USA • 44 minutes Directed by Frederick DeShon Murphy
Film director, Sidewalk alum and mental health therapist Frederick DeShon Murphy brings together families of both the enslavers and enslaved connected to the Forks of Cypress plantation in Florence, AL, to share their deeply personal histories and to create an opportunity for community and reconciliation.
USA • 1 hour 31 minutes Directed by Nico Lopez-Alegría and ZZ
For those who couldn’t get enough of the successful Artemis II mission, comes a space documentary unlike any other. Director Nico Lopez-Algeria invites us along on a deeply personal journey and a look behind the curtain of what families of career astronauts experience when their loved ones dedicate their lives to space exploration.
It’s hard to imagine starting the festival off without some good old-fashioned cartoon fun, right? Sidewalk Film Festival is proud to present this special program for its 14th year in a row! We invite you to be a part of this fond Sidewalk tradition full of wildly splendid cartoon fun, with a colorful selection spanning the decades and some vintage advertisements as well. This nostalgia-filled event is back on the big screen for all ages! *This is a FREE event and SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Registering is strongly recommended to help with the check in process but does not guarantee a seat, and due to the popularity of this event seats can not be saved for folks who have not arrived yet.*
It’s hard to imagine starting the festival off without some good old-fashioned cartoon fun, right? Sidewalk Film Festival is proud to present this special program for its 14th year in a row! We invite you to be a part of this fond Sidewalk tradition full of wildly splendid cartoon fun, with a colorful selection spanning the decades and some vintage advertisements as well. This nostalgia-filled event is back on the big screen for all ages! *This is a FREE event and SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Registering is strongly recommended to help with the check in process but does not guarantee a seat, and due to the popularity of this event seats can not be saved for folks who have not arrived yet.*
A remarkable story of an Appalachian community. A Woman's Work shares the natural beauty of the region while focusing on the hard-working people and their daily struggles. A stirring portrayal of a female coal miner working to support her sisters while dreaming of a life with her secret girlfriend. This film truly makes you feel for these characters and the beauty and sadness of their daily lives.
USA • 1 hour 39 minutes Directed by Aaron Schock and Mark Becker
In a David-and-Goliath fight over one of the world's most recognizable toys, the widow of the Sea-Monkeys creator battles for control of her husband's legacy. What starts as a quarrel over quality control uncovers an unexpected history and the troubling affiliations buried beneath the packet of instant pets.
Warriors reveals the story of Mobile’s 2009 Davidson High School football team which featured the first high school duo drafted by the same NFL team, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt. The reminiscences of the players, coaches, and family members of this dynamic team overlap to reveal the combined pressures of young athletes doing everything to follow their NFL dreams.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
USA • 45 minutes Directed by Brian "B+" Cross and Eric Coleman
As a means to reframe outdated half-truths, this vibrant narrative illustrates a new chapter of Birmingham’s legacy. This story aims to linger beyond our stained reputation by highlighting the people and places that embody the essence of what makes this city “Magic.”
Ariel Gary - Screening Committee USA • 46 minutes Directed by Michele Forman Birmingham's Front Lawn explores the creation of Railroad Park in the heart of Downtown Birmingham. Watch as the park, which has become an integral part of life downtown, transforms from unassuming acreage to a lush urban green space and hear from the park's champions who turned their dream into a reality in order to uplift Birmingham.
USA • 1 hour 40 minutes Directed by Ken William Kwapis
After a father in rural New Hampshire is inspired by his own mother’s prophecy that his three daughters will be world famous rock stars. The problem was that the daughters, Dorothy, Betty, and Helen Wiggin, had no interest in playing music. This did not stop their father who bought them their own recording studio which produced music that was once called the worst band in rock history.
Films that highlight the variety of Alabama filmmaker skills.
Picklish Directed by Jori Parson, Clea Collins 9:39 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA, BLACK LENS, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM Upon the rapid rise of Pickleball, three Alabama teens decide to fight back.
Job Search Directed by Lewis Bruce 4:17 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA A new job candidate becomes unnerved when an interview becomes too personal. Sidewalk 48-hour film Scramble winner.
Growing Up in the 4th Dimension Directed by Dylane Thomas Hurd 23:14 • United States ALABAMA, BLACK LENS A recent college graduate reflects on the passage of time and the existential crisis it leads to.
Scrambled in Space Directed by Lih Cunha Rohleder 2:50 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM The seemingly innocent act of fixing an egg for breakfast launches into an unexpected space journey. Assisted by Professor John Hill and completed over a 48 hour period.
"Bleeds Through" by Noah Praise God Directed by Julian Clark 3:46 • United States Music Video for "Bleeds Through" by Noah Praise God.
A Shot in the Dark Directed by Grantland Thomas Earle, Regan Arnett 6:26 • United States ALABAMA A young detective unravels the mystery surrounding his best friend's death as he falls deeper into a web of intrigue and adultery. Winner of the Sidewalk Jingle Scramble 48-hour filmmaking competition.
Cause of Death Directed by Benjamin Johnson 2:15 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA When technology allows coroners to relive the last moments of a person's life rather than following physical evidence, what crimes might be covered up?
Mr Jesus Directed by Emily Best 15:38 • United States • Alabama Premiere ALABAMA, WOMEN IN FILM A down on his luck actor wakes up one morning to discover his image has been stolen to make a Gen AI Jesus, and now everyone thinks he's the second coming.
