernardo Puccio’s 38-year relationship, the film opens with the couple, frustrated with the inability to legally marry, unveiling a 12-foot Kennedy-Puccio monument at their “funeral” in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. A non-fiction romantic comedy, An Ordinary Couple profiles the dashing couple but also discusses growing up gay in midcentury America, the impact of Proposition 8 and the true meaning of commitment. We’re thrilled to have Orin and (Birmingham-native) Bernardo in attendance for the screening.
Strange things are happening in Troy, New York. A black horse gallops through downtown streets. Gravity works in reverse. A mother nurses her plastic baby. Random citizens are falling into "temporary walking comas.” These surreal images, many inspired by actual news events, are part of the paranormal mystery of H., a film that reminds us that real life is weird enough without the aid of the supernatural. Chalky, shiver-inducing photography pairs well with the varied sonic elements to set a chilling scene in this highbrow creepfest.
In 2005, 20-year-old Ryan Ferguson was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt, a crime he adamantly states he did not commit. The evidence against him rested with friend, Chuck Erickson, who remembered, or possibly dreamed, that he and Ferguson were involved in the journalist’s death. Dream/Killer tells the story of how Ferguson’s father, Bill, led a 10-year campaign to prove his son’s innocence. The documentary is a powerful, disturbing look into the American judicial system.
Everybody has to make a choice. Are you going to do the right thing or the easy thing? That’s the question facing Tristan, a naive middle-school student coping with life in the inner city. His mother, desperate to keep her son out of prison like his father, signs him up for Boy Scouts, where he connects with a band of brothers. Soon after, he witnesses a murder and must choose between the code of the streets - keep quiet - or the Scouts’ code. Part of the Sidewalk family line-up, Troop 491, is rated PG-13.
Pathways: Robin's Story Dir: Patrick Sheehan RT 9 min. USA This short film tells the inspiring true story of one woman's journey from prison and homelessness to a new life.
Spearhunter Dir: Adam Roffman, Luke Poling RT 14 min. USA Deep in the wilds of rural Alabama, a spear-hunter proclaims himself the world's greatest and erects a museum dedicated to his own obsession. In this atmospheric and darkly funny documentary, an offbeat cast of lovers, acolytes, and critics of the megalomaniacal spear-hunter remember his distinctive tactics both for killing and for leaving a legacy.
Veterans Day Reunion Dir: Ian J. Cunningham RT 10 min. USA The National Veterans Day Parade began in Birmingham, Ala. Over the years, it has become so much more than a parade.
4th Down Dir: Kourtney Cowart, Michael Shikany RT 12 min. USA University of Alabama at Birmingham students, faculty, and boosters react to the termination of the UAB football program and work together for its reinstatement.
Maid in Dixie Dir: Annelise Moreau, Rachael Hartley RT 10 min. USA An exploration into how some Southern women identify themselves in a culture steeped in the traditional ways of the mythical Old South.
Take Only Memories Dir: Robert Clay, Gigi Douban RT 10 min. USA What goes in the attic stays in the attic. Until an army of pickers comes in and takes the family photos to the thrift shop. What happens next is a look at the strange world of people who take the memories of others into their own hands.
Stumped Dir: Robin Berghaus RT 10 min. USA When filmmaker Will Lautzenheiser suddenly becomes a quadrilateral amputee, he must face a world he never imagined, including his first stand-up comedy show.
"The Truth" Up and Coming Dir: Sonya Mitchell RT 20 min. USA An inspiring story about a young lady named Carla Youngblood, who makes a unique transition from working in corporate America to performing comedy in America.
White Statues Dir: Abbie Wilson, Brett Shaw RT 9 min. USA "White Statues" looks at the difficulties in preserving history from the antebellum time period with accuracy from all perspectives.
10-4 Dir: Piyush Borse, Karan Jani RT 10 min. USA An inside look at the Birmingham Police Department as it became a national model for community policing with the changes it has made since the 1960s.
Shugs Dir: Mary D. Recio, Katie Howard RT 9 min. USA A story about the Birmingham Sugar Babies -- a group of women who found community in dance later in life.
