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Sunday, August 30
 

10:00am CDT

The Last Picture Shows
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:20am CDT
USA • 1 hour 20 minutes
Directed by Rustin Thompson

Bittersweet love letter to small town movie theaters in the American West. Beautiful visuals and enchanting music underscore the stories of the struggles of independent cinemas. If you love going to the movies, don't miss it.

Mark Owens - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:20am CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater B 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

A Mess of Memories
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:25am CDT
USA • 1 hour 17 minutes
Directed by Ebony Blanding

Siblings who’ve drifted apart are brought together in an effort to prevent the eviction of their mother from their family home due to her obsessive hoarding. As they deal with the physical mess, they are forced to confront their own issues on a journey of reconciliation and healing.

Billy Sanford - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:25am CDT
ASFA Recital Hall 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

Jaripeo - SHOUT Spotlight Night Encore
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
MEX, FRA, USA • 1 hour 58 minutes
Directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig

Jaripeo offers a rare, nuanced exploration of queer identity within the deeply traditional world of hypermasculine Mexican rodeos. Set against the backdrop of rural Michoacán, the film captures the eclectic lives of rancheros living at the intersection of rigid cowboy masculinity and subversively queer subcultures. Lensed beautifully on Super 8, Jaripeo is the feature directorial debut of Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig.

Allan Monterrubio - Programming Manager

Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

Ponderosa
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes
Directed by Rob Rice

After the Ponderosa buffet closes, an older regular, George (Bill Camp), tries to become a surrogate father figure to Zeke, the aimless son of a single mother who works at the restaurant. As Zeke searches for a sense of self against a backdrop of generational expectations and half-formed ideological notions of masculinity, George is drawn into his own distorted attempt at self-recognition.

Brett Carter - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Alabama Theatre 1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

TheyDream
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes
Directed by William David Caballero

After a series of successful short films, director William David Caballero has evolved his storytelling techniques and crafted a unique debut feature that doubles as an ode to his own family. Centered around his own Puerto Rican parents’ struggles with loss and acceptance, this hybrid animated documentary is unlike anything else you will see this year. Deeply personal stories are rarely told with such imagination, and TheyDream is a shining example of creating as an act of healing. 

Brian Ratigan - Features Programmer

Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Lyric Theatre 1800 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

Alabama Docs: From River to Clay
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am CDT
Learn something new about Alabama the Beautiful in these docs by Alabamians.

The Mayor of Rasslin'
Directed By Layla Khan-Hickman
05:32 • United States
ALABAMA, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM
In a small Alabama town, "The Mayor of Rasslin'" follows the life of a beloved mayor and pro-wrestler who fights for his community -- both in the ring and out of it.

Are You Listening? Poetry in the Magic City
Directed By Juliana Eberhardt, Sophie Estrada, Amelia Velaski
11:33 • United States
STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM
Poets Ashley M. Jones and Halley Cotton spark a poetry renaissance in Birmingham, Alabama. Now, poets of all ages and levels of experience are writing, reciting, and inspiring with their artful use of language. 

HYPERSCALED
Directed By Maya Estrera
19:28 • United States
ENVIRONMENTAL, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM
Focused on Alabama's "Project Marvel," this documentary unearths the real world cost of AI as residents fight to get answers about the costly impacts of proposed datacenters. 

Final Press
Directed By John Haley
10:45 • United States • Alabama Premiere
Workers at The Minnesota Star Tribune complete the last run of the newspaper's Heritage printing plant bringing an end to 150 years of printing the paper in Minnesota.

Monograph: David Brower
Directed By Christopher E. Holmes
06:50 • United States
Artist David Brower reflects on his career from photographer to award-winning filmmaker and the transition from commercial work to multi-disciplinary art that feeds the soul.

Memory Work
Directed By Jada Brielle Ceaser
03:21 • United States
BLACK LENS, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM
VHS collector Justin Cottingham doesn't just preserve media; he keeps memories alive through his one-of-a-kind hobby.

Ādi
Directed By Sukanya Subramaniyan
11:06 • India • U.S. Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
"Ādi" (Sanskrit for "beginning" or "origin) captures the origin of the cross-cultural musical group Vishnu, Davis, & Haleigh as they discover new friendships and new sounds together.

The Chukker: Nation of Misfits
Directed By Nate Billings, Charlotte Gale
08:35 • United States
STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM
The Chukker: Nation of Misfits is a short documentary that tells the story of the famed Tuscaloosa establishment, The Chukker, from its conception in 1956 to the building's condemnation in 2007.

Wall of Sound
Directed By Anissa Latham-Brown
11:02 • United States
BLACK LENS, WOMEN IN FILM
Watch the electrifying and intense journey of the nationally recognized Purple Marching Machine from Miles College—an HBCU in Fairfield, Alabama—as the band prepares for the 2025-2026 season.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am CDT
Carver Theatre 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

Narrative Shorts: Never Alone
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Short films to remind us that we are never as isolated as may feel.