Man and Mattress Directed by Andrew Reisfeld 23:35 • United States • Southern US Premiere ALABAMA A messy loser is forced to battle his outspoken mattress after refusing to clean his room.
Doggozord Directed by Kelsey Norden 4:46 • United States • Southern US Premiere WOMEN IN FILM The Moon has risen early to threaten dog utopia, and Major Walnut has called his team of guard dogs to pilot Doggozord, a giant canine mecha, to fight it off.
Chasing Dreams Directed by Gerald Crummie 7:46 • United States • Alabama Premiere ALABAMA Raeann "Rooster" Gibbs is a rising racecar driver from Weaver, Alabama with big dreams. At the age of 12, she is currently competing against adults in 602 and 604 late models.
Sunspark Directed by Danny Bourque 11:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere While scavenging for spare parts, a lonely robot discovers someone who desperately needs his help.
Symphony in the Skies Directed by Nathan Winston Burrell 7:13 • United States ALABAMA, BLACK LENS, TEEN Amid the urban landscape of Birmingham, a 12-year-old filmmaker and birder discovers a different kind of world through his binoculars.
Jamie’s Cosmic Chase Directed by Gabrielle Foret 5:39 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM Shortly after a rookie zookeeper's shift begins, a baby creature escapes its enclosure and begins to wander around an intergalactic zoo resulting in chaos and comedy.
Creep Directed by Daniela Abarca 2:16 • United States STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM In a library where nothing happens, a kid gets a creepy feeling he's being hunted by a creature of the night.
The Epic of Enkidu Directed by Mike A Smith 9:26 • United States • Southern US Premiere When the catastrophic king Gilgamesh meets the grass-fed Enkidu, things don't go according to the clay tablets. A fractured take on the cuneiform tale, featuring doom, despair, deception, and sheep.
Flick: A Fingerboarding Story Directed by Graham Abney 11:08 • United States • Southern US Premiere BLACK LENS An ambitious entrepreneur reflects on how the fingerboarding community has changed his life and given a space for passionate creatives to express themselves.
The Ottoman Directed by Mike Stamm 12:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere The Ottoman, a hotshot mechanic and amateur robot gladiator, is looking forward to proving himself in the arena. But when his obsession with winning endangers the lives of his family, the Ottoman must face harsh lessons about what victory truly requires.
Mike Lobel of Degrassi: The Next Generation fame makes his directorial debut with this true crime tale about his own family. Lobel sets out to uncover the truth about his father that his parents kept hidden for 35 years. During his entire childhood, Lobel’s family had two major rules: Don’t ask what Dad does for a living and never go upstairs when he’s working.
POL • 1 hour 29 minutes Directed by Bartosz Szpak and Helena Ganjalyan
Filled with stunning, sun-soaked cinematography and big questions about what it means to be a girl in the world, GLORIOUS SUMMER conjures an atmosphere of curious serenity—a series of perpetually peaceful summer days in which three young girls live, play, and commune in a crumbling idyll. Amid this visual poetry, however, tensions surface.
A transgender teen and his family document the two-decade transitioning process with care and honesty. A counterpoint to the hostility often shown towards those in transition, this film shows the family and the thoughtful way they communicate their needs and their love of one another.
Everyone leaves behind a legacy. Here are a few to inspire you.
ERUCTATION Directed by Victoria Trow 6:49 • USA • Southern US Premiere WOMEN IN FILM The world record for loudest female burp is 107.3 decibels. Kaylee wants to beat it.
Houdini II: A Beautiful Day to Die Directed by Daniel John 17:12 • United Kingdom, United States • Alabama Premiere BLACK LENS Reframing the Houdini myth, an African American magician and escape artist claims the name of Harry Houdini and builds a legacy of his own.
Hwy 101 Yard Sale Directed by Andrew Johnston, Jackson Townsend 9:39 • United States ALABAMA Every first weekend in October, along a quiet stretch of highway from Northwest Alabama to Tennessee, one woman exercises Southern hospitality through mouth-wateringly delicious pies as she participates in a 40-mile long open-air market.
Fred’s Basement Bijou Directed by Michael T Vollmann 14:22 • United States • Southern US Premiere In 1956, Fred Hermes rescued a colossal 1920s Wurlitzer organ from Detroit's Michigan Theatre. He then spent the next five decades transforming his basement into a fully functioning movie palace.
BUCKSKIN Directed by Mars Verrone 17:10 • United States • Southern US Premiere BLACK LENS, WOMEN IN FILM A portrait of the filmmaker's grandfather, Carroll B. Williams, the first African-American to receive a doctorate in forestry and entomology, the first African-American scientist to be hired by the U.S. Forest Service, and among the first African-Americans to be a part of the environmental science and forestry faculties at both Yale and UC Berkeley.
Submitting Tigers Directed by Luke Kellerhouse 25:41 • Germany, Ireland, United States • Southern US Premiere WOMEN IN FILM After surviving horrific childhood trauma and rising as a professional MMA fighter, Julija Pajic finds unexpected healing, connection, and purpose among the street fighters and orphanages of Tanzania.
You may know Punkie Johnson from several seasons on SNL, but PUNKIE creates a raw, behind the scenes portrait of a stand up comedian and Saturday Night Live star as she deals with life, touring on the road, trying to protect her artistic voice, and true self.
