 The 11th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, a celebration of new independent cinema in downtown Birmingham, is set to take place September 25-27th. Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and have been thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema.
With seven venues located within Birmingham's historic Theatre District (featuring the newly-restored Alabama Theatre, a 2,200 seat movie palace built by Paramount in 1927), spontaneity rules the schedule of Sidewalk attendees. Low-priced weekend passes provide easy access to Sidewalk venues, encouraging attendees to seek out new films and sample programming they may not otherwise see. The result is a crowd rich in diversity and united in a hunger for new film.
 In 2006, the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival was honored to recognize writer/director John Sayles and producer Maggie Renzi for their more than two decades of collaboration in independent film, which includes such acclaimed indie classics as THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET, MATEWAN, PASSION FISH, LONE STAR, LIMBO and the Sidewalk 2004 Opening Night Film, SILVER CITY.
Other past attendees of the festival include: John C. Reilly (CHICAGO, MAGNOLIA, TALLADEGA NIGHTS), Peter Gilbert (HOOP DREAMS), Amber Benson (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), Mary Kay Place (THE BIG CHILL), Mary Lynn Rajbuski (24, PUNCH DRUNK LOVE, SWEET HOME ALABAMA), Dash Mihok (THE THIN RED LINE, ROMEO + JULIET), Dan Myrick (BLAIR WITCH PROJECT), Vincent Kartheiser (ER, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE, ANGEL), Chris Gore (IFC, FilmThreat.com), Daniel Wallace (BIG FISH), Gill Holland (HURRICANE STREETS), Adrian Grenier (HBOs ENTOURAGE, Woody Allens CELEBRITY), Louise Fletcher (ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOOS NEST), David Keith (AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMEN), Chris Mulkey (TWIN PEAKS) and many more up and coming award winning filmmakers and stars.
 From the Filmmakers' Reception and the Filmmakers' Retreat to a myriad of breakfasts, field trips, parties and galas, Sidewalk connects filmmakers. The atmosphere at Sidewalk is electric with creativity and collaboration as filmmakers and film-lovers mix and mingle between screenings, participate in panel discussions, or simply enjoy a brew at the Sidewalk Music Lounge.
- One of TIME MAGAZINE's "Film Festivals for the Rest of Us."
- One of Chris Gore's BEST VACATION FILM FESTIVALS in the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide.
- Named a BEST KEPT SECRET and one of 20 FILM FESTIVALS WORTH THE ENTRY FEE in MovieMaker magazine.
Word on the Sidewalk...
"This is how film festivals should be."
~ Peter Gilbert, HOOP DREAMS / '04 & '05 Juror
"I have to say this is one of the most fun festivals I've been to."
~ Dan Myrick, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT / '04 Juror
"This really has been the perfect festival."
~ Eric Campos, FilmThreat.com / '04 & '05 Juror
"Seriously, you guys have some magic going on down there, and I will encourage everyone I know to check it out."
~ Jay Duplass, THE PUFFY CHAIR
"I really think you guys just might have discovered the perfect ingredients for a film festival... Hospitality, organization, local flavor, no attitude, really good food and great films! Wow -- what a blast!"
~ Don Bernier, IN A NUTSHELL
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