The Boy with the Dinosaur Head
Directed by Imran J Khan
9:57 • United States • Alabama Premiere
A troubled first-grader is convinced he's a dinosaur, much to the chagrin of the teacher tasked with bringing him back down to earth. What passes between them, though fragile and brief, is enough to change how both will remember this day.

Leo Lets It Rain
Directed by Jasmin Prophete
11:20 • United States • Southern US Premiere
BLACK LENS, SHOUT, STUDENT
Leo, a trans man with undiagnosed ADHD, is on his way to win back his ex-girlfriend when his plans are thwarted by a storm, forcing him to slow down and reevaluate.

DISC
Directed by Blake Rice
13:56 • United States • Alabama Premiere
A conference hookup turns into something much more awkwardly intimate.

"dirt" by emory
Directed by Julia Fernandez
3:30 • United States • Southern US Premiere
Composed of 300 hand-crafted ceramic tiles, the analogue stop-motion music video for "Dirt" by Emory constructs a fragile universe from dirt itself.

Terrarium
Directed by Morgon Dickerson
10:12 • United States • World Premiere
ALABAMA
Isolated from the desolation outside, a woman reckons her quiet existence against the forces of nature and ruin.

Mary the Widow
Directed by Ryan Noufer
14:13 • United States • Southern US Premiere
An aging widow begrudgingly goes to a speed-dating event at her daughter. Among a string of dud dates, one gentle stranger lingers in her mind.

Vital
Directed by Amir Zargara
14:10 • Canada, Iran • Alabama Premiere
A mother in Iran considers selling her organs to pay for her daughter's healthcare while a doctor in the United States faces ethical dilemmas to save his daughter in this revealing story of the complexities of organ trade.

I Think About Killing You
Directed by Ran Ran Wang
14:10 • United States • Southern US Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Team captain Dani is plagued by invasive fantasies of killing her abusive coach. When the coach pushes the team too far, Dani must choose whether or not to act on her fantasies of violence.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Kress Building Ballroom 301 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

10:00am CDT

Teen Shorts: Tomorrow's Filmmakers
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:55am CDT
Take a glimpse into the future of filmmaking with these teen filmmakers of today.

Love You
Directed By Davy Forrester
02:53 • United States
NARRATIVE
An exploration of teenage female friendship and all the emotional ups and downs that can sometimes lead to fights that include dresses, boys, knives, and flamethrowers.

Time Will Tell
Directed By Peyton Cooper
09:27 • United States • Alabama Premiere
NARRATIVE, WOMEN IN FILM
When two high school classmates are assigned to debate whether love is fate or chance, their partnership quickly blossoms from friendship into romance.

MIME
Directed By Gabri Blankson
06:39 • United States
BLACK LENS, NARRATIVE, WOMEN IN FILM
Sixteen-year-old Bri is on the verge of a significant soccer opportunity when the COVID-19 pandemic forces her into isolation. Trapped in a silent, monochrome world, Bri faces the overwhelming presence of these mimes.

Dualists
Directed By Worthy Culverhouse
14:54 • United States
ALABAMA, NARRATIVE
When two friends are given the lead parts in their school's play about an academy for dualists, they follow their instructor's tradition of "embodying characters" and find their friendship tested and the line between reality and fantasy blurring.

Grow Up
Directed By Dari Justin
08:21 • Australia • Southern U.S. Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, NARRATIVE
When 12-year-old Kai is forced to recognize that his older brother has outgrown their childhood fantasy games, he decides it's time to grow up. But is he ready?

Magnacamp
Directed By Landon Zimmer
05:01 • United States • World Premiere
ALABAMA, NARRATIVE
A look at a successful camp months after a zombie apocalypse. 

CHAD
Directed By Maria George, Silverr King
08:11 • United States
ALABAMA, NARRATIVE, WOMEN IN FILM
In the current world where AI is taking precedence over thinking and relationships, Izzy finds herself on a self-journey through intense realities. Sidewalk Teen Board 2026 film.

Rocket
Directed By Luke Ashton Beall
04:40 • United States • World Premiere
ALABAMA, NARRATIVE
A boy attempts to build a model rocket without being discovered by his father.

The Prime Candidate
Directed By Joseph Pickens, Graham Cason
03:30 • United States • U.S. Premiere
ALABAMA, NARRATIVE
A young job candidate participates in an interview where the questions become increasingly concerning. Unemployment may be preferable to what this company has in store.

Dwell
Directed By Luke Ashton Beall
09:57 • United States • World Premiere
ALABAMA, DOCUMENTARY, LIFE & LIBERTY
Dwell Mobile works to resettle refugees in Mobile, Alabama. This documentary sheds light on the experiences of those whom Dwell assists.