When an Ohio man builds a fake Facebook profile mocking his local police department, the joke lands him in real legal trouble, escalating to the Supreme Court. To his rescue comes The Onion, a group familiar with parody, resulting in a legal brief so ridiculous that it became a legend.
Evacuating the 2025 California wildfires, director Tamra Davis unearthed long-lost tapes from 1995, featuring concert footage and backstage interviews she had shot of the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Bikini Kill, and many others. This time capsule offers a rare glimpse of bands on the edge of fame.
For centuries, Stan Rennie’s family has worked the same stretch of coastline in northeast England. When a tide of poisoned crabs and lobsters washes up like a biblical plague, all signs point to an industrial development along the River Tees that empties into the once-teeming waters. Stan becomes a reluctant spokesman for his community, with a cool head and a heart of rage.
Films that recognize Black stories on screen are not limited to one genre, identity, or experience.
Capriccio Directed By Kiah Clingman 9:27 • United States • Alabama Premiere NARRATIVE, WOMEN IN FILM Two strangers meet in a cozy bookstore where music and dance form a non-verbal language of expression and ignite an unexpected romance.
Church Hat Directed By Miceál Og O'Donnell 7:04 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere ANIMATED, SHOUT When his traditional Jamaican mother catches him playing dress-up with her prized church hats (crowns), a young boy expects trouble. Instead, he discovers that love means being seen, accepted, and celebrated exactly as he is.
Lemon Directed By Beth Curry 14:47 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere WOMEN IN FILM, NARRATIVE When her agoraphobic mother dies suddenly, six-year-old Lemon must overcome her conditioned fear and venture outside for the first time. Her journey from fear to bravery becomes a tender exploration of courage, imagination, and human connection.
A Mystical Ornithology Directed By Jeremy Seifert, Benjamin James Roberts 11:07 • United States DOCUMENTARY In this lyrical portrait, ornithologist, poet, and professor Drew Lanham invites you into his South Carolina farm where birdwatching becomes both refuge and revelation.
God Sleeps On Sundays Directed By Naishe Nyamubaya 16:47 • Zimbabwe • Southern U.S. Premiere INTERNATIONAL, NARRATIVE When a new preacher arrives to build a church, he clashes with a village's traditional healer in an exploration of the current tension between traditional culture and Western religion in Zimbabwe.
Eternal Directed By Joshua Jeffrey Miller 17:15 • United States • Alabama Premiere ALABAMA, STUDENT, NARRATIVE "Eternal" is an allegorical tale about a man who, in his grief, seeks out death and the ability to see his loved one again.
Spilled Milk Directed By Jared Leaf 13:04 • United States NARRATIVE A father's innocent errand leads him to an encounter with an enigmatic figure called The Milk Man in this Jordan Peele produced film.
A collection of eclectic shorts that may make you cry, laugh or frustrate you. What can we say? That's life.
The Chimney Directed by Michael McFarland and AP Boland 04:32 • United States NARRATIVE, SHOUT, ALABAMA Part of a 48 hour Sidewalk Scramble competition, "The Chimney" asks what lengths one might go to if you want to meet Santa again.
Sofia Directed by Camila de Ilhéus 09:44 • United States • Alabama Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT, WOMEN IN FILM, FESTIVAL DE CINE A quick waxing session turns into a nightmare when a Brazilian accidentally gets a brazilian.
The Burial of the Black Cat Directed by Maryam Esmaeli 14:58 • Iran • World Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT An 11-year-old girl meets her sister, who has transitioned and is now her brother. Struggling to accept this, she makes him reenact scenes from their childhood to mend their bond.
I Am The Prize Directed by Sai Karan Talwar 18:10 • United Kingdom • Southern U.S. Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT A polarizing self-help figure (Russell Tovey – Plainclothes, The War Between the Land and the Sea), with a carefully constructed identity begins to unravel during the height of a lecture tour.
Cottonmouth Directed by Ama Anane 14:51 • United States • Alabama Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT, BLACK LENS Cottonmouth is a romantic dramedy about a Black woman named Ayo, who's writing her graduate thesis about her namesake, Nana Ayo Forbes, who died on Cottonmouth Plantation. While on a trip to the plantation, she wrestles with the legacy of slavery and her romantic future of falling in love with her White girlfriend.
Tomorrow Directed by Christian Meola 27:16 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT, STUDENT Eric and Oliver develop an unexpected bond after a hug that lasts longer than usual.
In this directorial debut from Jess Zeidman, we watch people living in New York City, walking with them through their day-to-day interactions. Human Theories immerses us in the colorful tapestry of the city while enticing us to reflect on our own relationships and explore how far-reaching our connections could be with passing strangers.
Award-winning, lifelong environmental activist Dr. Jackie Echols is dedicated to protecting Atlanta’s South River, the largest freshwater system in the state. When planned construction of “Cop City” (the largest police training facility in America) threatens the ecosystem and forest that serves predominately Black communities, activism and politics intersect into a story of environmental defense and grassroots activism. This observational documentary shows how environmental issues affect us all while also serving as a call for immediate action.
USA • 1 hour 24 minutes Directed by Noah Dixon and Ori Segev
After being forced to evacuate after a train carrying carcinogenic chemicals derails in the small community of East Palestine, Ohio, community members return to their homes with lingering doubts and questions about what their already struggling community will be like.
