Sidewalk Film Festival set to break ground on new downtown home

Sidewalk Film Festival will soon began construction of its own downtown facility -- the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema -- with two 100-seat screening rooms that will allow the nonprofit to operate a year-round art-house theater.

And seeing the new facility take shape will be “gratifying beyond description,” said Chloe Cook, Sidewalk executive director.

“The idea for this project is as old as the festival itself,” Cook said.

The organization announced April 19 it had raised $3.1 million of the $5 million needed to build the long-awaited facility in The Pizitz mixed-use development downtown.

The goal is to raise the remaining $1.9 million by August 26 -- the final day of the 20th annual Sidewalk festival -- according to Cook.

Sidewalk expected to break ground on the facility in May.

Demolition will be the first step in an estimated 230-day construction schedule, according to Cook.

The 11,000-square-foot facility, designed by Davis Architects, will also include lounges, a bar and concession stand, Sidewalk offices and space for meetings and classes.

Cook said she’s “thrilled” the festival will have finally a permanent home in the theatre district where the event’s always been held.

“We also enliven the theatre district 365 days a year, continuing our commitment to downtown Birmingham,” she said.

The screening rooms and the ability to show films regularly will fill “a long-standing cultural void,” Cook said.

“As just a movie lover, the idea that there will be a daily opportunity to see, discuss and celebrate film is insanely exciting,” said Rachel Morgan, the festival’s creative director. “I'm super passionate about our educational plans and the opportunity to build and connect community.”

The screenings will also assist the festival in its mission of encouraging filmmaking in Alabama and developing audiences for independent film, according to Cook.

The fundraising campaign was launched on May 1, 2017, but the first contribution came from The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham in December 2016, according to Cook.

For more information on the campaign, go to sidewalkfest.com/make-movie-magic.