Sidewalk Film Festival announces full lineup

Sidewalk Film Festival has announced the complete schedule of films for this year’s festival, to be held from Aug.24-30. It includes 41 features, as well as 122 shorts and 23 music videos.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sidewalk will not be held in the Theatre District in downtown Birmingham, as it has been each year since it began in 1999.

This year’s festival will be held outdoors at The Grand River Drive-In at The Backyard in Leeds, an events venue at The Outlet Shops of Grand River.

“We strongly believe that great films are meant to be experienced communally — on a big screen with big sound — and while the festival will certainly be different this year, we are ecstatic to still bring a little of the magic of Sidewalk to late summer,” said Rachel Morgan, Sidewalk’s creative director and lead programmer, in announcing the lineup. “I can't wait to watch so many of the year's best films under the stars, surrounded by fellow film lovers.”

“We are thrilled that there is a unique, safe way to have Sidewalk this year despite the many obstacles that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has presented,” said Chloe Cook, executive director for Sidewalk Film Festival and Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, in a festival news release in July.

Attendees will have the space to practice social distancing while still enjoying the films, said Hunter Lake, developer of The Backyard at Grand River.

The Sidewalk Festival at the Drive-In will screen films each night on all four screens, with some nights offering second films on each screen. 

Gates will tentatively open each day at 6:30 p.m. with the start of the first films of the night scheduled for 8 p.m.

Concessions and bar service will be provided by The Grand River Drive-In.

Sidewalk begins with the Opening Night Extravaganza on Monday, August 24, which features several films, including Aurélia Rouvier and Seamus Haley’s “Banksy Most Wanted,” a documentary about the artist behind the famous art stunts.

For all the details, including ticket information and a complete schedule of films, go to sidewalkfest.com.