How-to-Fest

The Central Box Office will be located in The Gallery at The Pizitz Building, on the corner of 2nd Ave. N. and 19th St. N. (enter from the 19th St. side of the building).

VIP passes are available for pick-up at the Central Box Office only.

Festival-goers can pick up will-call tickets or make ticket purchases at the Central Box Office throughout Festival week or at any of our satellite box offices Saturday and Sunday.

Central Box Office Hours: - 11am – 7pm (M – Th) - 11am – 9pm (Fri) - 9am – 9pm (Sat-Sun)

Satellite Box Office Locations: - Alabama School of Fine Arts (1800 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.) - Alabama Theatre (1817 3rd Ave. N.) - Carver Theatre (1631 4th Ave. N.)

Contact the Box Office: - Email: boxoffice [at] sidewalkfest.com - Phone: 205-324-0888

Box Office & Venue Policies: - All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges will be issued, except in rare cases of program cancellations. - Lost or misplaced items (such as lanyards or wristbands) will not be replaced. If an item is damaged, bring the physical item to the Central Box Office to exchange it. - Accessibility: If you require mobility-related accommodations during the Festival, please visit the Central Box Office to request an accessibility wristband from a staff member or volunteer. This wristband grants early access to screening venues and access to our ADA shuttle service. - VIP lanyards are non-transferable. - Venue entry order is as follows: 1) Premium Single Tickets and Accessibility Wristbands, 2) Lanyard Holders, 3) Weekend & Day Passes, 4) General Admission ticket holders. - Premium Single Tickets are the only product that guarantees seating for a specific film, provided the ticket holder is in line at least 15 minutes before the screening. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of the seat. - All other pass types (General Admission Single Tickets, Day Passes, Weekend Passes, and VIP Lanyards) do not guarantee seating. Early arrival is strongly recommended for high-interest screenings. - Schedule and filmmaker appearances are subject to change. - No outside food or drink is permitted in any Sidewalk Film Festival screening venue. - Recording devices are not allowed without official Sidewalk-issued media credentials. - Content warning: Most independent films shown at the festival are unrated. Viewer discretion is advised. - Code of Conduct: Sidewalk Film Festival is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all attendees. Harassment or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Photography/Recording Notice: Official Sidewalk Photographers will be taking photographs and/or video at any and all venues and events in the Sidewalk Film Festival footprint throughout the duration of the festival. By taking part in this event, you grant Sidewalk Film Festival the right to release, publish, exhibit, or reproduce any photographs or video recordings for advertising, promotional purposes, inclusion on Sidewalk websites or social media, or in any other context intended to promote the Sidewalk Film Festival or Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema. You waive all rights to claims for payment or royalties in connection with the publication of any of these materials and release Sidewalk Film Festival and its officers, employees, and affiliated photographers/videographers from any liability connected with these materials. This consent, waiver, and release extends throughout the universe in perpetuity.

Traveling to Sidewalk? Check out our partner hotel – Spring Hill Suites. Book quickly! Only a limited number of rooms are available at a discounted rate. We can’t wait to see you in the Magic City!

Flying to Sidewalk? Here is the link to BHM: https://www.flybirmingham.com/

Parking: - Street Parking is available throughout the Festival footprint and is FREE after 6pm weekdays and all day/evening on Saturday and Sunday. - Surface Lot and Garage Parking is also widely available throughout the Festival footprint but rates and terms vary.

Shuttles: - Complimentary shuttle service is provided between the south end of the festival footprint (Sidewalk Cinema) and the north end (Alabama School of Fine Arts) with all stops being made on 19th St. N. Three shuttles will run continuously from 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 23, and 9 a.m. - midnight Sunday, Aug. 24. - A wheelchair accessible shuttle is also available for door-to-door service between festival venues for guests who need this service. Lanyard bearers and ticket holders with disabilities will be able to pick-up a business card for our Accessibility Coordinator upon pass/ticket pick-up at the Central Box Office, which will include the number to call or text for service.

Help! - For emergencies: Call 911. - For general Sidewalk-related questions: Talk to anyone wearing a Sidewalk volunteer crew T-shirt. - For other assistance: Call CAP Downtown (205-251-0111). Available from noon until midnight over the weekend, CAP safety ambassadors will help with non-emergency situations like providing directions or a secure walk to your car. CAP safety ambassadors wear a bright blue polo.

Check out our detailed festival footprint map to navigate venues, box offices, and shuttle stops.

Map PDF: https://sidewalkfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Map-Sidewalk-2025_UPDATED.pdf

We will screen more than 200+ films at this year’s Festival, and since it is impossible to see them all we receive lots of questions about how to make the most of the Festival schedule. We encourage every Festival attendee to use our online schedule to plan their Festival week, which could include films, educational opportunities, and filmmaker Q & A’s. We’ll be adding events to our schedule through August 19 so be sure to visit the schedule often and look for new additions.

We offer a robust, interactive schedule on our website, in app form, and integrated with Google Calendar/Outlook/iCal.

Every year we receive lots of questions about what to bring or not to bring to the Festival and every year we add a few suggestions to the list. This year is no exception.

We recommend bringing: - Sunglasses, umbrella/raincoat, and wearing comfortable shoes. - An open mind and an adventurous spirit. - A debit/credit card (some nearby restaurants/vendors are cashless).

Please don’t bring: - Bad attitudes, weapons of any kind, illegal drugs.

Food Trucks: A variety of food trucks will be on-site for this year’s Festival on the 1800 Block of 3rd Ave. N. and the ASFA Plaza, including: - Eugene’s Hot Chicken - Roll Cajun Boudin - Stephen’s Hot Dogs

Fast Casual Dining: - The Pizitz Food Hall (directly above the Sidewalk Cinema): Houses more than a dozen unique restaurants. - Magnolia Fish and Barbecue - Trattoria ZaZa

Coffee Shops and Cafes: - Frothy Monkey - June - Last Call Baking - Cala Coffee

Full-Service Restaurants: - The Yard - Bistro 218 - brick & tin - Café Dupont - Paramount - Rojo

Grocery and Basics: - Publix Super Market at 20 Midtown

We are moving our audience ballot process to a digital format. Simply submit your vote via QR code at the conclusion of your screening/s and then plan to join us for the award show on Sunday, August 24 at 9pm at the Lyric Theatre.

Sidewalk is committed to creating experiences that are accessible to all artists, audiences, staff and volunteers. Please review the information below and let us know of any questions or concerns by messaging us at sidewalk [at] sidewalkfest.com

This is an ongoing effort with many improvements still in process. Your feedback is critical to creating the most inclusive experiences possible.

The Sidewalk Cinema is a KultureCity certified venue. Check in with our Cinema Box Office staff for a KultureCity bag, lap pad, or for other assistance.