18th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival brings film lovers downtown

The curtain has been drawn on the 18th Sidewalk Film Festival.

The festival, which lasted from Aug. 26 to 28, featured a variety of shorts, documentaries and narrative films, many based in Alabama or produced by local filmmakers. The cordoned-off section of 3rd Avenue North in front of the Alabama Theatre also included food trucks, mini golf and a giant version of the bright green ride-share bikes sponsored by Regions.

Sidewalk's opening night started with a screening of Ti West's "In a Valley of Violence." Prior to that, Mayor William Bell and several of the festival's sponsors welcomed the packed crowd at the Alabama Theatre.

"A city is only as good as its creative community," Big Communications Chief Creative Officer Ford Wiles said.

Sidewalk Executive Director Chloe Cook also officially announced that the festival is working with Bayer Properties to pursue an arthouse cinema in the Pizitz Building on 2nd Avenue North. Cook said the feasibility study has been completed and the next step is fundraising.