Now approaching nearly three decades in Birmingham, the Sidewalk Film Festival has built a reputation as one of the Southeast’s premier celebrations of independent cinema. With over 250 films screening across a single jam-packed week, the festival brings together local, national, and international filmmakers in a way that few other festivals can match—all set against the backdrop of Birmingham’s historic downtown theaters. Whether you’re a longtime fan or considering your first-ever festival experience, this year’s lineup promises something for everyone: sweeping animated features, urgent short films tackling social issues, genre-bending science fiction, and even a hilariously unconventional documentary about concrete.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this year’s festival special, we spoke with three members of the Sidewalk team—Corey Craft, Cinema Programming Coordinator; Joi Tribble, Festival Shorts Programmer; and Charlie Sanders, Festival Programming Director—about their must-see picks, what sets Sidewalk apart from bigger-market festivals, and how first-timers should approach the whirlwind week ahead.

Is there a film in this year’s lineup that you’re especially excited about? Tell us about it.

Corey Craft: “I adore this year’s Opening Night selection, The History of Concrete. Now, that title might not suggest a laugh riot, but it’s from comic documentarian John Wilson, whose three-season HBO series ‘How To with John Wilson’ might be one of my favorite things. Wilson films everything, and he compiles hours and hours of footage to make these video essays that humorously dig into various topics — but he’s also not afraid to follow a tangent wherever it takes him. So The History of Concrete may be about the second-most commonly-used material on the planet, but it’s also about Hallmark movies, a weeks-long footrace in Queens, a 3D-printed Starbucks, and a rock-and-roller with a grudge against The Chainsmokers. Whether you’re coming to The History of Concrete already a fan of his work or not, I think Sidewalk audiences are really going to respond to his slightly askew, completely hilarious vision of the world.”

Joi Tribble: “Picking just one film (or one block of short films) is such a difficult decision! I want to mention our animation blocks (Cel-ular Delight and Colors of the World) that feature 20 short films from 10 different countries. Or our Life & Liberty blocks that deal with important social issues. Or maybe our Environmental Shorts block that presents a variety of environmentally oriented films. But if I have to pick just one, I think I would go with Genre Shorts: More Things in Heaven & Earth. This block features 9 science fiction and fantasy films, and I’m really pleased to have this offering for the second year in a row. (Genre Shorts: More Things in Heaven & Earth plays on Saturday, August 29, at 8:15pm.)

“I am also going to mention one feature film, Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood. This film is the feature length debut from Yukimitsu Ina, and it strikes that elusive balance between beautiful animation and heart-wrenching emotion. Following two childhood friends who must navigate an active war zone together, Cocoon offers an emotional but child-like creative vision of how war touches everyone. Anyone who enjoys Miyazaki films or feels the emotional weight of Grave of the Fireflies would enjoy this movie. (Cocoon plays as part of Sidewalk’s Animation Spotlight on Thursday, August 27, and again on Saturday, August 29.)”

Charlie Sanders: “Sidewalk Film Festival will be showing over 250 films this year and it’s a tad unfair to only pick one as a favorite; but I do have one. Game. This is a tense thriller chronicling a true story about one drug fueled raver that steals a strangers drugs and motor vehicle; which is ultimately flipped upside down after being wrecked into a ditch. Game puts a choke hold on the viewer through brilliant diegetic sound design, built by Geoff Barrow of Portishead fame; and constant rubbernecking of unease as you are walked through a night alone in the woods with a victim of self induced circumstantial justice. It’s playing Saturday night at 10:15 at The Alabama Theatre, and I am extremely proud to continue in Sidewalk’s tradition of having cutting edge late night offerings in one of our states most beloved institutions!”

What makes a film festival in Birmingham different from one in a bigger market like Austin or Nashville?

Corey Craft: “We like to think Sidewalk—concentrated into a single week, and the majority of programming falling on Friday-Sunday—has an intimacy that larger festivals sometimes lack. Filmmakers are consistently blown away by the enthusiasm of our audiences, who will stop them on the street sometimes to talk about their work. We try to do right by every single film and every single visiting filmmaker, and that personal touch is something our guests leave raving about. Also, it helps that we’ve built a reputation over nearly 30 years as a festival that knows how to party—we’re serious about cinema, but our Friday and Saturday night parties are legendary.”

Joi Tribble: “One of the things that sets Sidewalk apart from other equally excellent film festivals is the fact that we have access to so many beautiful venues within such a concentrated footprint. While other fests require that you drive around a city or sit in a multiplex, Sidewalk shows off beautiful theaters like the Alabama, Lyric, and Carver—all within walking distance of each other. We also have great community support and participation from our nearby venues like the Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama School of Fine Arts, and First Church Birmingham. Having this many lovely venues so close together really lets Sidewalk offer amazing film and show off Birmingham’s beautiful theatre footprint simultaneously.”

Charlie Sanders: “Sidewalk Film Festival has a wonderful way of defining southern hospitality in the modern day. We build a festival every year where filmmakers meet you in the streets and across downtown over the course of seven days. Our reputation for throwing fabulous parties stems from not just a good time at a party, but the attention to details in our special events happening around our screenings. The community engagement and support we’ve received over the last 28 years have stuck in attendees minds because we have over 500 people volunteering to help our organization provide the best experience we can dream up around celebrating the latest in independent filmmaking. It’s a community gathering, not a trade show.”

What would you say to someone who’s never been to Sidewalk (or any film festival) and how would you encourage them to go?

Corey Craft: “We are proud to spotlight more than 250 films, each of which is carefully (some might say agonizingly) selected. The result is a lineup that’s absolutely packed with great movies from around the world, including and especially those from our local and state filmmakers. This can feel overwhelming to first-time festivalgoers, but what I would say is get a VIP pass (which grants you preferential access to each screening) and wander. See what you see. Don’t be afraid to deviate from your plan and go where the spirit of cinema takes you. Talk to other visitors, talk to filmmakers—go in with an open mind. And if you love movies, I can almost guarantee you’ll have a great time.”

Joi Tribble: “Hydrate. I am only halfway joking here. With 7 days of film, the festival can be a bit of a marathon, and it’s easy to get caught up watching so many great films that you forget to eat and drink. On a more serious note, I would suggest getting either a weekend or VIP pass so that you can explore movies. I would also strongly suggest looking at our Spotlight Day offerings. The Spotlight feature films are some programmer favorites, and the short film blocks on Monday through Thursday provide a selection of films that cover local, international, student, family, fiction, and documentaries. These shorts blocks do not appear in their entirety anywhere else except the Spotlight screenings—you can only see these films playing together during their Spotlight screening.”

Charlie Sanders: “Attending the Sidewalk Film Festival will give you the opportunity to see films not available for months or years to come. Not just in our market, but any market. These films are in need of celebration and attention due to the self funded nature in their origin and the wider range of relatable stories that typically resonate with large groups of society once discovered years later. These stories are for everyone by everyone, and we think you’ll discover a story you haven’t heard before.”

The 28th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival will take place August 24th – 30th, 2026 in Downtown Birmingham’s Historic Theatre District. For the full festival lineup and schedule, visit sidewalkfest.com.