Beyond The Screen
“Beyond the Screen” is Sidewalk’s exciting new media literacy program. Designed to bring media literacy topics directly to the classroom or library program through one-off or multi-session lessons, “Beyond the Screen” is tailored to middle school and high school students. Lessons range from 30 to 60 minutes, and available topics include Media Literacy 101, Photo Ethics, Comparing Books to Movies, and Facts vs. Opinions. This program is designed to be taken out into the community, bringing media literacy directly into the classroom, library, etc. By filling out our Beyond the Screen Interest Form, you can specify your interest in specific topics, age range, duration of presentation, and more! After submitting the application, a Sidewalk team member will be in touch with you about scheduling a session.
Book + Film Club
Sidewalk’s Book + Film Club unites movie and book lovers for a monthly film screening and discussion about famous films and the people who make them. At the end of the month, we host a screening of a film related to the book and host a round-table discussion. Each session is $35 and the includes book, film screening, and discussion. Buy 3 or more months at once with the book included and get 10% off your registration by using code ‘3ormore’ at checkout! Already have the book? Select the $15 option for access to the film screening and post film discussion.
Film + Creative Media College Fair
Networking Nights
Join us for Networking Night at the Sidewalk Cinema Bar! This event is free and open to the public.
Sidewalk Film 101
Welcome to another year of the monthly Sidewalk Film 101 series at the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema. This year, we’ll be focusing on big-screen spectacles – movies that you must see on the big screen. Along with supplemental readings and resources to contextualize each featured film, Thursday evening screenings will include a special introduction.
Sidewalk Filmmaker Grants
Sidewalk supports filmmaker through three funding opportunities each summer:
The David Brower Grant for Alabama Filmmakers
The Black Lens Film Grant
Graduate Study in Film Scholarship
Classes, PAnels + Workshops
Join us for classes, panels and workshops with industry professionals who bring the art and craft of filmmaking to life!
Scramble
The Sidewalk Scramble is a timed filmmaking competition fueled by caffeine and competition in which teams are challenged to create a short film — from concept to completion – within a 48-hour time frame, based on themes and inspirational items provided by the creative folks at Sidewalk. Participants range from amateurs to professionals, so the results are always unexpected, inspiring, and spectacular! Build your own team and create a film in a weekend!
Sidewrite Screenplay Competition
A division of the Sidewalk Film Festival started in 2004, Sidewrite’s mission is to discover and reward talented screenwriters in Alabama and around the world. The screenplay competition aims to foster community amongst emerging writers and reinforce cinematic artistry locally. With categories for feature length screenplays, short screenplays, and Alabama screenplays, Sidewrite allows passionate writers to enhance their craft and receive recognition for their innovative and exciting scripts. In addition to cash prizes, winning scripts are read at a table read opportunities during the festival weekend. Winning scripts are announced approximately one month prior to the festival event date. Sidewalk also offers a screenplay category that provides feedback on any submitted screenplay.
Southern Circuit
The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers works with a regional network of Screening Partners to connect independent documentary filmmakers with communities across the Southeast to present screenings and conversations around important stories and the art of filmmaking. Since Southern Circuit’s inception in 1975, hundreds of filmmakers have toured, sharing their work and perspective with over one hundred Screening Partner communities throughout South Arts’ nine-state region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Southern Circuit is made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tech & Technique
Tech & Technique Workshops offer a chance to gain hands-on experience under the guidance of a filmmaking professional. From lighting kits to horror makeup, each workshop focuses on a specific aspect of the creative and technical process of making a film.
Youth Board
The Sidewalk Youth Board is a group of high school students from across the Birmingham area who share a love for movies. The Youth Board writes, produces, directs, edits, and eventually screens their own short film, which will also appear in the Sidewalk Film Festival lineup. Youth Board members also get to help our programming team choose films submitted by other teen filmmakers for consideration at the festival.