Andrew Beck Grace is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the director of the Program in Nonfiction Storytelling at the University of Alabama. His films and interactive work have appeared on PBS, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Independent Lens. Watch as he details his process in creating the interactive documentary about the aftermath of the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornadoes, After the Storm.
Juliet Juliet -- The Sound of Love Musical Dir: Ken Ochiai RT 15 min. Japan Two rivals bid for the lead role in a annual musical festival at a prestigious women's high school. Things get complicated when a male transfer student appears.
We'll Find Something Dir: Casey Gooden RT 12 min. USA A couple struggles to choose a restaurant while visiting New York City.
Whispers among Wolves Dir: Kevin Lim RT 17 min. Australia Every Wednesday, alcoholic CEO Shilo and her long suffering PA, Teddy, sit down to conduct matters of business. But on this particular evening, secrets will be uncovered, old wounds will be reopened, and their unique co-dependency will come under scrutiny.
Still Dir: Slater Jewell-Kemker RT 16 min. USA When her abusive lover drowns in the woods, Sadie discovers duplicates of herself and Jake.
SPARE ROOMS - A Family Fiction Dir: Matthew Bowden RT 17 min. USA When a same-sex family's teenage son invites a school friend to stay overnight, their elaborate plans to remain in the closet backfire, leaving their reluctant son to hold their secret together.
Zero Recognition Dir: Ben Lewis RT 10 min. Canada Demi is a young actress who's grown up in the dim glare of the Hollywood (North) spotlight. When she decides to brave the world of Internet dating, she quickly finds that fame doesn't always help.
Under Earth's Lid Dir: Colin Albea RT 6 min. USA A soldier finds a moment of peace in a remote forest, but he cannot escape the reality of war.
Lazarus Dir: Kate Cortesi RT 17 min. USA A visit to an underground record store in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, teaches a teenage kid about his neighborhood, music and how to be a man.
Treading Water Dir: Liz Cardenas Franke RT 15 min. USA After moving back into her childhood home to take care of her elderly father, an independent woman in her thirties finds herself reaching a breaking point as she tries to come to grips with her new reality.
Dirty Laundry Dir: Nathan Hennenfent, Mitch Brinkman, Brian Ernst Webseries. USA Sometimes you meet friends in the dirtiest of places. Watch Paul and Marty's new found friendship unfold as they cover everything from detergent to camp, and horses to love.
Only in HelLA Dir: Rory Uphold Webseries. USA A comedic series about the perils of living in LA.
Ms. Guidance Dir: Van Hansis, Melodie Sisk Webseries. USA An aspiring actress must come to terms with being a high school counselor in this comedic webseries.
Tragic Relief Dir: Adam Sacks, Ryan Mazer Webseries. USA. A sketch series of sad jokes, because life is a nightmare and we’re all victims. Zing!
Wallflowers Dir: Kieran Turner Webseries. USA A comedy web series about a Manhattan support group for people who can't get dates.
Eastsiders Dir: Kit Williamson Webseries. USA A peek into the life and friends of a gay couple in Los Angeles's Silver Lake neighborhood.
I'm a video producer for a newspaper by day and an aspiring filmmaker by night. I'll be at Sidewalk with my good friend and writing partner promoting our one room web series, Dirty Laundry that can be watched in its entirety on our site. We're both really into sketch comedy and things... Read More →
Director Joshua Oppenheimer revisits Indonesia and it’s bloody past in this companion piece to the Oscar-nominated The Act of Killing. The Look of Silence follows optometrist Adi, whose brother was killed during the Indonesian genocide of 1965 by murderous factions still currently in power. After learning of the identities of the perpetrators, Adi decides to end the cycle of suffering. He confronts his brother’s killers, offering them eye exams in exchange for a recollection of their past atrocities. While unraveling the horrific story of his brother’s death, Adi discovers the numb and unnerved state of a silenced people.
Who would ever make a sequel to Joe Swanberg’s Uncle Kent? That’s only part of the joke in this oddball, self-aware and disorientingly funny follow-up from director Todd Rohal (The Catechism Cataclysm). After his idea for Uncle Kent 2 is turned down by the sequel-averse Swanberg, lonely animator Kent Osborne heads to the San Diego Comic-Con and becomes embroiled in - what else? - an apocalyptic science fiction plot involving simulation theory, animated cats, the singularity, pop songs that just won’t leave your head, and the pitfalls of making sequels to independent films.
