Established in 1999 as the flagship program of the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, Sidewalk Film Festival has perfected its own personal trifecta of quality film programming, filmmaker networking, and pure fun. Repeatedly recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the Top 25 Festivals in the World and by TIME Magazine as one of the Top 10 Festivals for the Rest of Us, Sidewalk annually brings over 300 films to The Magic City. Low-priced passes, a concentrated footprint, and Southern Hospitality encourage filmmakers and attendees alike to connect during the festival week.
Sidewalk actively strives to bring a variety of film to its audience. To that end, we are thrilled to highlight civil and social issues in our Life & Liberty track, diversity-related topics and black filmmakers in our Black Lens track, LGBTQ filmmakers and content with our SHOUT track, and family-friendly programming with our Family Festival track. As an Alabama festival in a city with multiple universities, we also spotlight our Alabama filmmakers and our student filmmakers.
Sidewalk is pleased to announce the return of our Sidewrite Competition for 2025. With categories for feature length screenplays, short screenplays, and Alabama screenplays, Sidewalk is looking for innovative and exciting scripts to recognize. In addition to cash prizes, winners are read at our table read during the festival weekend. Winning scripts are announced approximately one month prior to the festival event date. Sidewalk also offers a screenplay category that provides feedback on any submitted screenplay. Please use the Screenplay + Feedback category for this option.
Praise for Sidewalk:
MovieMaker Magazine: "Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" (2024, 2017, 2016)
MovieMaker Magazine: “The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” (2023, 2015, 2014)
MovieMaker Magazine: "20 Great Film Festivals For First Time Moviemakers" (2022)
The Washington Post: "Summer Preview" Film Festival (2015)
USA TODAY: "One of the Top 10 Places for a Fabulous Film Festival” (2013)
TIME Magazine: "Top 10 Festivals for the Rest of Us" (2006)
JURY AND PROGRAMMER'S AWARDS
Jambor-Franklin Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature $1,000
Best Documentary Feature $1,000
Best Narrative Short $500
Best Documentary Short $500
Best Animated Film $250
Best Student Film $250
Alan Hunter Best Alabama Film $500
Best SHOUT Feature $500
Best SHOUT Short $250
Best Black Lens Feature $500
Best Black Lens Short $250
Feature Programmers' Award $500
Short Programmers' Award $250
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Shout Film (Feature or Short)
Best Alabama Film (Feature or Short)
Best Black Lens Film (Feature or Short)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay $500
Best Short Screenplay $250
Best Alabama Feature Screenplay $500
Best Alabama Short Screenplay $250
(SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER OUR AWARD CATEGORIES BASED ON OUR SUBMISSIONS.)