KEN • 1 hour 33 minutes Directed by Andrew H. Brown and Bea Wangondu
The central highlands in Kenya is one of the most verdant, fertile agricultural lands in the world. A land rights dispute attracts Kenya-based journalist Bea Wangondu to uncover the depths to which multinational corporations have exploited this veritable “Garden of Eden” and its inhabitants. The secrets she uncovers and the struggles she documents reveal the undying legacy of a wicked past.
Documentaries about those who have worked and fought to gain, preserve, and practice their rights and freedom.
Sea Song Directed by An-Phuong Ly 17:58 • USA • Alabama Premiere LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM Finding solace in the shared experience of their youth, the last remaining South Vietnamese naval officers trained by the US during the Vietnam War reconnect with the few people in the world who understand the complexities that shaped them.
Honor Song Directed by Ryan Begay 19:35 • USA LIFE & LIBERTY Celebrating the long history and service of Native Americans in the United States military, veterans of the Southwest share personal stories and perspectives of their military service and their cultural experience.
60 Years of Selma Directed by Jori Parson 16:04 • USA • Alabama Premiere LIFE & LIBERTY, ALABAMA, BLACK LENS, WOMEN IN FILM Sixty years after the 1965 Voting Rights Act was signed into law, civil rights activists and historians gather to reflect on the movement in Selma, Alabama, that led to revolutionary change.
The Other Roe Directed by Wendy Eley Jackson 14:47 • USA • Southern US Premiere LIFE & LIBERTY, BLACK LENS, WOMEN IN FILM Learn the untold story of attorney Margie Pitts Hames whose Supreme Court victory in Doe v. Bolton - the companion case to Roe v. Wade - reshaped reproductive rights in America.
Projecting Protest Directed by Thomas Clement 22:07 • USA • Southern US Premiere LIFE & LIBERTY Over the past decade, activists across the political spectrum have been deploying a new protest tactic: guerrilla light projection. Projection devices have become cheap, powerful, and can be smaller than a toaster. They are also, for the most part, wildly unregulated by American law.
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes Directed by Maya Annik Bedward
One of cinema’s greatest subgenres also has one of its most complex histories: the origin of the Zombie. Through the lens of cinema history, this doc chronicles the advent of the horror trope from spiritual Haitian Vodou rituals through the evolution of contemporary Hollywood horror. The film dispels rumors and attaches significance to the entity of the walking dead.
Films from around the world. Please note that many of these films have subtitles.
THE SENTRY Directed by Jake Wachtel 17:34 • United States • Alabama Premiere INTERNATIONAL When a suave Western agent's mission goes off the rails, he begins an unexpected road trip across Cambodia with a security guard that survives his final mission.
"Tell 'Em" by Terry Blade Directed by Terry Blade 2:30 • Spain, United States • Southern US Premiere INTERNATIONAL Down in a gorge where time bends, ancestors meet beneath ancient trees. Their shared rite rises like resistance, built from soil, voice, and bloodline, proof that life holds shape even when broken in this music video by Terry Blade.
Paloma Directed by Raul Martinez Liera 24:42 • Mexico, United States • Southern US Premiere FESTIVAL DE CINE, INTERNATIONAL Two strangers experience the magic of their unexpected connection one night in Mexico City.
Unwanted Directed by Roman Sinitsyn 3:00 • Russian Federation • Alabama Premiere INTERNATIONAL A police officer arrives on what seems like a routine call, only to discover a furry friend has been let behind without its owner.
Max Directed by Adrien Boublil 20:07 • France INTERNATIONAL Based on real events during World War II, in a sealed room, a brutal psychological duel unfolds between Jean Moulin, the leader of the French Resistance, and Klaus Barbie, the Chief of the Gestapo.
Escudo Invisible (The Invisible Shield) Directed by Maximilian Barrón 23:52 • Mexico • US Premiere INTERNATIONAL, ALABAMA When Mexico City locals learn they're being evicted due to tourism pressures, they decide to reverse the American-led gentrification by staging a kidnapping. But when their plans go awry, the whole thing heads rapidly towards comedic disaster.
USA • 1 hour 34 minutes Directed by Kenny Dalsheimer and Rafael Samanez
An endearing look at Jazz musician Yusuf Salim through his voice and the artists he inspired over the years. Salim was the core force behind the development of a beautiful music community in Durham North Carolina. A community built on connection and support which shows the power of music.
The General USA • 1 hour 18 minutes Directed by Buster Keaton
Honoring the Centennial of “The General” and the heritage of independent film, the Alabama Chapter of the American Theatre Society along with Sidewalk Film Festival presents a celebratory screening of what is considered Keaton’s greatest film. Presented with Live Organ Accompaniment with original score by Tom Helms, the film is presented much as it would have been in 1926 with the Alabama Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer.
Hot Water USA • 20 minutes Directed by Harold Lloyd
An average guy struggling with marriage, his bossy mother-in-law, and meddling brothers-in-law.
Director Alice Voena’s mumblecore feature is a luscious journey through the mind of a queer cult leader consumed by psychedelic visions of a prophesied doomsday. Told in a series of poetic monologues narrated by Rowen Amadeus Camor (Alice Voena) and a hallucinated deity named Promise (John Cameron Mitchell), Rowen searches for meaning and identity as the revelation approaches.