No Small Matter
Directed By India Anne Mitchell
05:37 • United States • Alabama Premiere
LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM, DOCUMENTARY
Through the lens of a 15-year-old filmmaker, "No Small Matter" pulls back the curtain on a radical shift: a court designed not to punish, but to provide a final, desperate lifeline.

Instant
Directed By Hudson Hillin
09:59 • United States • Alabama Premiere
NARRATIVE
For teenage photographer Bennett, memories are made to be captured; for free-spirited Grace, they're meant to be lived.

Draupadi
Directed By Rishan Sathiyaa
10:02 • United States
NARRATIVE
A story about forgiveness and religion set in the grassroots Hindu culture of the San Francisco Bay Area, an Indian girl must attend a karayalu for an uncle who wronged her.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 11:55am CDT
Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203
  Shorts, Teen

10:00am CDT

Last Shot
Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 48 minutes
Directed by Andy Palmer

Filmed right here in Birmingham, Last Shot follows 12-year-old basketball player Caden Isaacs as he navigates an unexpected and sudden tragedy. Forced to move to a different city to live with his previously absent, workaholic mother, Caden learns that his actions have consequences as he tries to fit in with a new basketball team while Lexi juggles family and work responsibilities.

Joey Brown - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:00pm CDT

Our Body Electric
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:00pm - 1:35pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 31 minutes
Directed by Dana Reilly

As three elite female bodybuilders pursue their dream of a Ms. Olympia title, they confront the difficult realities of a male-dominated sport. Balancing physical demands with relationships, careers, and motherhood, they each question what sacrifices are worth it and how much space to take up in a world that tries to keep women small. 

Melissa Scott - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:00pm - 1:35pm CDT
ASFA Recital Hall 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:00pm CDT

DarkRoom Presents: The Birds Tell Me All There Is To Know
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:00pm - 2:05pm CDT
USA • 2 hours 3 minutes
Directed by Aidan Cronin

An older man with dementia befriends a grieving young woman as their lives intersect in unexpected ways. While both are overwhelmed with relationships past and present, their lives in upstate New York reflect each others’ struggles with loss, ennui, and acceptance. Through the hypnotic visual texture found in Video8 footage and starring members of his own family, this ambient meditation on life and its universal anxieties sees director Aidan Cronin arriving at his debut feature with an original filmmaking language all his own.

Brian Ratigan - Features Programmer
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:00pm - 2:05pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater B 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:15pm CDT

SELMA: Songs of the Crossing
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:30pm CDT
FRA • 1 hour 11 minutes
Directed by Jean-Jacques Cunnac

A lost New York artist visits Selma, Alabama searching for himself and inspiration.  He explains his experiences, explorations, and the history to his son while he visits the town for the Jubilee highlighting the contrasts of the city’s past and history to current daily life.

Lee Woehle - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:30pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:15pm CDT

Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:45pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 20 minutes
Directed by Michael LaHaie

"Hey everybody, it's Bob and David!" From Mr. Show to movie and TV stardom, witness two legendary comedians risk their lives, careers, and friendship to hike one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Will they survive? Will they achieve clarity? Will they argue over bedding? Yonder lies adventure! 

Brian Ratigan - Features Programmer

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:15pm - 1:45pm CDT
Lyric Theatre 1800 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:15pm CDT

Sender
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes
Directed by Russell Goldman

Julia grapples with her wavering sobriety and unemployment when the first unordered package arrives. It’s her lipstick – which she knows she didn’t order – in the package that marks the start of the mysterious deliveries that bombard her new rental home. In her hyperfixated search for the sender, Julia spirals in and out of her paranoia.

Elizabeth Sturgeon - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:15pm - 2:00pm CDT
Alabama Theatre 1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:30pm CDT

Latin Clowns Evolution
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 5 minutes
Directed by Jacob Koestler and Michael McDermit

Latin Clowns Evolution chronicles an annual weeklong convention where Latino clowns gather in South Los Angeles. The documentary seamlessly juxtaposes their joyful performances with stories of immigration, sacrifice, and resilience. As they learn new tricks and share deeply personal backstories, these artists remind us that spreading joy and laughter is a radical healing force.

Allan Monterrubio - Programming Manager

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

12:30pm CDT

Saving Etting Street
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 7 minutes
Directed by Amy Scott and Dena Fisher

Carpenter Shelley Halstead trains a group of three young, Black women in construction skills by rehabbing vacant and abandoned houses in West Baltimore, challenging generations of racism and sexism in housing. When tensions arise within the diverse group of young women she's teaching to build and a suspicious fire destroys one of her buildings, Shelley is forced to rethink her vision of community.

Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
Carver Theatre 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

12:30pm CDT

In Love, In Memory
Sunday August 30, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes
Directed by Shalon Buskirk and Drew Swedberg

A parent and a poet convene to build a vulnerable vignette about grief, remembrance, and the future of their ever-changing environment. Linking the topics of gun violence and housing injustice, they highlight the impacts of displacement and the desire for communal stabilization.

Ariel Gary - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Kress Building Ballroom 301 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

1:30pm CDT

Family Shorts: Forever Young
Sunday August 30, 2026 1:30pm - 3:10pm CDT
Films appropriate for ages 6+. Come for your kid, stay for the fun.

Blu's
Directed By Rajesh PK
09:46 • India • Alabama Premiere
ANIMATED, INTERNATIONAL
Witnessing her beautiful environment being swallowed up by industrialization, BLU decides to fight for the wildlife, meadows, rivers, and trees before they disappear completely.

Reel Birmingham
Directed By Daniel Munoz, Brandon Grant
09:14 • United States
ALABAMA, DOCUMENTARY, STUDENT
What does it mean to pursue a filmmaking career outside of Hollywood? A portrait of the burgeoning indie film community in Birmingham. 

Forever Home
Directed By Ashley Wong
03:21 • United States • Alabama Premiere
ALABAMA, ANIMATED, WOMEN IN FILM
Benson, the three-legged mastiff, lives alone in a quiet house. He spends his days content to watch the world pass by until one day a mysterious dog shows up at his doorstep, followed by many more. (Note: Allusion to peaceful passing.)

Dawn
Directed By Gary Telly Jeannot
09:34 • Cameroon
ANIMATED, BLACK LENS, INTERNATIONAL
In the depths of the Kenyan savannah, Malaïka, a young Masai warrior, comes face to face with himself and learns the true meaning of courage.

Like Father
Directed By Jared Callahan
07:26 • United States • Alabama Premiere
DOCUMENTARY
A poignant look at the work of renowned children's author Richard Scarry as his son carries on the family legacy.

Armadillo Olympics
Directed By Bae Allen
10:42 • United States • Alabama Premiere
DOCUMENTARY, STUDENT
A documentary film about a small town, its people, and an athletic competition for armadillos.

Snow Bear
Directed By Aaron Blaise
11:29 • United States • Alabama Premiere
ANIMATED
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.

Two Tears
Directed By Josefina Pieres
18:37 • United States • Alabama Premiere
NARRATIVE, WOMEN IN FILM
On the eve of their Nutcracker debut, two young ballerinas stumble upon a mysterious book revealing a dance curse and how to break it.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 1:30pm - 3:10pm CDT
First Church Birmingham 518 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
  Shorts, Family

2:10pm CDT

Doc Shorts: Expanding Horizons
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:10pm - 3:50pm CDT
Documentaries about the wide world brought home to you.

What’s My Name?
Directed by Yuge Zhou
8:09 • China, United States • World Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Do you keep your name or change your name when immigrating to another country? In this playful exploration of pronunciation, cross-cultural identity, and the nuances of language, learn the real importance of a name and its declaration of ethnicity.

Within Me
Directed by Sherlyn Reyes Zamora
15:21 • United States • Alabama Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM, ALABAMA, LIFE & LIBERTY, STUDENT
"Within Me" explores the adversity and resilience of a Mexican immigrant family in Alabama as each member reflects on how far they've come.

Freedom of the Press
Directed by Pablo Quintero
5:00 • United States
STUDENT
A college professor turns to the printing press to process the weight of political turmoil as he creates prints that invite others to slow down, reflect, and reconnect in an overstimulated digital age.

Rolling Film, Rocking History: Al Maysles Captures the Beatles
Directed by Bart Weiss
10:56 • United States
Al Maysles tells the story of how he shot the Beatles coming to the USA for the first time.

The Day Is Not Lost
Directed by Kay Hannahan
14:50 • Bulgaria • Southern US Premiere
INTERNATIONAL
As the call to prayer echoes throughout a village in Bulgaria's Rhodope mountains, a cold January day becomes a meditation on tradition and transformation high in this quiet observational documentary.

The Theory of Spice
Directed by Gilly Barnes
7:28 • United States • Southern US Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Where does flavor come from? Journey across India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala to examine the provenance, potency, history, and mythology of Ginger, Cinnamon, and Cardamom in this artistic documentary.

Zastava Brothers
Directed by Pep Stojanovic
21:55 • United States • Alabama Premiere
While the Yugo may have faded in popularity in the US, it has become a rallying passion for those from the former Yugoslavia where the little-car-that-could remains an integral part of memories and culture.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:10pm - 3:50pm CDT
ASFA Recital Hall 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

2:15pm CDT

Wood Street
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 45 minutes
Directed by Caron Creighton

Award-winning director Caron Creighton gives an inspiring look into Oakland, California’s largest unhoused encampment. The film follows John and LaMonté, two of the encampment’s residents, as they work to organize their neighbors against the state and local governments’ efforts to displace their community.