Sit down with Stacey Davis, entertainment attorney and award-winning screenwriter; Steve Storm, USC School of Film and Television graduate and award-winning screenwrite; and Torry Martin, actor, author, and networking guru, to discuss the in’s and out’s of making your stories come to life and ushering your film through the production process. Panel attendees who have never submitted to Sidewalk before will receive incentives for submitting to Sidewalk 2016. If you’ve got an idea sitting on the back burner, don’t wait--just do it!
Not your typical celebrity profile documentary, Brand: A Second Coming, follows comedian-actor-activist-author, Russell Brand, as he develops his recent stand-up show, runs his Internet channel and increasingly dives into politics. In the film Brand is expectedly self-deprecating, but what is surprising is his consistent thoughtfulness and yet, at the same time, his frequent ability to recognize the irony of such within a privileged lifestyle, one he’s not willing to give up. Brand: A Second Coming skillfully works to figure it all out. Funny, poignant and provocative, Brand is Director Ondi Timoner’s 4th feature documentary to screen at Sidewalk.
Flying cars? Nope. Hoverboards? Nuh-uh. Rampant 1980s nostalgia? Well, they got that one right. Compare director Robert Zemeckis’s vision of 2015 with the real thing by revisiting Back to the Future Part II. The 1989 sequel to the time-travel comedy classic finds Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveling from 1985 to 2015 to save Marty’s kids from shame and a criminal record. In doing so, they open the door for Biff Tannen to change history. Can they set the timeline right again?
Boxeadora Dir: Meg Smaker RT 16 min. USA One woman defies Fidel Castro's ban on female boxing to follow her dreams of Olympic glory and become Cuba's first female boxer.
I Thought I Told You to Shut Up!! Dir: Charlie Tyrell RT 13 min. Canada In the late 1970s, David Boswell created Reid Fleming, the World's Toughest Milkman, a comic book anti-hero and counter culture icon. Now, over 30 years later, the character is still mired in contractual limbo or development hell.
Unmappable Dir: Diane Hodson, Jasmine Luoma RT 23 min. USA A meditative portrait of Denis Wood, an iconoclastic psychographer and convicted sex offender. The film explores the events that have defined his life by pointing at ideas, thoughts, and beliefs that we usually do not think of as being mappable or explainable.
American Renaissance Dir: Ryan Scafuro, Jarred Alterman RT 10 min. USA Explore the fantastic world of Elizabethan England… in a small town in upstate New York. “American Renaissance” takes you on a rollicking journey to one of the largest renaissance faires in the US.
Klan Rally in Chapel Hill 1987 Dir: Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley RT: 4 min. USA. A marriage of sound and photos from a Ku Klux Klan rally in Chapel Hill, N.C., in June 1987.
Father Dir: Tresa Ponnor RT: 10 min. Australia A story about fathers: one physical, one spiritual. A young Vietnamese-Australian man and his father share their journeys of sacrifice, isolation and freedom.
Dockery & Son Dir: Jack Truman RT 13 min. USA Real-life mother and son filmmaking team Opal Dockery and Jack Truman share an eye-opening slice of life from a day in the life at their real life thrift store in the ghost town of Milford, Missouri: population 26.
Dolphin Lover Dir: Kareem Tabsch, Joey Daoud RT: 15 min. USA The true story of Malcolm Brenner and his romantic and sexual love affair with Dolly, a captive bottlenose dolphin.
Bad Boy of Bowling Dir: Bryan Storkel RT 19 min. USA The past, present, and future of bowling as seen through the eyes of Pete Weber, the championship winning and self declared "bad boy of bowling."
Revision Dir: Zac Wong RT 6 min. USA A petty thief seeks to atone his past by returning to the house he robbed.
Waiting for Dawn Dir: Richard Cousins RT 15 min. United Kingdom A young soldier and his experiences in the First World War. It highlights the hardships and horrors faced by many young men who served in the Army during that time. Based on true events.