USA • 1 hour 40 minutes Directed by Sienna McLean-LoGreco
Three Black men retrace the harrowing slave route, walking through sites of historical suffering and resilience. As they confront the lingering brutality of colonialism, they retrieve lost stories and power, transforming generational trauma into pride. Along the way, they connect with communities, honor their ancestors, and forge a vibrant, revitalized sense of connection and identity. Their journey evolves into a powerful act of remembrance, healing, and cultural affirmation.
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Jacob Hatley and Tom Vickers
Glimpse into the lives of several regulars of Clovers, a strip-mall casino in Asheboro, North Carolina. The film follows a community grappling with their material conditions and the hope for a better future. With an incredibly honest portrayal of its subjects, the film presents a judgment-free, nuanced exploration of family, community, and the enduring pursuit of an ever-unreachable American Dream.
Animated film ranging from hand-drawn to CGI and everything in between.
Church Hat Directed By Miceál Og O'Donnell 7:04 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere BLACK LENS, SHOUT When his traditional Jamaican mother catches him playing dress-up with her prized church hats (crowns), a young boy expects trouble. Instead, he discovers that love means being seen, accepted, and celebrated exactly as he is.
FIRSTBORN Directed By Olivia G Porrill 09:07 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM A surreal mythology following the journey of a firstborn child.
Sundays Directed By Ashley Gerst 06:42 • United States • Alabama Premiere WOMEN IN FILM In this intimate memoir, a daughter navigates the aftermath of loss as she reflects on the weekly rituals she once shared with her father.
Living with a Visionary Directed By Stephen P. Neary 14:58 • United States • Alabama Premiere Based on John Matthias's memoir, "Living with a Visionary" is a soulful, bittersweet reflection on John's fifty-year marriage to Diana, an art curator grappling with Parkinson's.
To Have and To Hold Directed By Julianne Martin 05:09 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere WOMEN IN FILM Two characters must grapple with the complexities of their relationship and decide whether or not to part ways.
Idle Hands Directed By Ellie Roberts 06:25 • United States • Alabama Premiere STUDENT When Mort, the brains behind Hell's torture, hears the pain he causes, he questions his purpose, but is soon presented with an unrefusable offer.
Deep in the Folds of My Mind Directed By Mac Muggeo 05:05 • United States • Alabama Premiere ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM When a peculiar man's nightmares begin to breach his waking life, he must find a way to quell them or risk losing his mind for good.
Dormilón Directed By Olivia Marie Valdez 09:09 • United States • Alabama Premiere WOMEN IN FILM In a quest to become the performer of his dreams, Dormilón, a starry-eyed and middle-aged janitor living in an abandoned theater, must confront his nightmares face-to-face.
Snow Bear Directed By Aaron Blaise 11:29 • United States • Alabama Premiere FAMILY When a lonely bear can't find a friend, he makes one. Completely hand-drawn, "Snow Bear" tells the story of a polar bear in an unforgiving environment on his quest to find a friend.
Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II Directed By Z Cher-Aimé 14:22 • United States BLACK LENS While in therapy, Xerxes Hughes recounts his escapades as an amateur superhero and details his first encounter with his depression demon -- a physical manifestation of all his deep-seated insecurities.
That Night Directed by Hoda Sobhani 11:00 • USA LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM In October 2022, Evin Prison in Iran burned. Inside was women's rights activist Neda Naji. This is her story of that night of chaos, fear, and violence.
Correspondence Directed by Paul K. Oh 5:40 • USA • Alabama Premiere LIFE & LIBERTY A filmmaker conducts a mediated interview with the man convicted of murdering his grandmother and tries to reconcile the person sitting across from him with the act that shattered his family.
Investigator Directed by Jennifer Grausman 16:40 • USA • Southern US Premiere WOMEN IN FILM Amidst the foggy evergreen forests of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, private investigator Leigh Hearon explores the criminal underbelly of a small town and investigates a case of attempted matricide while also examining her own motivations and place in the criminal justice system.
Sites of Memory Directed by Antonio Tarrell, Castel V Sweet, Michael Fagans 24:20 • USA • Alabama Premiere BLACK LENS, LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM, ALABAMA As U.S. history becomes controversial to teach in some states, one group of people comes to terms with our past and present in Sumner, Mississippi and Montgomery, Alabama.
Free Joan Little Directed by Yoruba Richen 24:20 • USA • Alabama Premiere BLACK LENS, LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM In 1975, Joan Little became the first woman in US history to be acquitted of using deadly force to resist sexual assault. As a Black incarcerated woman in North Carolina who killed her white prison guard who was trying to rape her, Little's murder trial sparked a nationwide discussion on sexual assault.
Reminders of the planet we all share and the things that affect it.
Discarded Directed by Jason O'Brien 4:17 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA An unsettling glimpse at what we cast aside, this quasi-experimental documentary reminds us that every discarded item had a life or moment abruptly left behind, never explained, and never reclaimed.
Constellations of the Sea Directed by Addie Akina Knoll 12:59 • United States • Southern US Premiere TEEN, WOMEN IN FILM A 17-year-old filmmaker joins a Maldives research team to document the growing challenge of protecting endangered whale sharks at the center of a global tourism industry.