Joseph Margolies - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

2:30pm CDT

The Happiest Day of My Life (O Dia Mais Feliz da Minha Vida)
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
PRT • 1 hour 20 minutes
Directed by Vicente Alves do Ó

The prismatic colors of Portugal in 1982 contrast the tensions that are the pulse of this film. 10-year-old Vasco is caught between childhood's wonders and adulthood's miseries. His mother is struggling to stay afloat, social pressures keep him from knowing his father, and he simply wants to understand it all.

Nolen Strals - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Carver Theatre 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

2:30pm CDT

Snake Oil Song
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:30pm - 4:10pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 37 minutes
Directed by Micah Van Hove

In the outskirts of the Amazon, Chino spends his days hunting down anacondas. When an American journalist hires him for a mysterious job, his life on the river goes downstream.

Guy Bannister - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:30pm - 4:10pm CDT
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

2:30pm CDT

The Ark
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes
Directed by Viacheslav Rakovskyi and Jeremy Chilnick

A film that shows love and kindness in action for animals displaced by the Ukrainian War with Russia. It starts with one soldier heading to war asking his friends to take in his 37 goats. They do and their home quickly becomes a refuge for hundreds of animals in need. Their home opens up to include cows, sheep, pigs, peacocks, even a crocodile and a sweet donkey.

Hayes Killian - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:30pm - 4:15pm CDT
Lyric Theatre 1800 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

2:45pm CDT

We Name Ourselves - Black Lens Spotlight Day Encore
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
MEX • 1 hour 16 minutes
Directed by Alejandra Alcala and Alex Garcia Martinez

Once a grim prison, now a Malawi migration camp. Asylum seekers convert hardship into inspiration, which is meant to crush the human spirit. The camp, on fire with resistance against inhumanity, empowers young people to host a vibrant festival that draws tens of thousands. Spoken word speaks truth to power, weaving strength and unity. Even in oppression, dreams are reborn and an unbreakable sense of community flourishes, defying every hardship.

Lisa Provost - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203

2:45pm CDT

Seized
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:20pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes
Directed by Sharon Liese

The Marion County Record in Marion, Kansas was raided by the police in 2023 for very dubious reasons. "Seized" examines the events of that day along with the fallout, including personal tragedy. It's a story of small town politics resulting in an international look at press freedom and journalistic ethics.

David Smith - Screening Committee Member
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:20pm CDT
Alabama Theatre 1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

2:45pm CDT

Admission Possible
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes
Directed by Bowie Alexander and Matthew Syrett

Tender, urgent, and hopeful, Admission Possible follows seven New York City high school seniors applying to college as first generation students. Guided by their determined and caring college admissions counselor, they grapple with the complex cultural, social, and political factors influencing higher education today. Debates over testing, legacies, and family loyalty muddy the waters of their decisions.

Melissa Scott - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater B 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

2:45pm CDT

SHOUT Shorts Docs: Exploring Community
Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
A variety of documentaries that delve into the diverse lives of the LGBTQ+ communities.

Drag me to Church
Directed by Isabella Sullivan
12:34 • United States • Alabama Premiere
DOCUMENTARY, SHOUT
Worlds collide when a gay pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, bridges the gap between two divided communities by throwing a fabulous drag church service.

Rainbow Rider
Directed by Georgia Krause
25: 41 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere
DOCUMENTARY, SHOUT
Rainbow Rider follows Shelle Lichti, an outspoken lesbian truck driver hauling freight across the country in her eponymous and iconic rainbow semi-truck.

There’s a Small Hotel
Directed by Michael Grodner
18:53 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere
DOCUMENTARY, SHOUT
A short documentary about the Brevoort, an old Hollywood apartment building with a notorious past, that has been managed for the last 18 years by former Warhol superstar Joe Dallesandro.

Love Birds
Directed by Elliott Kennerson and Angel Morris
27:40 • United States • Alabama Premiere
DOCUMENTARY, SHOUT
In 1972, when married biologists George Hunt and Molly Warner discover that a great number of nesting seagull pairs on one of California's Channel Islands are all female, their research on “lesbian seagulls” triggers outrage and jubilation in a nation grappling with a growing LGBTQ+ rights movement while also threatening to tear apart their own relationship.
Moderators Sponsors

Sunday August 30, 2026 2:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Kress Building Ballroom 301 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

3:40pm CDT

Hunky Jesus
Sunday August 30, 2026 3:40pm - 5:20pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 25 minutes
Directed by Jennifer Kroot

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are known for inserting bawdy humor and zany satire into unique queer activism. Explore this entertaining closeup on their San Francisco origins and following a riveting set of campy nuns during an over-the-top Easter in the Park 2023 celebration set against a beautiful sunny afternoon backdrop in Dolores Park.