Coeur d'Alene (Rabbits) Dir: Merlin Camozzi RT 15 min. USA When her father tries to teach her a hard-edged lesson before going away to prison, 12-year old Dani must choose between submission and revolt and decide what kind of person she will become.
The Loyalist Dir: Minji Kang RT 19 min. USA A North Korean general checks in on his daughter at a Swiss boarding school to test her loyalty to her motherland.
One Hitta Quitta Dir: Ya'Ke RT 8 min. USA A teenage boy's addiction to Internet violence leads him to act out violently himself.
De Smet Dir: Wim Geudens, Thomas Baerten RT 16 min. Netherlands The brothers De Smet created a system to live their lives as single men in the most comfortable way. When a new woman moves into a house in their street, their synergy collapses like a house of cards.
2 by 2 Dir: Ruby Drake RT 6 min. USA Four screens! Four stories! An old lady burns her popcorn, a lonely girl tries to flirt with the guy next door (who only has eyes for his super), and a husband cheats on his wife.
The Heart Wants What It Wants Dir: Paavo Hanninen RT 16 min. USA Two former lovers attempt to re-connect.
Falling to Pieces Dir: Chris Connolly, Vivian Connolly RT 18 min. USA When young widow Cassandra seeks out the recipients of her husband's organs, each meeting proves more disastrous than the last.
The Red Thunder Dir: Alvaro Ron RT 7 min. USA A teenaged girl gets more than she bargained for when she steals her mother's car to go on a date.
We’re proud to premiere the ultimate southern-fried zombie apocalypse comedy you never knew you were begging for. Set ten years after Hide and Creep, a video store clerk-turned wandering gunslinger teams up with a woman with a mysterious past. Together they must fight off a gang of bandits and rescue a scientist who may have the key to ridding the world of the undead. Fueled with blood soaked comedy and action, For a Few Zombies More reigns as the cinematic love-child of John Carpenter and Hal Needham.
I'm the co-director, co-writer, and co-star of the new film, "For a Few Zombies More," a sequel to the 2004 feature "Hide and Creep" that I also co-directed with Chance Shirley.
Morgan Jon Fox, Van Hansis, and Melodie Sisk, all of indie filmmaking fame, sit down and share their experiences and do’s and don’ts for creating new episodic projects. Morgan Jon Fox was recently named one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine. His latest project, Feral, is an 8 episode drama based in Memphis, TN and is slated to premiere on a new Netflix-style platform called Gaius Digital in Oct 2015. Melodie Sisk and Van Hansis are fresh off production of the upcoming webseries, Miss Guidance.
Director Frank Ross returns with a blue-collar comedy drama with an all-star cast. James Ransone plays Lonnie, a well-meaning house painter who has fallen into a routine of work, X-Box and functioning alcoholism. He sets himself to transform his relationship with co-worker Monica from something friendly to something more romantic, but really manages to blow it along the way. With a script that’s full of life and laughs and lots of ugly truth, Bloomin Mud Shuffle is Ross’ most accomplished work to date. The film features Alex Karpovsky, Natasha Lyonne, and Alexia Rasmussen.
In 1979, TV cameraman Trent Harris unexpectedly encountered Beaver, Utah native Dick Griffiths while out testing the station’s first video camera. Hungry for the spotlight, on the spot Griffiths’ improvised an eccentric character he coined “Groovin Gary”. Harris would later recreate this unusual experience in two short films, starring then unknown-actors Sean Penn and Crispin Glover. Together, these three shorts would be shown at Sundance as “The Beaver Trilogy.” But what happened to Dick Griffiths? Brad Besser's film follows the unusual and harrowing quest to find the long-lost “Groovin Gary.”
It’s a simple premise - a New York actress visits an old friend in Indiana to embark on a local road trip. Both women experience relationship-related stress to differing degrees, which leads to bristling between them. The film effortlessly blends genres, with partially improvised fiction, meditative interludes, and documentary-style moments. However, the truly refreshing aspect of Rosehill is that it allows for platonic sensuality between these friends while exploring need and desire in relationships. What evolves is a flowing, heartfelt story of the changing nature of friendships and partnerships as we age and evolve.