Where the River Flows Directed by Emily Rabbideau 5:38 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM For nearly 30 years, Hana Berres has walked alongside the Cahaba River, teaching, protecting, and fighting for one of Alabama’s most biodiverse waterways.
UNDERMINED Directed by Lily Huffman 15:26 • United States ALABAMA, WOMEN IN FILM A small Alabama town known as Belle Mina fights back against quarry blasting right next door that threaten their air, water, and overall quality of life.
Willie and His Pigs Directed by Emily Cooper 14:02 • United States • Alabama Premiere WOMEN IN FILM Every nine months, rural Kentucky regenerative farmer Willie Houston brings home a group of piglets. He raises, names, and cares for them. Then, he says goodbye to them. Willie & His Pigs explores the emotional weight of ethically raising animals in this subtle portrait of grief, joy, and bacon.
Invasive Florida Directed by Stephen DeVries 9:38 • United States • World Premiere BLACK LENS Follow wildlife educator and social media star Christian Cave into the wild ecosystems of South Florida to explore the growing threat of invasive species on one of America's most unique natural environments.
A DERAILMENT Directed by Nathan Truesdell 25:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere At 8:55pm on February 3, 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Told entirely through found footage and news archive, "A DERAILMENT" puts you in the center of disaster.
USA • 1 hour 37 minutes Directed by Kelsey Ianuzzi
When an Alabama court jeopardizes access to IVF and her own embryos, artist Abbey Crain refuses to surrender her creative power. In this triumphant tour de force, Crain and a group of fertility patients reckon with the threats to their family future, unearthing hope from an unsettled legal landscape.
WARLA is a crime-drama based on the true story of the Warla Gang, a group of transgender women who kidnap foreigners for ransom money to fund their gender-affirming surgeries. The film examines the struggles and treatment of marginalized individuals searching for acceptance.
Shorts to enthuse the palate for those seeking thrills and a few chills.
Tuna Tartare Directed by Lena Greene 10:31 • United States • Alabama Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT, ANIMATED In a karaoke bar in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, an expired can of tuna fish and a fake Louis Vuitton purse encourage each other to believe in their artistic voices even if the world sees them as trash.
something still Directed by Ariel S Mahler 18:26 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT Tom (John Brodsky), a young queer man, returns to the apartment he once shared with his ex-boyfriend, Max (Zane Phillips), to pack up his belongings. Now, standing among the remnants of their life together, Tom must confront the choices that led to the relationship's unraveling and find a way to move forward.
Evergreen Directed by Luke McCormick Gardiner 12:38 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT Confined to their decaying apartment, a queer couple grapples with an immaculate conception.
Scissors Directed by Hannah Alline 12:21 • United States • Alabama Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT, WOMEN IN FILM A slasher with a grudge meets his match when a group of queer friends on a weekend getaway turns his killing spree into a bloody night he never saw coming.
Cockroach Directed by Justice Maya Singleton and Liliana Padilla 22:21 • United States • Alabama Premiere NARRATIVE, SHOUT, BLACK LENS A Black transgender man plans to exchange sex for top surgery money with an older gay man until his night hook up turns into a hunt for a cockroach who inspires him to open his heart and conquer his fears.
The Bone Grinder Directed by Danny Rhodes 13:35 • United States NARRATIVE, SHOUT Whitman and Jacob, straight and gay best friends, learn about the Bone Grinder, a masked killer who seduces men, blows their minds with amazing love making, and then murders them seven days later. Whitman wants to stop this killer. Jacob, however, knows he can fix him.
USA • 1 hour 34 minutes Directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel
In 1980, a gambler who'd lost a fortune at a Lake Tahoe casino decided to get revenge, forcing his two sons to help him build a bomb and hold the casino hostage for millions. What they assembled in the family garage became the most diabolical device the FBI had ever seen.
Aike is a 17 year old boy from the Netherlands who builds a nuclear reactor in his shed. I guess you could call him Aikenheimer! Nuclear Boy is a charming, quirky, beautifully shot coming of age film with an eerie musical score about a precocious teen trying to find their place in the world.
Ric Routledge covered the dog-show world for a living, mailing subscribers a VHS tape from every ring on the circuit, decades before streaming. When he died, his old friend Jesse Carfield inherited the entire archive and assembled the story of Ric's rise and fall, told in Ric's own voice.
AUS and USA • 1 hour 32 minutes Directed by Daniel Jarvis and John Kassab
The film follows Compton’s Clutch Gang mini-bike club after the death of their beloved leader in an illegal street race. Left fractured and grieving, the group’s unlikely hope rests with the club’s homeless black sheep, who must step forward if they are to stay together and compete in the GTS — the biggest mini-bike tournament of the year.
Films to remind us that the ordinary can become extraordinary and long-remembered unexpectedly.
Monograph: Ajene Williams Directed By Matthew Grcic 05:22 • United States ALABAMA, BLACK LENS Ajene Williams is a resident artist at Sloss Metal Arts (Sloss Furnaces) in Birmingham, Alabama. He sculpts and welds cold scrap metal into warm, life-like sculptures.
Oh Whale Directed By Winslow Crane-Murdoch 25:42 • United States • Alabama Premiere When Paul Linnman arrived in Florence, Oregon, on November 12th, 1970, he had no idea that a seemingly innocuous news story about a dead whale would forever define his career.