J Matthew Cobb - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists Sponsors

Sunday August 30, 2026 3:40pm - 5:20pm CDT
First Church Birmingham 518 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

4:30pm CDT

Frogtown
Sunday August 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 25 minutes
Directed by Costa Karalis

How powerful is childhood imagination? Costa Karlalis’ Frogtown draws us into a world where myth is reality. Set in a small Southern town, this feature reminds us about the art of collective dreaming. In this film, you’ll see complex family dynamics along with a reverence for the mystery of the natural world. Suspend your disbelief and amplify the amphibian!

Arlo Pate - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT
ASFA Recital Hall 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

4:45pm CDT

Pigeon Religion
Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:00pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 14 minutes
Directed by Troy Vetri

New York City has about five million pigeons and eight people who really truly love them. Some race their pigeons. Others rescue sick and hurt ones, while a few just think pigeons are beautiful, even though most people call them dirty. This movie shows why they care so much.

Charlie Sanders - Festival Programming Director
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:00pm CDT
Lyric Theatre 1800 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

4:45pm CDT

She Keeps Me Young
Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes
Directed by Doron Max Hagay

Meaningful story about self discovery and learning to stand up for yourself. It also explores the complexity of friendships, especially questioning if they are genuine.  The ending is thought provoking and leaves you wondering if Michelle finally recognizes the truth about her so-called friendship with Kelly.

Linda Reimann - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

4:45pm CDT

Animated Shorts: Colors of the World
Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
Animated films from around the world.

Chip
Directed by Pete Ireland
2:58 • Australia • US Premiere
ANIMATED, DOC, INTERNATIONAL
From the summit of the rock god mountain, through the iconic pop culture milestones of the 70s, there have been two constants: time and Chip Monck. But time waits for no rock god. 

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Directed by Yingdan Lai
8:10 • China, United States
INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM
In a rule-bound boarding school, MiaoMiao receives a box of chocolate balls, a rare treat. As she clings to this small treasure, a mix of curiosity, doubt, and quiet rebellion begins to blur the boundaries between order and desire.
 
113 Words for You Today
Directed by Bo Qing Tang, Lan Zeng
12:31 • China, Taiwan, United States • Alabama Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM
A team of workers is sent to planet Gliese 12b to build a gravitational portal. To conserve energy for survival on the frozen planet, each worker is allowed to speak only 138 words per day.
 
Blessed
Directed by Birute Sodeikaite
7:30 • Canada • Southern US Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM
A no-nonsense Buffalo has always seen himself as fearless and ready to take the world, but when his long-awaited dream of fatherhood finally comes true, he is thrown into uncharted territory.
 
Snake Soup
Directed by Zack Demirtshyan
7:00 • Armenia • Alabama Premiere
INTERNATIONAL
On his way to a battlefield, one soldier retreats into his imagination and intermingles battlefield experiences with more peaceful encounters. 

On Saint Nicholas’ Eve
Directed by Robin Emy Mirel Ivasca
11:00 • Romania • Alabama Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT
After seeing a man lying in the snow, a boy recalls a Saint Nicholas night spent with his father years before. Playing with his father takes an unexpected turn while his dream toy leaves a bitter aftertaste.

A Sparrow’s Song
Directed by Tobias Eckerlin
9:10 • Germany • Alabama Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT
Inspired by a true story, a widowed World War II air raid warden struggles to overcome grief and rediscover joy until a tiny bird enters her life.

The Nest
Directed by Aurélien Coquery, Léa Kermanach, Soline Mauguin, Abel Tixador, Jean Baounon, Romane Selter-Fiette
7:12 • France • Southern US Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, STUDENT, WOMEN IN FILM
A shy young luthier, Aurore returns to work in the family’s prestigious workshop. As she reunites with her beloved mother, she uncovers a monstrous family secret.

Dreamwalker
Directed by Luca Schenato, Sinem Vardarli
15:00 • United Kingdom • Alabama Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM
When a shaman embarks on a quest to save his village from extinction, he connects with a scientist from a different time who is also striving to save her civilization.

Éiru
Directed by Giovanna Ferrari
12:59 • Ireland • Alabama Premiere
INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN IN FILM
When her village's well mysteriously dries up, only the smallest child can descend into the belly of the earth to investigate.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203
  Shorts, Animated

4:45pm CDT

Possum Town
Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:25pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 39 minutes
Directed by Daniel Christian

Through the lens of prolific photographer O. N. Pruitt, Possum Town introduces us to Columbus, MS during the Jim Crow era. Nearly a century later, the citizens of Columbus' lives are juxtaposed against the images of the past and the perspectives of today as we are guided through Pruitt’s photographic archive. This film invites us to engage with history, its preservation and its influence on the present.

Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 4:45pm - 6:25pm CDT
Carver Theatre 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

5:00pm CDT

ENCORE
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT

Sunday August 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203

5:00pm CDT

Fork In The Road
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 28 minutes
Directed by Jonathan Nastasi and Vivian Sorenson

Come along with Nick Offerman as he visits farms, gardens, and fisheries across the United States to engage with those who work daily to keep fresh food on our tables. With an affable spirit and an intelligent eye, the benefits and innovations of independent farming are contrasted with the inherent perils of mass-produced, ultra-processed foods in a palatable, easy-to-digest manner, serving as a call to action as well as an appreciation of the best versions of the salad or burger on your dinner plate.

Fred Osuna - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Alabama Theatre 1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

5:00pm CDT

Penny Lane Is Dead
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
AUS • 1 hour 30 minutes
Directed by Mia'Kate Russell

Set in the sweltering Australian summer of 1986, Mia’Kate Russell’s survival thriller debut feature follows Penny and her best friends celebrating university acceptance at a remote beach house. The ‘no dick event’ spirals into a blood-soaked nightmare when an uninvited cousin, Kat, and a crew of dangerous men crash the party.

Allan Monterrubio - Programming Manager

Sunday August 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater B 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

5:15pm CDT

Narrative Shorts: To Make You Smile
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:15pm - 7:05pm CDT
Films to lighten your day and bring a smile to your face.

Loco
Directed By Eddie Mujica
15:57 • United States • Alabama Premiere
At his first therapy session, Rafael Reyes relives the anxious thoughts and overbearing family that boiled over on the night of his 25th birthday. Based on a true story of false thoughts.

The Sisters of Scott County 
Directed By Courtney Hoffman
12:00 • United States • Alabama Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
All Cherry Mary wants is to pass her Commercial Driver's License test and become a trucker, but after her family's criminal enterprise makes the wrong enemies. When the test starts, the trouble begins.

Stop to Stop
Directed By Samantha Massell, Asher Grodman
11:30 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
A frustrated response to a spam political text leads to an unexpected meet-cute.

A Night In
Directed By Eduardo Olmos
15:00 • United States • Alabama Premiere
When an upscale rental is accidentally double booked, two strangers discover unexpected connection during an evening of forced hospitality, psychological games, and emotional vulnerability.

Big Little Love
Directed By Liesa Cole
03:00 • United States
ALABAMA, WOMEN IN FILM
Sometimes a little Love can make a big difference.

UN-DEAD
Directed By Bo Webb
09:56 • United States • Alabama Premiere
A zombie outbreak is ruining Jane's first day at her new job, but she does something desperate and crazy that changes everything in funny and unexpected ways. 

Another Day in the West
Directed By Matthew Sliger
03:18 • United States • Alabama Premiere
The true cycle of the West reveals itself when a cowboy steps up to defend the honor of the woman he loves. 

The Method
Directed By Luke Howe
15:22 • United States • Southern U.S. Premiere
To get out of the doghouse, a desperate husband hires a washed-up actor-turned-con artist to pose as a couples therapist.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:15pm - 7:05pm CDT
Kress Building Ballroom 301 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

5:50pm CDT

Life & Liberty Shorts: Claiming Space
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:50pm - 7:35pm CDT
Documentaries that remind us all voices deserve to be heard.

From Fields to Flight
Directed By Ipshita Bhattacharyya
11:10 • India
INTERNATIONAL, LIFE & LIBERTY, WOMEN IN FILM
In a world ruled by patriarchy, one woman from India's hinterlands finds the courage to challenge gender norms to achieve her dream of becoming a drone pilot.

Faithful Defenders
Directed By Barbara Jean Hall
17:15 • United States
WOMEN IN FILM
In a challenging and inspirational approach, "Faithful Defenders" suggests that Christianity and reproductive rights can co-exist.

White Nine
Directed By Nilou Safinya
29:15 • United States • Southern US Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Meet Joe, Christos, and Charlie, three teenagers whose lives were forever changed by devastating spinal cord injuries in the 1960s. Bound by survival, friendship, and a shared refusal to be marginalized, they became leaders in Massachusetts’ independent living movement and helped fight for the civil rights of people with disabilities.

Oceanbone
Directed By Lani Cupchoy
09:16 • United States • Alabama Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Stolen ancestors lie in museum vaults, waiting to return home. "Oceanbone" is a poetic reckoning with history, confronting the colonial theft of Indigenous remains and the urgent fight to bring them back.