Of all of things that Alabama is known for, perhaps the last thing that comes to mind is snowy ski slopes. Yet, just about two hours north of Birmingham is the Cloudmont Ski Resort, where groups flock to enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding on its machine-made snow. Through the inclusion of remarkable archival footage, Cloudmont tells the fascinating and even tragic story of how this all came to be, and profiles the wide variety of wonderful people that make it a reality.
Starring the creative minds behind its writing and direction, Apartment Troubles follows a pair of dysfunctional roommates in their attempt to escape eviction by their reasonably frustrated Manhattan landlord. Jennifer Prediger plays Olivia, a spiritually inclined actress, alongside Jess Weixler as Nicole, a conceptual artist. When their landlord’s patience runs out and Nicole’s cat dies under mysterious circumstances, the duo decides to hit the road and visit Nicole’s wealthy aunt (played by Megan Mullally) on the opposite coast. Between reality TV try-outs, tarot card readings and shotgunning deserts the pair question the nature and future of their co-dependent friendship. Apartment Troubles is hilarious, charming, astute and not-to-be-missed.
Jennifer Prediger is a New York City–based actress, writer, and director known for the films A Teacher (2013), Life of Crime (2013), and Apartment Troubles(2014)—her directorial debut with collaborator Jess Weixler. Prediger also played and wrote Ask Umbra, the "worl... Read More →
Jessica "Jess" Weixler is an American actress. She is best known as the lead character Dawn O'Keefe in the comedy-horror film Teeth and the comedy The Big Bad Swim... Read More →
Catherine is reeling from the death of her father and a breakup. She seeks solitude at the lake house of her close friend Virginia. Overcome by delusions and memories of happier times, and wary of Virginia’s relationship with a neighbor, Catherine edges closer and closer to a complete psychological breakdown. Director Alex Ross Perry, on the heels of last years critical hit Listen Up Philip, channels Roman Polanski and Ingmar Bergman in this tense paranoid thriller about poisonous codependency and modern upper-class narcissism.
Until 2001, photography was banned in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. After the ban was lifted, a small community of photographers emerged, taking it to the streets to capture life that had been veiled for years from the outside world. Frame By Frame follows four photojournalists as they undergo enormous risks and encounter devastating circumstances in post-Taliban society. From suicide bombings to violence against women, the film expertly captures the chaos of post-war Afghanistan and the bravery of those willing to be at the front lines.
Phoebe is an attractive, lonely video game designer looking for love. She struggles through relationships trying to make authentic connections. Unfortunately, her particular array of perversions tends to scare her suitors away. In an attempt to change she starts to see a therapist, joins a book club and buries her sex toys. Will she be able to suppress her eccentric urges? Or will she accept that she’s a female pervert? Sidewalk alum, Jiyoung Lee’s, second feature, Female Pervert, premiered earlier this year at the Slamdance Film Festival.
Family, classmates, and church friends gather to celebrate Henry Gamble's 17th birthday with a party that rivals Mrs. Dalloway's in sexual and emotional tumult. Struggling to reconcile his conservative Christian upbringing and blossoming gay identity, Henry floats between the conflicting worldviews of his party guests. As day stretches into night and once polite small talk grows in intensity, Henry's pool party reveals its attendees' clandestine affairs and discomforts. Writer/director Stephen Cone depicts evangelical church culture with striking precision in this familiar story of suburban secrets and lies.
(Writer/Producer/Director) Stephen Cone is a Chicago-based filmmaker, educator and actor. His feature film, 2011’s award-winning, critically-acclaimed The Wise Kids, which the Chicago Tribune’s Michael Phillips called “one of the best coming-of-age pictures in a long time... Read More →
Pathways: Robin's Story Dir: Patrick Sheehan RT 9 min. USA This short film tells the inspiring true story of one woman's journey from prison and homelessness to a new life.
Spearhunter Dir: Adam Roffman, Luke Poling RT 14 min. USA Deep in the wilds of rural Alabama, a spear-hunter proclaims himself the world's greatest and erects a museum dedicated to his own obsession. In this atmospheric and darkly funny documentary, an offbeat cast of lovers, acolytes, and critics of the megalomaniacal spear-hunter remember his distinctive tactics both for killing and for leaving a legacy.