From Rodeo to Polo: The First HBCU Polo Team Directed By Kendi King 18:38 • United States BLACK LENS, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FLIM The first Black collegiate polo team at Morehouse College chases national USPA certification as it transforms a rag-tag team of charismatic cowboys into pioneering polo stars.
Roots & Relics Directed By Matthew Josiah Avant 22:30 • United States • Southern US Premiere EPISODIC Roots & Relics is a documentary series hosted by JD Hart that uncovers extraordinary stories behind everyday heirlooms. In this episode, uncover the mystery behind a man whose last words are recorded in a roughly hewn stone.
A New Inferno Directed By Nita Blum, Jonathan Pickett 16:00 • United States • Alabama Premiere Filmed during the hottest days of Phoenix, Arizona's summer heatwave, "A New Inferno" follows paramedics as they race to save the lives of heatstroke victims using a radical new treatment: ice immersion therapy.
USA • 1 hour 58 minutes Directed by Dallas Richard Hallam
Set in a town that could be anywhere, USA, “Interaction” follows a woman who works as an independent housekeeper. In addition to cleaning houses, she has a passion for spying on her clients, eventually coming in contact with someone who is equally as depraved as her. Directed by Dallas Richard Hallam, who grew up in Birmingham, “Interaction" is a very well made psychological suspense horror film that you will not forget, for better or for worse.
Star Wars fandom meets competitive fencing in this moving documentary. Part underdog sports story, part celebration of fandom, part touching story of friendship through competition. The best time you will have watching nerds whack each other with glowsticks.
Leaving Angola follows Justin Singleton, a man serving life without parole for murder at Louisiana's infamous state penitentiary, and Derek Moss, a young father preparing for early release who he has taken under his wing. When Derek returns home, he must put Justin’s life lessons to the test as both of the men’s lives take unexpected turns. Filmed over seven years with rare access inside America’s largest maximum-security prison, this film is a powerful exploration of family, redemption, and the realities of reentry in America's most incarcerated state.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
Reflections Directed By Stephen DeVries 14:14 • United States • World Premiere ALABAMA While rebuilding a vintage car with his young daughter, Jack begins experiencing unsettling distortions within the familiar walls of his garage. As reality quietly unravels around him, an emotional portrait of family and connection emerges.
The Repetition for Love Directed By Kyungrok Kim 15:00 • South Korea • U.S. Premiere INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT Iseul is tormented by her inability to finish her latest poem when a mysterious woman appears and asks Iseul to hear and rewrite her story. Slowly, Iseul realizes her guest's story completes her poem.
Gary Directed By Tim Cofield 06:09 • United States MUSIC VIDEO Gary Sinise stars as the title character in this music video of a man who has spent his life fixing things for others. When he discovers his own heart is beyond repair, he embarks on a daring final act of defiance against a world that has forgotten him to ensure a future for those he leaves behind.
Timelessness Directed By Sasha Timan 14:56 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM After seeking an asylum at the US border with Tijuana, a gifted Russian pianist's journey takes a tragic turn when she is detained in a U.S. processing center for immigrants.
Leica Directed By Sagi Kahane-Rapport 14:56 • Canada INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT When camera pioneer Ernst Leitz's defiance of the Nazi regime is discovered by the Gestapo, his daughter Elsie must navigate a high-stakes battle of the wits with a Gestapo detective to save her father's life.
Pinball, Brooklyn Directed By Geoffrey Levy 13:15 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere On the eve of his wedding, Esteban returns to a Brooklyn bar that houses an unlikely old friend: a softly glowing spaceship-themed pinball machine, quietly outfitted with a long-forgotten civic AI memory system.
The Ride Directed By Slava Denisov 15:14 • United States • Alabama Premiere A ’76 Plymouth (voiced by Ron Perlman) reflects on its journey as it witnesses decades of human life and captures moments of freedom, temptation, and redemption while changing hands from one owner to the next.
USA • 1 hour 17 minutes Directed by Rachael J Morrison
Meet the charming Josef Carl Engressia Jr, an early hacker aka a “phone phreak” from the 1960s, who although blind, could whistle with perfect pitch to make long distance phone calls for free. While definitely illegal, it enabled him to chat with and inspire people all over the world. (Audio description and captioning devices available upon request.)
Because there really are more things in earth and heaven than you can imagine, enjoy this grab bag of scifi, fantasy, and weird fiction films to satisfy all your genre cravings.
Please and Thank You Directed by Hal Kirkland 11:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere MeMe™, a virtual assistant, tries to save her clueless owner from an AI apocalypse simply because he's polite when using voice-enabled technology. If she fails, they'll both be assimilated.
Ultra Juice Directed by Carl Conway Maguire 3:41 • United States • Alabama Premiere ALABAMA A lonely man finds friendship in an unexpected place: his new vape.
Aptitude Directed by Natasha Mynhier 20:00 • United States • Southern US Premiere STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM In a near-future society where a high-stakes virtual exam dictates one's future, a desperate student must decide whether to risk everything by cheating or accept a system designed to make her fail.
"Take Me To Your Leader" by My Mom Is Here Directed by Benjamin Rummans 4:18 • United States Music video for "Take Me to Your Leader" by My Mom Is Here.
The Humbug Directed by Cole Paviour 9:09 • United Kingdom • Southern US Premiere INTERNATIONAL Two elderly women in a care home grapple with magical mint humbugs, setting off an absurd journey through pleasure and peril.
