About Sidewalk

Since 1999, Sidewalk has been Birmingham's home for independent film. We believe that cinema is a powerful tool for community-building and empathy. Through our year-round film center, our educational initiatives, and our annual, nationally-acclaimed film festival, we connect audiences with diverse perspectives, challenge expectations, and champion the art of independent storytelling.

Sidewalk began as the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a weekend-long celebration of independent film in Birmingham's historic Theatre District. Over twenty-six years, the festival has evolved into one of the premiere independent film festivals in the United States, welcoming tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of filmmakers from around the globe every August.

In the fall of 2019, we took our mission year-round by opening the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema. Located in the lower level of the historic Lyric Theatre, the Center features two screens, a classroom, a full-service bar, and a welcoming lounge space. We screen new releases, documentaries, repertory classics, and local shorts 365 days a year.

We believe in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Sidewalk offers a wide array of educational programs, including youth film camps, screenwriting workshops, filmmaker grants, and our Youth Board program for high school students. We also host free community screenings, partner with local non-profits, and run educational clubs like the Book + Film Club to encourage deep dialogue around moving images.