Veterans Day Reunion Dir: Ian J. Cunningham RT 10 min. USA The National Veterans Day Parade began in Birmingham, Ala. Over the years, it has become so much more than a parade.
4th Down Dir: Kourtney Cowart, Michael Shikany RT 12 min. USA University of Alabama at Birmingham students, faculty, and boosters react to the termination of the UAB football program and work together for its reinstatement.
Maid in Dixie Dir: Annelise Moreau, Rachael Hartley RT 10 min. USA An exploration into how some Southern women identify themselves in a culture steeped in the traditional ways of the mythical Old South.
Take Only Memories Dir: Robert Clay, Gigi Douban RT 10 min. USA What goes in the attic stays in the attic. Until an army of pickers comes in and takes the family photos to the thrift shop. What happens next is a look at the strange world of people who take the memories of others into their own hands.
Stumped Dir: Robin Berghaus RT 10 min. USA When filmmaker Will Lautzenheiser suddenly becomes a quadrilateral amputee, he must face a world he never imagined, including his first stand-up comedy show.
"The Truth" Up and Coming Dir: Sonya Mitchell RT 20 min. USA An inspiring story about a young lady named Carla Youngblood, who makes a unique transition from working in corporate America to performing comedy in America.
White Statues Dir: Abbie Wilson, Brett Shaw RT 9 min. USA "White Statues" looks at the difficulties in preserving history from the antebellum time period with accuracy from all perspectives.
10-4 Dir: Piyush Borse, Karan Jani RT 10 min. USA An inside look at the Birmingham Police Department as it became a national model for community policing with the changes it has made since the 1960s.
Shugs Dir: Mary D. Recio, Katie Howard RT 9 min. USA A story about the Birmingham Sugar Babies -- a group of women who found community in dance later in life.
Darkness descends on Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Mexico as the violent activities of Mexican drug cartels begin to disrupt the harmony between the two small border towns. Cowboys and lawmen on both sides of the Rio Grande bear witness to the harsh, new realities of modern times infringing on their previously idyllic existence. Tensions (and fences) rise as the crossfire escalates. With their signature verité style, the Ross Brothers capture a dreamlike vision of the frontier and a story that plays out like a true Western.
Deli Man entertainingly traces the origin of what is known as the Jewish delicatessen, a uniquely American creation that was forged by the melding of ethnic food traditions that Jewish immigrants brought from Germany and Eastern Europe. Once a prolific institution that boasted over 1500 kosher delis in NYC alone, there are now only approximately 150 eateries left in the entire country. This documentary simultaneously explores the struggle for the preservation of this dwindling food culture while celebrating the culinary tradition and community that has always surrounded the deli, all while profiling the charismatic Ziggy Gruber.
Erik Greenberg Anjou is a graduate of Middlebury College (B.A. American Literature), Northwestern University (M.A. Film) and the American Film Institute’s Center for Advanced Film Studies (Directing Fellow). He has written, directed and produced in both the narrative and documentary... Read More →
A pre-awards ceremony reception thanking our filmmakers. Sponsored by Cantina on Wheels. Complimentary beer and wine sponsored by Back Forty Beer Company.
A cross between a Civil War-era home invasion thriller and a female-led Western, The Keeping Room stands as one of the most powerful and exciting narratives to come out this year. Three women (two sisters and a slave), left to care for their Georgia homestead, are forced to fight for their lives as two of Sherman’s scouts go rogue and terrorize them in the still of night. Gritty yet equally poetic, The Keeping Room delivers from the beginning to the very poignant end.
Alex and Emily are new to Los Angeles and their small son leaves little room to make adult friends. By chance, they meet another couple in the park, Kurt and Charlotte, who invite the family over for dinner. But as the night progresses, things take one bizarre turn after another, as Alex and Emily begin to suspect the other couple’s true, potentially sinister motivations. The Overnight subverts the clichés of typical swinger sex comedies and is equal parts riotously funny and unpredictable.