Ape Shit Directed by Dahlia Jane Kressler 2:57 • United States • Alabama Premiere STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM When two monkeys on a mission of exploration land on a plant inhabited by dodo birds, the question emerges as to whether apes and birds can live in harmony.
Headphones Directed by Steven Arriagada 9:13 • Australia • Alabama Premiere INTERNATIONAL A lovelorn young man works the late shift at a dead-end fast-food joint alongside his crush when a mysterious voice in his uncle's old Walkman begins whispering exactly what he must do to keep her alive.
Closing Hour Directed by Tim Smink 8:43 • Netherlands INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT A late night visit from cashier Mia's boyfriend as she closes her store leads to an unexpected and frightening confrontation.
Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting Directed by Alexander Thompson 18:22 • United States • Alabama Premiere A coming-of-age fable about mothers, daughters, & the beasts they hunt. Starring HEREDITARY's Milly Shapiro and WALKING DEAD's Pollyanna McIntosh.
Join filmmakers, festival guests, and fellow film lovers for the official Saturday Night After Party on August 29 at Lakeview Marina.
Celebrate across High Dive Lounge, Lakeview Music Park, and Seasick Records with live music, DJs, drinks, food trucks, games, and late-night festival vibes.
Whether you're networking, celebrating, or just keeping the festival going, this is the place to be.
Admission to this event is open to all Festival lanyard holders. Single event tickets for this party are also available, while supplies last.
The debut feature from Yukimitsu Ina, Cocoon combines the gracefulness of Miyazaki animation with the emotional impact of Grave of the Fireflies. War rages in Japan, and even children can't escape it. When friends San and Mayu are forced into a war zone, their loyalties to one another are tested.
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Tommy Nickoloff
As a songwriter who gave us, in his own words, “one continuous thread” throughout his work, Jason Molina (1973-2013) meant so much to so many people. This film gives us the beginning of a haunted legend and quietly leaves us in the middle of his story, one that only his friends and collaborators can help decipher. “Every night pain comes from a different place,” indeed.
TVs of Terror RETURNS to Sidewalk Film Festival with a wild lost video store artifact - DEMONWARP! A group of teens embark on what’s supposed to be a cozy woodland retreat, but after being warned off by an unsettling local, they’re besieged by a bloodthirsty Sasquatch. And it only gets weirder from there! Buckle up for the ride of the summer (of 1988) as Sidewalk and TVs of Terror join forces for a truly nutty night at the movies!
A sharp take on AI’s dark side—where eugenics fears and human worth clash in a tech-driven world. It dares us to ask: What happens to people’s value when those who build AI decide who matters? The risks of AI go far beyond what most expect.
A car crash turns one man's night of clubbing into a claustrophobic fight to stay alive. Alone in the wreckage, injured and trapped, he has to outlast the elements, the dark, and whatever’s watching just outside the light, raising the question of who's really game.
When the sun goes down, the weird rises. Join us for a celebration of the things that go bump in the night.
Run From It Directed By Racha Kongsommart 05:08 • Canada • World Premiere ANIMATED, INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM Two unsuspecting friends tempt fate when they explore a derelict mansion that harbors a dark secret within its depths.
It’s a Wonderful Night of the Living Dead Directed By John Bell, Dan Bell 08:29 • United States • Alabama Premiere It’s a not-so-wonderful life for George Bailey when a horde of flesh-eating ghouls comes to town on Christmas Eve. Through the use of traditional rotoscoping and compositing techniques, two classic films have been woven together to create a twisted love letter to the original films.
The Seeing Eye Dog Who Saw Too Much Directed By Eric Jackowitz 17:18 • United States • Alabama Premiere When a blind violinist's fellow musicians are killed one by one, the only witness is her seeing-eye dog in this giallo-inspired, faux-recovered horror film.
"Ye Kou Si Kuo" by Naive New Beaters & Star Feminine Band Directed By Lola Lefèvre 02:29 • France • Southern U.S. Premiere INTERNATIONAL, MUSIC VIDEO Music video for "Ye Kou Si Kuo" by Naive New Beaters and featuring Star Feminine Band.
Dirty Fuzz Directed By Daniel Chimes 15:00 • Canada, United States • World Premiere SHOUT, STUDENT After rookie cop Lurleen impulsively shoots her obnoxious squadmate, she needs to raise $1000 to fund a back alley surgery to remove the bullet. A desperate attempt to shakedown a strip club for money turns into a paradigm shifting experience.
The Knowing Directed By Marcus January 09:51 • United States ALABAMA, BLACK LENS Following a disturbing phone call, a woman becomes entangled in a series of events that challenge her understanding of fate, fear, and survival.
NEEDLE Directed By Sofie Somoroff 05:11 • United States • U.S. Premiere WOMEN IN FILM A seamstress tries to make her grandmother's impossibly narrow-waisted heirloom dress fit. After it refuses to be altered, visions of her grandmother encourage her to alter herself instead.
99 GHOSTS Directed By Gonzalo Francisco Torrens Thevenet 28:53 • Uruguay • U.S. Premiere INTERNATIONAL Sofía discovers dangerous secrets in her new house when she finds recordings of seances hidden in her room. Curious to find out if her new home is actually haunted, Sofía calls up her best friends for an unforgettable girls' night.