HER BABY DIDN'T BLOCK HER JUMP SHOT
Directed By Emily M Lobsenz
25:00 • United States • World Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
In 1969, high school freshman Jane led her basketball team to a state tournament. In 1970, she scored over 40 points a game. In 1971, when she gives birth, state rules make her ineligible to play. In 1972, with the backing of her coach and friends, she continued to play and began a landmark challenge to a rule that allowed boys involved in a pregnancy to continue playing while refusing the same privilege to girls.
Moderators
Sunday August 30, 2026 5:50pm - 7:35pm CDT
First Church Birmingham 518 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

6:45pm CDT

Beyond the Vote
Sunday August 30, 2026 6:45pm - 7:45pm CDT
USA • 54 minutes
Directed by Marshall "P" Pollard

A story about what freedom could look like--beyond the vote. 
145 relational organizers mobilize millions of Black voters in Eastern North Carolina, reclaiming "woke" as a call to action to build lasting community power.

Sunday August 30, 2026 6:45pm - 7:45pm CDT
Lyric Theatre 1800 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

7:00pm CDT

When We Were Live
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:00pm - 8:35pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes
Directed by John Spottswood Moore

Go back in time to when Austin, Texas was weird and its public access television in the 1980s was even weirder in the best ways possible. When We Were Live is a collection of the actual footage that helped give a voice to a colorful assortment of Austinites.

David Smith - Screening Committee Member

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:00pm - 8:35pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater A 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

7:00pm CDT

Lunar Sway
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:00pm - 8:40pm CDT
CAN • 1 hour 37 minutes
Directed by Nick Butler

In a remote desert town called Moon Crest, Cliff, a young man struggling with his love life, takes an unexpected turn when he encounters his estranged birth mother, whose hidden past draws him into an unexpected adventure, challenging his hopes for connection, identity, and love.

Screening Committee Member - Hope Rye
Speakers Artists Sponsors

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:00pm - 8:40pm CDT
ASFA Dorothy Jemison Day Theater 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

7:00pm CDT

Sons of Detroit
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:00pm - 8:45pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 45 minutes
Directed by Jeremy Xido

Director Jeremy Xido does the near-impossible by constructing an autobiographical film with a detective story about his own upbringing while delving deep into the last gasp inside Detroit’s working class of the 1960s and ‘70s. An honest conversation 20 years later about family and race develops as he digs deep after returning home to a community gripped with conflict, silence and clouds of mystery.

J Matthew Cobb - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:00pm - 8:45pm CDT
ASFA Recital Hall 800 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

7:15pm CDT

Voyager
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 8:30pm CDT
USA • 40 minutes
Directed by Trevor Mastro

Embie, an aspiring concert photographer, embarks on a tour with an intergalactic band that challenges his own perceptions of success and responsibility. An animated micro-feature five years in the making, Trevor Mastro has independently crafted and produced a personal, one-of-a-kind psychedelic experience (with an excellent soundtrack) that you are unlikely to forget. 

Brian Ratigan - Features Programmer
Speakers Artists

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 8:30pm CDT
Carver Theatre 1631 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203

7:15pm CDT

Closing Night Film: The Sandbox
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 8:45pm CDT
CAN • 1 hour 30 minutes
Directed by Kenya-Jade Pinto

One journalist. One man seeking a better life. One tragedy. Experience the hidden connections between surveillance technology and migration, greedy corporations and corrupt governments exploiting the lives of vulnerable people. These events reflect a wider pattern of exploitation and tragedy in a system focused on profit rather than on protecting asylum seekers. As borders tighten and technology becomes more invasive, human rights are eroded, and compassion fades. This film aims to expose this profit-driven system, but a question remains: What will it take for the world to see migrants' humanity?

Lisa Provost - Screening Committee
Speakers Artists Sponsors

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 8:45pm CDT
Alabama Theatre 1817 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

7:15pm CDT

ENCORE
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 9:00pm CDT

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 9:00pm CDT
Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203

7:15pm CDT

Sell Your House
Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 9:00pm CDT
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes
Directed by Eric Alexander Foss and Brandon Pickering

Two enthusiastic dreamers with practically no cash set out on what’s sure to be a brilliant venture. James, fueled by his ever-present ambition, bets his entire house on Francis’ indie film—because who needs stability when you could be a cinematic legend? But of course, such reckless pursuits tend to blow up in your face, reminding us that sometimes, having endless ambition is just a fancy way of shooting yourself in the foot.

Lisa Provost - Screening Committee

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:15pm - 9:00pm CDT
Sidewalk Cinema Theater B 1821 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

9:00pm CDT

Awards Show
Sunday August 30, 2026 9:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
Come celebrate the jury and audience award winners of the 28th annual Sidewalk Film Festival with a live presentation at the Lyric Theater! Admission is free.

Sunday August 30, 2026 9:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
Lyric Theatre 1800 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203
 
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