2019 Sidewalk Film Festival

The 2019 Sidewalk Film Festival, held on August 19-25, 2019 was the 21st in the annual series, and the first to make use of the newly-constructed Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema on the lower level of the Pizitz Building.

In all, more than 300 films were screened before and during the festival, including full-length narrative and documentary features and numerous short films. Screening venues used during the festival included the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, First United Methodist Church, Lyric Theatre, Alabama Theatre, McWane Science Center, and Red Mountain Theatre Company's cabaret theater.

The opening night feature, I Want My MTV by Tyler Measom and Patrick Waldrop, was screened at the Alabama Theatre. The SHOUT LGBTQ film showcase screened Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street as its feature presentation. The festival also screened early 1980s blockbusters The Empire Strikes Back and The Karate Kid.

Notable features with local connections included Iron Grit, a documentary by Jamel Lajuan about Richard Arrington. Celebrity guests at the festival included Alan Hunter and Andre Holland.

Awards

• Jury awards:
  • Jambor-Franklin Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature ($1000):
  • Kathryn Tucker Windham Storyteller Award ($1000):
  • Best Documentary Feature ($1000):
  • Best Narrative Short ($500):
  • Best Documentary Short ($500):
  • Best Animated Short:
  • Sidewalk Features Programmers Award ($500):
  • Sidewalk Shorts Programmers Award ($250):
  • Alan Hunter Best Alabama Film ($500):
  • Best Student Film ($250):
  • Clint Howard Character Actor Award:
  • Best Life & Liberty Film:
  • Family Film Award:
  • Best Crowdfunded Film ($250):
  • Spirit of Sidewalk Award:
  • Best SHOUT LGBTQ Film ($500):
• Audience Choice awards
  • Audience Choice for Best Narrative Feature ($250):
  • Audience Choice for Best Documentary Feature ($250):
  • Audience Choice for Best Alabama Film ($250):
  • Audience Choice for Best Shout LGBTQ Film ($250):
  • Audience Choice for Best Narrative Short ($150):
  • Audience Choice for Best Documentary Short ($150):

References

• Colurso, Mary (July 24, 2019) "Sidewalk Film Festival 2019: Organizers announce (nearly) full lineup & schedule." The Birmingham News

External links

• Sidewalk Film Festival website