Documentaries about the wide world brought home to you.
What’s My Name?
Directed by Yuge Zhou
8:09 • China, United States • World Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Do you keep your name or change your name when immigrating to another country? In this playful exploration of pronunciation, cross-cultural identity, and the nuances of language, learn the real importance of a name and its declaration of ethnicity.
Within Me
Directed by Sherlyn Reyes Zamora
15:21 • United States • Alabama Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM, ALABAMA, LIFE & LIBERTY, STUDENT
"Within Me" explores the adversity and resilience of a Mexican immigrant family in Alabama as each member reflects on how far they've come.
Freedom of the Press
Directed by Pablo Quintero
5:00 • United States
STUDENT
A college professor turns to the printing press to process the weight of political turmoil as he creates prints that invite others to slow down, reflect, and reconnect in an overstimulated digital age.
Rolling Film, Rocking History, Al Maysles Captures the Beatles
Directed by Bart Weiss
10:56 • United States
Al Maysles tells the story of how he shot the Beatles coming to the USA for the first time.
The Day Is Not Lost
Directed by Kay Hannahan
14:50 • Bulgaria • Southern US Premiere
INTERNATIONAL
As the call to prayer echoes throughout a village in Bulgaria's Rhodope mountains, a cold January day becomes a meditation on tradition and transformation high in this quiet observational documentary.
The Theory of Spice
Directed by Gilly Barnes
7:28 • United States • Southern US Premiere
WOMEN IN FILM
Where does flavor come from? Journey across India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala to examine the provenance, potency, history, and mythology of Ginger, Cinnamon, and Cardamom in this artistic documentary.
Zastava Brothers
Directed by Pep Stojanovic
21:55 • United States • Alabama Premiere
While the Yugo may have faded in popularity in the US, it has become a rallying passion for those from the former Yugoslavia where the little-car-that-could remains an integral part of memories and culture.
We produce the nationally recognized Sidewalk Film Festival; organize a wide variety of educational programs for filmmakers and hold other events that create interest in and enthusiasm for independent film. To expand on this work and better serve our mission we have opened the Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, a two-screen independent movie theater in the heart of Birmingham’s historic theatre district.