The 23rd Annual Sidewalk Film Festival presented by Regions Bank returned to its Theatre District roots August 23-29 with a festival footprint that included the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema, the Alabama Theatre, the Lyric Theatre, First Church Birmingham, the Alabama School of Fine Arts Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre, Recital Hall and Lecture Hall as well as the Steiner Auditorium at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
An Opening Night After Party sponsored by Cahaba Brewing Company was held under the twinkling lights of the Alabama Theatre and Lyric Theatre marquees Friday night to celebrate the film festival. With food trucks and libations, it was a night for celebrating at the city's biggest block party!
Organizers were incredibly excited to announce the Alabama-based documentary SOCKS ON FIRE as the first Official Selection of the 2021 Sidewalk Film Festival. The film won the coveted Best Documentary Feature Award at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Directed by Gadsden, Alabama-based filmmaker, Bo McGuire (one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film“), Sidewalk was honored to host the festive homecoming screening of SOCKS ON FIRE.
Working in partnership with each of the venues Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema was able to ensure filmmaker, audience, volunteer, and staff safety, with limited capacities, social distancing regulations, and other policies such as proof of vaccination or negative Covid tests.
